The artists below all make work which both creates and denies three dimensions at the same time.  Take a look at their websites then make notes in your learning log about these artists, your response to their work and how their work relates to what you’ve been attempting in this project.

Angela Eames : http://www.angela eames.com

The Fleshscape series reminds me of the exercise in Part 1; Project 4 The Human Form, where you had to devise a composition overlapping limbs.  She has zoomed in close up to parts of the human body, resulting in compositions not at first recognizable as the human body.

Other series, such as Dimensions, combine conventional drawings, for example scribbles with a biro and digital technology, such as 3d photography.  This helps to explore form, in a way not possible through conventional observation.  It challenges the viewer to make sense of the ‘hybrid’ image.

Other work, such as the Veil Series involve virtually building 3 dimensional structures, creating ambiguous images.

I think my conclusion on looking at the work of Angela Eames is that media can consist of anything you like.  It can be a drawing, in the traditional sense, or a digital drawing, it can be a photographic image or any variation or combination.  I think the important part is the outcome; is it interesting, does it engage the viewer, does it make you think, does it stir memories, is it pleasing to look at, or does it capture attention.

My response to it is that it doesn’t engage me.  The use of digital technology is interesting, but to me the results are too clinical and almost illustrative.

Michael Borremans: http://www.zeno-x.com/artists/michael_borremans.htm

Michael Borremans uses traditional media, such as oil on canvas and pencil on paper, and watercolour, in a traditional manner.  It is his subjects that grab the attention by being unconventional.  Examples of the subjects painted are figurative paintings where the person is in an unusual pose, such as a boy with sticks up his nose, figures chopped in half in the middle, the human body becomes an inanimate object, but is otherwise realistic looking.  In addition he uses framed LCD screens showing short film sequences.  The images appear a bit like a puzzle, where the viewer is trying to work out what’s happening and the scenes are often surreal.

My response to his work is that I can really appreciate the technical painting and drawing skills that he has.  I particularly like the oil paintings on canvas, which remind me of the old Masters, however the subjects leave me cold.  They do grab your interest, but for me, not long enough to want to keep looking.

Jim Shaw: http://www.simonleegallery.com/Artists/Jim_Shaw/Selected_Works

The work of American artist Jim Shaw is very contemporary.  The materials he uses are very innovative; everything from conventional materials such as oil pencil, acrylic, collage, ink, wood, resin, airbrush, digital print, enamel, the list goes on.  The combinations he uses are interesting together; oil paint with digital print for example, and the various substrates used add another dimension; oil on shaped wood, cardboard tubes, ragboard on plywood and linen etc.

As far as my response to his work goes; it ranges from awe at the complexity of the composition and detail in Blake/Boring, to total incomprehension of work such as Dream Object (“A room with waves of meat frozen crashed in the corner). I think the artist’s aim is to be provocative and is seeking originality, however it doesn’t engage me.

I think all three artists are endeavouring to combine traditional drawing as we think of it, with for example, graphite on paper and innovative materials and images.  Every subject has been done to death over the years and creating something new and fresh is becoming increasingly harder to do.  These artists are seeking new ways to say something original about how they view the world.