Assignment 2: reflection on formative feedback

My choice of tutorial was a video via Hangouts and a short report.

There were areas and paintings in part 2 that I really enjoyed and others that I was less happy with, mainly because of the way I had handled the medium. I was therefore very pleased to get positive feedback for this part.

Feedback on Assignment

I spent a long time researching and planning this assignment and I am pleased that my tutor has recognised this. She also commented positively about certain aspects of the painting; the knife and insects. I realised that the mug was off, I think it falls away a little to the right of the picture. I enjoyed painting this picture and also the planning of it and am pleased that she feels that it was successful.

Sketchbooks and Journals

My tutor commented on the fact that ‘close to home’ wasn’t focused on in great depth and I have to confess that this is very true. I had dealt with this fairly comprehensively in Drawing Skills and so did gloss over this element of the course a little, just doing a few quick paintings in my sketchbook. She also commented on my awareness of light and how it can be used to draw the viewer through the space. Light, dark and tone is one of my favourite topics and I like exploring how these can be used in high contrast to create form and visual effects.

Cropping is something I have started to use more frequently, indeed I had already used it regarding a self-portrait I have completed in Part 3, before this tutorial. I feel I am starting to recognise the benefits of this tool and indeed starting to not be afraid of not only digitally cropping but doing the ‘cut’ in real life.

I bemoaned my use of acrylics and my tutor has advised it is worth pushing on with my exploration of the medium and indeed I have continued to do so as I work through part three.

Research

I was worried that my research was a little light in this part but my tutor says it is clear and links my thoughts and practice. She feels that I look with care but annotate more lightly and she it absolutely correct in this. She has suggested that it is OK to lightly touch on the required research, but when I find something that really excites me then spend more time and weight to unpacking the references and ideas.

I had spent a fair amount of time researching how I would approach this assignment and through the research developed the ideas that I would ultimately use; the research informed my outcome.

Learning Blog

Again I have had positive feedback for this and I have started to implement my tutors previous advise of reflecting and re-evaluating my work. I have started to find this very useful when viewing my work and it is helping me critique my work a little more objectively.

Suggested viewing and reading

I have put the recommended artist in the notes section of my blog and have already looked and referred to a couple of them during part 3.