Alice Neel

Whilst rummaging through old papers for my research I came across Alice Neel, my sister and I were fortunate enough to see her exhibition last summer on the closing day at the Whitechapel Gallery.  I've been trying to find inspiration in relation to my final major project within portraiture and colour scheme, I remembered how much I loved her work (thanks to my sis), so here we go, I present to you, Alice Neel and a selection of her many works from the 1920's to the 1980's

A little bit about her...

Alice Neel was one of the great American painters of the twentieth century. She was also a pioneer among women artists. A painter of people, landscape and still life, Neel was never fashionable or in step with avant-garde movements. Sympathetic to the expressionist spirit of northern Europe and Scandinavia and to the darker arts of Spanish painting, she painted in a style and with an approach distinctively her own.
http://www.aliceneel.com/home/

Kase

Alright, back to it.
Moving forward slowly with this project of mine I was beginning to think that it may not happen as I saw it, but today while shooting the musician Kase, it came together nicely and I believe that its back on track.  As I'm sure Ive said in a previous post, everthing changes, nothing will remain stable...learning endlessly.
Here is a preview of some of the shots I took, these two I quite like because they differ so much from one another but at the same time work together well.

The Nature of Retribution

Look at trees.
they don't bother nobody.
Let folks burn 'em cut 'em,
paint 'em and use 'em
but they don't bother nobody...
That is, till money...
But like, whose fault is that?

-B. Jackson

My sis bought a Gil Scott-Heron/Brian Jackson record today and saw this on the back of the album cover.  Had to generate his words.

Reflective Discourse

I'm posting a few things that I have done for phoenix magazine, nothing  really big but I still had a chance to work for them and that was cool.  I hope to work for others in the future and create a network of people. This is post is related to my relfecive discourse class.

Sister Blow

It's been exactly one year since my sister and took these photographs (with the help of our friend Kenny).  And this is the first time in one year that I will be showing them to the public, at first they were just ment to be a part of this essay that I was writing.  Looking back, I didn't like them so much because I felt that I 'had' to do this instead of just wanting to but now I realise how stupid I was then.  I had the best time with her (and Kenny) when taking these.   I am so proud to have my sister blow here with me in London and I hope she loves these photos as much as I do. 

All Good

Beauty can be spoken about in many different contexts, but the way I see it is oh so very natural.  My friends and family that surround me almost everyday have great importance in my life and I find them outstanding and beautiful.  Having rented out a broken camera, I was only able to test a few pieces of the puzzle..(my project) where my friend Amanda (muse) modeled for me, was a real pleasure, and even though somehow light leaked onto the negs, these four are my favourite.

 

A Divided Road

American Todd Hido is best known for his photographs of a haunting suburbia in ‘Homes At Night’. Widely exhibited in the United States and Europe, his eerie exteriors project feelings of unease and isolation, as the presence of people is devoid. Hido uses only available light and long exposures that make these saturated images almost glow off the print. His exploration into themes of loneliness continues through to his interior shots which are again absent of people, but suggest that a presence was once there.  His exploration into themes of loneliness continues through to his interior shots which are again absent of people, but suggest that a presence was once there – a door left ajar, a chair turned over, creased bedding. Less celebrated are his series of portraits, again set in vacuous places but this time with models. There is something intriguing about these that hold your gaze, as amateur, scantily clad models pose awkwardly for the camera. "I am very much influenced by my past. I was a student of Larry Sultan's about 15 years ago and he remained a good friend until he passed away last year. He was a clear influence on my work and I think that the most important thing that Larry taught me was to draw from within, to use your own history as the basis for your art."

Well You Needn't

Things change constantly, decisions have to be made.  Timing.  This seems to be a constant cycle in my life and I guess its how we grow as individuals.  Enough with the bantering, it seems my focus for this final project is now on jewellery, being in Toronto has helped in many ways, people seem to be more forgiving in many aspects, especially when it comes to anything creative.  So, change can be good, not exactly what I wanted but I guess it will have to do.  I thought I would post one of my 'tests' (seems like that's the only thing I do these days!) for my final major since it's changed again.  It's good to change..but not too much.

and another one...

Another test for my FMP, still not sure which direction to go.

You Never Know What You Will Come Across

On my return home to Canada, I was looking through WH Smith and found a photoworks magazine from the 2010 Brighton Biennial Festival.  Back in 2007 I fell in love with the japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi, who photographs the everyday mundane and can turn into something magical, she is constantly looking and I believe as a photographer we forget sometimes, what is around us everyday.  Looking in the magazine I saw that she has done a series called 'Murmation' where she is drawn to the spectacle of flocking starlings at Brighton Pier.  During the winter months at dusk, the birds gather in their tens of thousands, wheeling around to create a mesmerising swirl cloud called a murmation.  She seems to be fascinated by the ephemeral nature of this phenomenon and, continuing on with the theme of the flock, she has also trailed groups of people in the city. 

I have a great love for birds and this series approaches them in a way that I haven't come across yet, just amazing. If you have time, google her and check her work out.

FIRST and foremost..

My first attempt shooting with Large Format Colour Neg, and it's a bit of a dissapointment...either they were scanned incorrectly as the colours are completely messed up and shouldn't be, secondly only five negs turned out from ten shots...(scratching my head in frustration).

My main motivation is to shoot with Large Format for my FMP, so it looks like I will to do some more testing.