Working on ideas based on deforestation issues

   Blog journal for Professional Practice. 



Today I worked in my studio space spent time working on ideas; I have been researching over the last few days focussing on aspects of the effects of deforestation particularly on indigenous people groups.
   In 2010, a protest march in london was based around the plight of deforestation in Borneo. Also yesterday whilst talking with Kelly ; part of WLT -she mentioned how in Paraguay a  section of the indigenous people, were unable to make fire due to the methods they used down through the generations due to deforestation had been taken away. 
I also had read how indigenous people had been displaced into campsites away from their ancestoral homes ( in years past) so that european colonists could then claim the land  as theirs. This reveals the extent of disempowering that went on and still does today.

Also a book has been recommended to me called 'Fight for the forest' So there will be plenty of research going on I hope to incorporate what I discover and learn  into images that depict the plight of Indigenous peoples, where issues of deforestation occur. 

I have started working on sketches and drawings based around the lyrics of IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST DOES ANYBODY HEAR.......

SYMBOLISM....within my work today......
in a main image I worked with charcoal ( burnt WOOD with symbolic connotations  ) sketching and drawing and using red oil pastel this was quite effective and I felt using the charcoal representing the burnt wood and red pastel representing Blood (sacrifice and destruction of the tree was quite apt) so the mediums and the colour play a part within the image symbolicly .............. I must incorporate images in my blog but my 

camera is playing up at the moment .... Robin gave me a tutorial I think he was happy to 

see me getting back on track in dealing with socio-political issues  .... along with using my art as a tool to express a message.

Hows it all going? a look over the last week....SONG Lyrics..

THE ABOVE ..... web address directs you to an amazing band called Midnight Oil and a song based on the havoc caused by deforestation of the RainForests along with listening to to song you can watch the video that shows the grim reality that is going on globally causing in some situations irrevocable damage to ecosystems give it a watch it is a challenge to each of us,

//www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=youtube+bruce+cockburn+if+a+tree+falls&oq

Another musician to look at is the above you tube song if a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear??
this also is accompanied by a video of deforestation .....the above songs and videos have given me ideas to produce visual imagery that i hope will fit into my studio practice when looking at the effects of deforestation on the wildlife plant life and the toll it has on local indigenous people groups as Bruce Cockburn sings .......
If a tree falls in the forest..... does any body hear...
TUESDAY 26th FEBRUARY********
Today  I went into the WLT to do a morning voluntary work in the Gallery I found it an interesting experience in the fact that it gave me opportunity to see the other side of how a Gallery operates and the behind the scene elements... the theme for this month is BIRDS and BEES there is an array of wonderful artists works that depicts this theme. As a student WLT have been given a Student Spot for my work to be displayed whilst I am doing my Professional Practice with them there is also written detail about my work on display I have four images of work up. An abstract piece and three images based on the theme Birds and Bees . My work consists of a song Thrush etching and ink and a Honey Bee etching and ink lastly a small reduction linocut abstract called 'flight of the Bumble Bee' a point I need to be aware of for next month is that the work needs to be ready a week before..... NEXT months theme is HARES  I am looking to produce  drawings and a collagraph  possibly watercolour but I dont always find watercolour that easy so will see.
                                                      ***************
Just also would like to mention here that part of my proposal with WLT is to do painting especially in mixed media as I intend to do a commission piece as a donation (Also donating theme works for march and April)
the paintig will be inspired by landscape as said in my PREZI I am looking at Paul Cezanne and David Hockney i intend to look at other artists
 WHAT ELSE....... having had my presentation last week and a question discussion time afterwards with the students, Robin and Jane about my collaboration and proposal it was mentioned a need to consider if it fit into my Prof Practice ?????? well to a degree.... I think it does if I am using the art as a tool for a  fianancial resource for the trust to benefit from ....... and I like the idea of my work benefiting a great cause such as this and it is lovley to do images of the themes but ... I guess looking at it from the aspect of work I have been producing I understand others views on this matter.....So I have spoken to Kelly from WLT and asked if I could add onto the Proposal a chance to produce work that depicts the impact that deforestation causes on the indigenous people and for the work to be hung for a certain time in the student spot kelly was very accommodating of this idea but did emphasis WLT is a conservation.

I hope to add some images soon ......

