Dissertation

(It wont write its self. Trust me I have given it long enough)

Today, like every other day of the easter holidays, I have been writing my dissertation.

I have chosen to investigate artists that use age and past as a theme, focusing mainly on the us of overlooked objects and imagery. I chose this as it is not only a area that interests me in research but a theme I see throughout my own work.

Today I am reading and writing about Christian Boltanski, a fascinating late twentieth-century French artists.

Picture of a photo of a picture.

So as you can see that every other day effort went well. It would have done but I went to Student Radio Conference in Bradford.

However, I preserver.

This is a photograph of a projection of a photograph that has been printed on to tape. It is around 2 by 5 foot. ( For some reason I still work in feet despite being born long after the metric system was introduced).

It has been a very long time since I last updated my blog. Largely because busyness took over and habit when out the the window, with stress from family life and work.

However, I swear from here on out I will try to update my blog at least every other day.

Since my last post I have moved into my 3rd and final year studying art at Lancaster University.

I have found a focus in my work both practical and written and know exactly what I am doing. Most of the time.

I am currently looking into the preservation of a feeling while in a place. For me that place it Tromso, Norway. (I will post some images later today).

I am also well on the way with writing my dissertation. I have chosen to write about why contemporary artists look at preservation and conservation as a theme, focusing largely on overlooked objects of life. There are some rather morbid aspects to this but I find it fascinating, and it relates a lot to my practice.

This is a logo type thing I have been messing around with. What do you think?

Lasting impression

Well its been the winter term is over and we are now working into the spring term.

I didn't post much about my work last term as I found it hard to talk about. I have been looking at the lasting impressions people leave in the spaces they fill. For example the atmosphere a person leaves when leaving a room. I showed this my making shadow like pieces that were suppose to represent the area a person fills but without them being fully there. I did this by casting just the shadows on peoples bodies and then suspending the parts to make the outline of a person.

(It is hard to explain without and example in front of you I think.)

This is just a small example where I look a cast of the shadow cat on the models back. I will put photos of the finished piece up soon.

(Hands done in a similar way. )

I have now decided to look at the idea of lasting impressions in a more physical sense rather then spiritual. I plan on doing this by taking casts of hands, feet, bodies ect and putting them into features such as fake walls and floors. I am very excited about this and cannot wait to have a few finished pieces.

The shadows left behind.

My new project is looking at the marks people leave behind and how memory is preserved within them.

Teeth

Teeth as a currency. The sharper the better.

Bee

On A walk up Pendle hill with my dad I took my camera (as always) in hope of finding inspiration. I took a few photos of flowers and sheep and landscapes but this is my favorite. I will see what I can do with it on photoshop later.

Practicing drawing with pen. What do you think?

There are ideas whirling around in my head

I FOUND A MAN THAT WAS NOT LOST SAT ON THE EDGE OF TRAFALGAR SQUARE. EVERYDAY HE SAT AND SOLD LIFE ADVICE.

The exam is over!

Today right now at this very moment as I type, my art exam work is being marked. Eeep!

Above, plants and a moth trapped in empty tea bag and dipped in wax.

A butterfly and single butterfly wing. I must stress that I did not catch these live myself and a friend found them.

A collection of wire and string insects. 2 wire bees, 2 wire dragonflies, 2 pin and sting butterfly and dragonfly and one butterfly made from tea and glue.

A collection of dried/pressed and waxed flowers.

Dragonfly masking tape print.

25 detailed drawings of plants and insects.

Dried and pressed daffodil in a frame. Reads "We are all a little frayed around he edges".

Box of dried flowers, a small dead crab, several found empty birds eggs, a walnut and many other things.

Final instillation.

I even build the shelf myself. With some help from Bill.

The fear

The fear. The end of my first year of art at lancaster University is so very very close. We have one week left of the final exam and the fear of not doing enough work is looming over me even though I have filled my studio space.

Exam time

Before easter I completely gutted my studio. Took all the old work out, swept the floor even repainted the walls.

It was empty for a while but it is quickly filling up again.

We are 2 weeks into the exam and I am running out of space. I just hope I can fit everything in.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/rachelharvey9

Please take the time to have a look and sponsor me if you can. :)

A day at the zoo

Life drawing.

These are just the good ones. It took 9 weeks for me to be semi happy with my life drawings.

More from 'To Delicate to Touch' project.

More to come. I just haven't drawn them yet.

There is a drawing inbetween this one and the last but I finished this one first.