Final year project
20ACC118 - Fine Art Practice: Final Project [Read more]
Mum in her Khaki-Green Trousers with Braces.
I have painted a portrait of my mother at a similar age as I am today, with a focus on her favourite khaki-green trousers. These are a significant item of clothing from my mum's youth and is part of my project focusing on women and memories.
This is one part of my series presenting this personal item, as I have completed a similar painting of myself wearing the same trousers; linking my mum and myself through this painting.
'Selfie': Taking authority over your image and self representation in the 21st century.
Exploring modern-day representations of women, I have explored the term 'selfie' through portraiture. The idea of women taking control of their image but also constantly being viewed and judged has influenced this piece.
Incorporating a series of 'selfies' to make a painting was challenging when looking at composition, as I had to make decisions of the inclusion and exclusion of certain elements to make a composition that works.
I was pleased with the detail and accuracy I was able to achieve through my exploration of tone and layering paint, and the interesting composition by including two selfies into one series.
Diana - 1969: from my series of work relating to 'pop art' style imagery taken from my mother's childhood annuals.
I have taken imagery from my mother's childhood annuals, with a connection to pop art culture. Looking at interesting compositions and colour, this allowed me to decide which imagery I would use, blowing images up to much larger proportions; in this case 100 x 100 cm. Exploring themes of femininity and memory, for my mum, these annuals take her back to when she was younger, but in relation to myself, I connect with the female imagery included in these annuals.
Mum and Aunt - 80s: on a backdrop of imagery taken from their childhood annuals.
Using imagery from an old photograph of my mum and aunt out in the '80s, I have explored imagery in their childhood annuals further through collage, with relation to memory and femininity.
This is a continuation of my exploration of my mum's childhood annuals, and how I have been able to incorporate this into portraiture.
Grace Ard
I am a Part-C Fine Art student, primarily focusing on portraiture through the representation of women in my life. I have been influenced by Frida Kahlo and also through pop art culture, focusing more on abstract representations of women through cartoon and annual style drawing.
My drawing and painting skills, particularly when looking at portraiture, are accurate and thoughtful; using mark making to present emotion in my portraits.
I wish to continue painting, start an online account for my artwork, and start receiving paid commissions to paint portraits.
I am not yet sure about a career, but I wish to remain creative, with interests in garden design and also the film industry.
Final year project
20ACC118 - Fine Art Practice: Final Project
Awards
In the last semester of my final year, I entered a portrait competition through the university competitions page to draw a portrait in memory of 'Busy Bees Nursery' founder John. I sent a complete drawing of John, and submitted a previously completed painting from my own portfolio of work. In January 2021, I found out I had been shortlisted and awarded £500 for my participation and efforts.
I am currently taking part in a portrait competition painting a portrait of Professor Bob Allison. Retiring from his post as Vice-Chancellor and President, a portrait is being commissioned to hang within the University collection.
Completing three sessions in which to paint Bob, there is a £1000 prize money with the winning portrait being displayed on the Loughborough campus as part of the University Collection.
Alongside the event which will be documented throughout, there will be an interview with the Universities PR team and an article in the next VOLUME magazine. All completed portraits will be included in an exhibition at the end of the event.