Narratives in Art.
Welcome to "Narratives in Art," a space where I explore the stories behind my creative practice. As I navigate my journey through a master's in fine art at Central Saint Martins, this blog serves as both a reflective journal and a platform to share the evolving processes, inspirations, and challenges that shape my work. Join me in uncovering the layers of meaning and experimentation that define my art, and discover the narratives that unfold along the way.
Dürer to Van Dyck: Drawings From Chatsworth House.
Discover a rare glimpse into art history through my visit to Dürer to Van Dyck: Drawings From Chatsworth House exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, housed within the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh. Featuring pieces by Dürer, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Rembrandt, this captivating display not only unveiled historical techniques but also inspired me to explore new creative approaches in my own work.
Reflections On My Second 1-2-1.
These 1-2-1 tutorials always feel like a valuable pause - moments to recalibrate and refocus my direction of study. This second session reaffirmed that I’m on the right track, while also opening up new avenues for experimentation. We explored the role of negative space in my work, the idea of balance in Chinese Brush Painting, and how translation - of memory, place, and emotional resonance - continues to shape my practice. I left the tutorial with a renewed sense of confidence and excitement, eager to push my work further, both in scale and concept.
Unit 1 Assessment.
This post reflects on my research and artistic development throughout Unit 1, exploring themes of memory, belonging, and isolation in landscape-based work. From place attachment theory to material experimentation, I examine how theory and practice inform each other, shaping my approach to ink, scale, and composition. Through critiques, exhibitions, and research into Chinese brush painting, I’ve refined my methods and deepened my understanding of how places hold meaning. Moving forward, I aim to push the balance between clarity and ambiguity, allowing for greater interpretation and connection in my work.
Mount Murals.
The study Exploring Embodied Place Attachment Through Co-Creative Art Trajectories offers valuable insights into how art can evoke a sense of place and belonging. Applying these findings to my practice, I explore how individual art can mirror the emotional connections seen in group projects, using sensory detail and symbolism to evoke memory and attachment.
Exploring Cianalas.
In my recent exploration of place attachment, a conversation with a friend introduced me to the Welsh word "hiraeth," which expresses a deep longing for home. This led me to discover its Scottish counterpart, "Cianalas," particularly poignant among the Islanders of the Outer Hebrides. This term encapsulates the emotional connections we form with places, shaped by personal histories and collective memories. As I delve into Cianalas, I aim to weave together the themes of place attachment and memory in my artwork, employing techniques such as layering and shadow to evoke the nuanced emotions tied to these significant locations. My practice will reflect how memories, much like shadows, can shift and change over time, creating a tapestry of experiences that shape our identities and sense of belonging.
Exploring Place Attachment & Isolation.
As I continue to evolve in my artistic journey, I’ve started to notice patterns in the places I choose to paint. They are rarely random, often evoking a deep emotional connection for me — whether tied to a personal memory or simply a sense of belonging that I can’t quite put into words. This realisation has led me to start exploring different theories, like place attachment and genius loci, as tools to better understand my work and, potentially, to guide where I go next.