P5:P3: Towards Abstraction

Exercise One: Abstraction from Study of Natural Forms

For this exercise I was asked to consider a natural form up close and decided to consider a leaf from my poinsettia plant due to thinking it rather striking. I chose a close-up section and set to work.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I began by laying out the basic lines for the veins before applying a wash of the red colour I would be using. I then built these colours up slowly, allowing them to merge with each other.

Overall, I really liked creating this piece as, again, I was able to find a subject with a gentle flow and fluidity to its movement. I really like how the viewer’s eye is drawn downwards throughout the piece and think I have bee rather successful in moving towards abstraction with the original subject only minimally being present within the piece.

Exercise Two: Abstract Painting from Man-Made Form

For this piece, I was instantly drawn to an object I had previously studied in my earlier course and remembered how fascinated I was with the way in which the light fell on the convex and concave areas.

Again, I began by laying down the basic placements of the circles before adding the detail from the darkest shadows to the lightest highlights.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This was such an exciting piece to create and, again, I was allowed to concentrate on fluidity and movement within the piece which I thoroughly enjoy! Once again, I feel I have been rather successful in minimising the original subject’s reflection yet it is still recognisable as so to one who does have the benefit of seeing it.