Reflection on Assignment 4

Looking at the criteria for assessment at HE level 4, I would asses my submission for assignment 4 as follows:

Overall, I think I am showing signs of improvement despite the limited time I had available to complete this section of the course. This time would rate my overall performance as good/average (C). I am confident that with continued improvement in part 5 of the course, as long as I meet my final deadline I should be able to achieve a passing grade.

Development of technical and visual skills

I would evaluate myself as a C overall in this area - I have made quite a bit of progress in the learning of techniques in part 4 so I think I have developed good technical skills however, design and composition is the area in which I still lack confidence

Quality of Outcome

Again I think a C (Good/average) because my work is well presented and I am increasing my competence as a printmaker. I am also showing evidence of judgement by changing tack and trying a different approach when it is clear that a technique isn't working for me. 

Demonstration of creativity

C - good/average. I am showing some independent judgements and there is some evidence of my personal voice in the work at this stage

Context

C- good/average. I have looked at a broad range of materials in preparing for this assignment. Unfortunately owing to time constraints I have not had time to write up everything that I have looked at, read and experienced so far - I am therefore confident that I can improve on this next time. 

I am looking forward to the challenge of part 5 - I've made a lot of progress (since starting off as a complete beginner) but I want to really move forwards in all of the above areas of endeavour before I complete the course.

Assignment 4 Submission

Task 1: Project 11

In this section, all of the prints are taken from A4 plates therefore the paper size is just slightly larger than A4.

Descriptive statement: The plates for these prints were created using a large variety of materials including foodstuffs (lentils, rolled oats, bulgur wheat) fabrics (e.g. lace, denim, nylon mesh, hessian) and papers (wallpaper, foil, kitchen roll, masking tape). I have also included various organic materials (eggshells, cork, dried plant materials, feathers) as well as string and sewing thread. The base plates were made of cardboard which was sealed with PVA glue and the plates were sealed with clear acrylic lacquer before printing.

Task 2: Project 12

In this section, the first three prints are taken from A4 sized plates whereas the last two are from an A2 sized plate.

Critical Statement

Decades of working in a healthcare context as a veterinary surgeon have not blunted my fascination for biology, health and disease. In fact they have only served to fuel my enthusiasm for the architecture of the body and its associated organisms both on a macroscopic and microscopic scale.

I created these prints for assignment 4 of the Open College of the Arts Printmaking 1 course which requires the use of collagraph techniques. The second requirement is that the works should be representative or figurative. This is the reason for the inclusion of the industrial landscape here which is incongruous among the rest of the work. The remaining three prints are abstracts which use photographs, micrographs and electron micrograph images of the heart, brain and bacteria respectively as their starting point. 

A number of artists have influenced my choices in the construction of these prints. Brenda Hartill is a printmaker who makes use of collagraph in her work. I am particularly drawn to her abstract collagraphs which are inspired by the landscape. Her prints are alive with texture and rich with colours. I have also been inspired by the drawings of Daniel Zeller whose abstract works have a distinctly biological feel to them and are replete with examples of repetitive mark making. 

I plan to push this line of inquiry further. Looking more deeply into the way that biological structure relates to function as well as how ideas about bodies (human and other animals), health and disease have filtered through western culture into language, mythology, superstition and works of art and literature. This is an ambitious task - I'll be taking it in very small steps.