Biography and personal statement

                                                         
                                                   Biography and Personal statement
                   
                                                          *******************

                                                                STATEMENT

                            At this phase in my journey as an artist I am particularly

                            interested in exploring techniques that involve a range of
                            medias , such as paint, collage, mixed media and printmaking I
                            enjoy the interaction of materials and the visually stimulating
                            effects that are created from the process. Colour plays an
                            important role in my work particularly blues, oranges and
                            browns. I use colours to reflect my observations of a mood or
                            a situation that I am trying to convey. The context and ideas
                            that interest me are based on aspects of the human condition.
                           In a recent project I looked at issues concerning the effects of
                           Austerity Measures in society. Within my practice I endeavour
                           to produce work that translates ideas and concerns into a
                           visual context. One of the challenges I am conscious of is how
                           art can deal with social issues while being aesthetically
                           effective. Artists such as Kathe Kollwitz and Leon Golub have
                           been a source of inspiration and continue to influence my
                                                         practice .  


                                                                BIOGRAPHY                     


                          At this phase in my journey as an artist I am particularly
                          interested in exploring techniques that involve a range of
                          medias , such as paint, collage, mixed media and printmaking I
                          enjoy the interaction of materials and the visually stimulating
                          effects that are created from the process. Colour plays an
                          important role in my work particularly blues, oranges and
                          browns. I use colours to reflect my observations of a mood or
                          a situation that I am trying to convey. The context and ideas
                          that interest me are based on aspects of the human condition.
                          In a recent project I looked at issues concerning the effects of
                         Austerity Measures in society. Within my practice I endeavour
                          to produce work that translates ideas and concerns into a
                          visual context. One of the challenges I am conscious of is how
                          art can deal with social issues while being aesthetically
                          effective. Artists such as Kathe Kollwitz and Leon Golub have
                          been a source of inspiration and continue to influence my
                          practice . 

                 
                        MY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE PRESENTATION via PREZI......


               The main points i want to make having now compleated my 1st PP presentation 

 As we all know and experience when doing a presentation it is not easy and seems quiet an unnatural  
experience!! .... well for the majority of us (including myself) but I got through it ... interestingly I found the question time about my presentation alot easier to deal with as I was interacting with the group

The main points of the presentation.......  these also include my on going reserch of Deforestation 

1. I talked about the World Land Trust ~~ Based in Halesworth a conservation that buys land in areas of the world, where rigorous deforestation takes place along with intense programs of farming be it biofuel or cattle farming along with other mass producing........... which strip the land of its narural resources due to this industrial corporate machine greed .
2.  WLT steps in to work i these areas to buy the land to work on restoration programs such as Planting  fauna ,trees etc... to reclaim the land obviously this then takes many years to restore the devastation caused. Another aspect is to buy land before any new damage can be done , working with the local NGOS  within areas of threat to deforestation is a main aim of WLT  as David Attenborough says 'The World Land Trust know that if the land habitat is to be saved , the people who can save it are the people who live there'. 
3. What I personally find inspiring about the WLT (as well as the points above ) is their desire to work with the NGOs and the local indigenous people groups they state that WLT is there to empower...  to work along side the indigenous people the land belongs to the people groups and they also state in a news letter they are NOT Green Colonialists, I find this a inspirational positive aspect when in todays world of dog eat dog mentality amongst the Capitalist take of corporate greed there are still those who show integerity compassion and a passion to an alternative way of living in this world .  

•   INTENTIONS; Collaboration with the world land trust.
• To work Voluntarily on site at  the WLT Gallery,one or two mornings a week 
• Time will be used to invigilate and produce work as part of my studio practice.
• Given a gallery space as a student artist so as to produce art work in response to the themes and empasis of the trust.
• Art work to be based over two months; 
• March - Birds and Bees.
• April-Hares.
• To create a landscape inspired piece of work which will be made as a commission and donated ti the world Land Trust.

• Disciplines - to work with variouse mediums PRINT -Etching

                                                                                           Linocut
                                                                                           Collagraph
                                                                             Drawing Pencil / Charcoal
                                                                             Paint Mixed Media Collage

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22akq_midnight-oil-pictures-music#.USogTR2eNxA

professional practice collaboration with WLT

Returning to my blog after a rather long break ............
At present I am starting a new semester and have decided  that one way forward of keeping up to date on events is to keep a diary BLOG!! ... so here it is......
The main events at the moment that are happening at UCS are concerning my professional development, there are areas i feel confident in and areas of challenge!! but remembering the challenges of past that have been worked through give me solace for the present!.. at the moment there  are alot of things I'm juggling with that I intend to share on my blog as time goes on.. 

1. At present I'm waiting to hear back from WLT a conservation organisation i really want to work with... I feel it ties in with my previous ideas  with in my art practice that is  linked with  social issues and the human condition, How can this tie in with a conservation group?? well having researched WLT  gave me the insight to see how this can be ... they are an organisation who are proactive in areas of the world where the Rainforests are under threat by deforestation for various reasons which is having an impact on the forests eco systems which then goes on to effect nature, wildlife and local indegenous people groups . The things that i found inspiring about WLT mission statement is it is so proactive in working with Local NGO groups WLT provides .......intermission time