Monday, 8 January 2007

Jeff Wall



Jeff Wall is a contemporary artist who has become well known for his transparencies mounted on light boxes. He has also been involved in more traditional photographic projects. He uses actors to convey his stories through the photographs.

During my research I have also looked at Stephen T Johnson. His paintings are realistic and interesting as are his books including 'City by Numbers'.

Far From Heaven



One of the filmakers who appears to have been influenced by Hoppers paintings is Todd Haynes, director of Far From Heaven.

Far From Heaven is set in 1957 and deals with difficult subjects like homophobia and racism. It uses vivid autumnal colours reminiscent of a Hopper painting. The people also seem to bear the same expressionless faces, for example the men in the bar scene compared with the Hopper painting 'Nighthawk'.

Hoppers story telling devices


From my research I have found that one of Hoppers most successful visual devises is the window, whether open streaming with sunlight, or with curtains fluttering in the wind, windows are the barrier between exterior and interior lives. In fact I feel his paintings are used as framing devises that capture scenes, or even appear like a still from a film. Perhaps this is why Hopper's paintings have influenced many filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, As well as many other artists.


In 'Hotel Room' the central character is lost in her own thoughts, she is staring blankly at a piece of paper in her hands. Hoppers painting intrigues the viewer as you wish to find out why the girl is sitting alone in a hotel room and what she is looking at. Whatever it is it is making her look like she is deep in thought almost dreamlike. The mood of unease is further demonstrated by patterns of light and shade, flat empty areas ie the stark walls.

Edward Hopper


I have also looked at Edward Hopper, who painted the contemporary everyday life of urban America, including Hotel Rooms, diners, petrol stations, cinemas and offices. In 'Office at Night' painted in 1940 Hoppers ability for storytelling through his paintings becomes apparent. At first glance this looks like an everyday office scene, the secretary doing some filing whilst the boss is emersed in his work. However there are clues that make us, the viewer believe otherwise. For example the way in which the secretary is stood with her feet facing one direction and her body turned to face the boss oozes sexual tension. It reminds me of the way in which a model poses in order to show off her best features, ie her breasts and her bottom. From the drama created by the scene it makes me believe that the two figures are having an affair. It also makes me believe that they are lonely. In most Hopper paintings the figures, even when in company are solitary, lost in their own thoughts and there is no eye contact between the two of them.

It is my wish to one day be able to create work like that of Angela Barrett. In order to develop my work to that high standard I have started by working on a much smaller scale trying to include as much detail as possible as well as improve my drawing and painting technique. Angela Barrett uses a combination of watercolour, gouache and crayons to build up her illustrations with subtle layers of colour.
Find out more about Angela Barrett and other contemporary childrens illustrators at the magic pencil website.

Influences


Whilst working on this project I have looked at illustrator Angela Barrett. She is one of the few childrens illustrators who work in a realistic style using sketchbooks to record observational drawings. One of my favourite examples of her work is 'Snow White' written by Josephine Poole. Angela Barrett uses her drawings to create visionary landscapes, magical forests and buildings with lavish interiors.

Storytelling

My narrative is based on the well known and loved fairytale, Sleeping Beauty. The story is set in medieval times when Kings and Queens lived in Grand Castles and handsome Princes rescued beautiful Princesses. There are countless versions of Sleeping Beauty. One of the original tellings was 'Briar Rose.' The major difference in the two stories is that in Sleeping Beauty, the Princess Aurora falls into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. Briar Rose pricks her finger on a rose thorn and consequently falls into a deep sleep. This illustrates how stories are changed as they are passed down through the ages.

I chose to concentrate on a small section of the story where the handsome Prince rescues the sleeping Princess from the tower. By giving small details, for example a sword in a hand or a padlocked door, this gives enough information for the viewer to grasp what is going on and even guess what may happen next. Using symbolic gestures is a useful technique. For Example to show that in the end they 'live happily ever after,' I have chosen to illustrate a close up of two hands, clasped together. I feel that this is equally, if not more effective than showing the whole scene, ie the happy couple in an embrace.