Gallery display

This is a post to summaries my gallery space I will be setting up. I've posted it here in digital form to be able to look back on. 

All printed on A3 matte photo paper

On display will also be my printed A4 portfolio and A5 Portfolio of studies and practice paintings.
Both portfolios also feature work that has been created using the split canvas technique.

Text on Print reads:

The subject of my Masters course evolved through the year as I originally started this course with the sole aim of wanting to develop my skills in painting and creating concepts so that I could build a professional portfolio.

During the first semester I worked on developing my knowledge of the fundamentals through painting studies of photography. I would visually break down images to make sense of how they were structured through composition, lighting and colour. I would then apply what I had learned into my own paintings and concepts. Once I had grown my confidence and skill, I set out to create a process of working that would allow me to build up and create my concepts quickly and efficiently. I had researched and experimented with other artist’s processes but found their methods didn’t adapt well to my style of painting and way of thinking when creating work. This led to my Masters degree being focused on developing my own process of work that I could use to create a series of concepts.   

One of the main benefits I wanted from creating my own method was to increase the speed that I could develop my work. This led me to critique the way I was working at the time in order to understand where I could improve. I would often step away from my work leaving the room for a short while so that, when revisiting my work fresh eyed, I could spot the mistakes and areas in need of improving. Although this practise is useful, it does however become time consuming to use. This is where my process of painting began. I divided a large digital canvas up into two separate areas that I could paint on, so that I could build up two images at once meaning, as I was jumping between each painting I would still be able to spot my mistakes and areas that I could improve.

I started referring to this process of painting as ‘The Split Canvas’ method. I quickly discovered that it would be beneficial to use for more than just speeding up my work flow. It also allowed me to think more creatively, as I would let the two images I was working on feed from each other, experimenting with crossing over colours, shapes and themes from one painting to the other. This led to results that I would not have come to without using this method, as it encourages a more creative and experimental way of working. I had managed to find a simple yet very effective process that I could work with. It suited my style of painting and adapted well when testing it with different themes and focuses such as character art, environments, props and even 3D paint overs.

The Split Canvas method has been used to create the work of mine you see displayed here. I wanted to test this method and see if it could produce a variety of concepts based on the same game pitch theme for a full semester. I wanted to do this, in order to see how this process would hold up in the working environment of the Gaming Industry, where concept artists work on the same project for a prolonged amount of time. This method helped to boost my creativity and way of thinking so throughout my time using it in the final semester, I was never short of ideas of what I could paint next, and resulted in work that I feel fits well together and looks unified. 

As a result, I believe that I have achieved my goal. I have developed a professional process of work that suits me, and has proven itself to work efficiently in a working environment.