Caravaggio at the National Gallery

Three of Caravaggio's prized paintings are exhibited at the National Gallery, including one of his most famous painting, 'Boy bitten by a Lizard'. These paintings are no different from Caravaggios's other painting, which famously include ordinary people, rather than painting idealised figures which was the popular concept of the era. This highlights why Caravaggio is commonly referred to as the most modern of the traditional painters. 

As I am exploring and analysing the work of Caravaggio, it has now become crucial for me to visit the National to observe Caravaggio's paintings in real life. This will allow me to gain an accurate understanding of the scale and aesthetics of the paintings. 

 

Yves Klein- IKB 79 at the Tate

The concept of Klein's painting was the way of rejecting the idea of representation in painting and therefore attaining his creative freedom. The International Klein Blue (IKB), a unique ultramarine which became Klein's registered trademark colour. Klein's trademark colour was developed with the intention of representing an element close to pure space, of which he associated it with immaterial values beyond what can be seen or touched. 

Klein's work has had a massive influence on my current practice of work. In particular, his use of monochrome colour. I have currently been using this and practising it with my own media to develop potential pieces. 

Alison Watt- Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

The work on show in Phantom demonstrated a deep fascination with the possibilities of the suggestive power of fabric. The work on show in Phantom demonstrated a deep fascination with the possibilities of the suggestive power of fabric. 

Watt's collection 'Phantom', has allowed her to portray her deep fascination with the power of fabric. 

Her current collection, 'Phantom' is on display of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, a solo display to celebrate - GENERATION: 25 years of Contemporary Art in Scotland. Watt has also been a massive influence to my practice and ideas. Linking in with my interest in the movements and flow of material in traditional paintings, only I am representing the fabric in a basic form.

LCA X LCM

Nation of Shopkeepers held the exhibition that allowed Leeds College of Art and Leeds College of Music to combine. Students from both intuitions were displaying and performing their work, which included sculptures, prints, paintings and a live performing band. The exhibition also gave the audience a chance to participate in a live drawing event. Allowing anyone a chance to experiment with a range of different medias, resulting in a massive collaborative piece.

Maggi Hambling at the National Gallery

Maggi Hambling has always been one of my favourite artists and as one of Britain's most important and controversial artists, she creates pieces that are exploding with energy. The 'Walls of Water' collection is no different. Based on a 2010 storm in Suffolk, portraying this storm onto eight out nine 6ft x 7ft canvas'. Th other one of the collection is a piece in memorial of Amy Winehouse.  

Seeing this collection in the National will be a huge inspiration for me to start being more fluid and energetic with my application of paint. 

Rembrandt at the National Gallery

Rambrandt's observation of everyday life, expresses intimacy, contemplation, conflict and reconciliation. Its this profound insight into human emotion, that has carried on the love of Rembrandt's work into the 21st Century. This collected 'Late Works', evaluates the themes that interested Rembrandt as he grew older: self- scrutiny, experimentation, light, observation of everyday life and even other artists.

Turner Prize 2014

This years Turner Prize was won by Irish man, Duncan Campbell.  

Campbell makes films about controversial figures such as the Irish political activist Bernadette Devlin or the quixotic car manufactuer John DeLorean. By mixing archive footage and new material, he questions and challenges the documentary form