Plan for gold arts award Unit 1
I
have named my project 'The use and history of masks in performance
arts'.
My
primary art form is illustration and visual arts in general. I enjoy
working in pencil, watercolour and using digital software such as
Paint Tool SAI, Photoshop and Paint. I like to illustrate fashion
designs such as evening wear, fantasy wear and decorative wear with
an underlying Gothic and punk tone. I like to design role play
characters and their outfits and weapons. I am currently focusing on
drawing the human form and experimenting with monochrome pastels. I
like to draw mis-shapen humans because I find them more interesting
than the 'perfect' body.
The
different types of visual art that I enjoy and which inspire me
include the Japanese cartoon form of Anime which has its origins in
Manga. Manga are a type of comic that are drawn in a style that was
originally developed in the late 19th century. They cover
a wide range of genres. It was Manga that inspired me to start
drawing, practising and to take it seriously.
My
new art form is drama and acting. I plan to research the use of
masks in performance arts and their historical use. I will research
Brecht's use of masks in his performances. The artistic challenge
that I have set myself is to work with a local drama group, Stage
Directions, attending acting workshops with a view to creating a
series of masks in a variety of mediums. The different mediums will
include a felted mask. I will be attending a felted mask workshop
with a local practitioner. I will also produce paper mache masks. I
am fascinated by the use of performance masks and I aim to also
explore the use of tribal masks and their meanings. I will be
working with the director of Stage Directions who is a professional
actor and drama teacher.
I
aim to collect evidence of the drama masks via photographs and
sketches. I will record the process via a blog. After researching
the historical use of performance masks I will create designs that
are influenced both by the masks I have researched and their use in
performances including the meanings that they represent. I plan to
share photographs of the finished items on my blog along with a video
of the masks being used in a drama workshop. I will gather feedback
on the workshop by asking participants and the audience to fill out
questionnaires which I will then post on my blog.
One
of my weaknesses is that I tend to start many projects but I find it
hard to finish them or know when to leave them and call them
finished. Another weakness is that I find it very hard to leave my
comfort zone and will avoid leaving it if I can. For example
abstract paining is very much out my comfort zone so I tend to avoid
creating abstract pieces or I will find a way to change abstract into
a figurative piece.
I
include as my strengths the fact that I am happy and willing to apply
many hours a day to working on any visual art project. This means
that I am constantly learning to new use new mediums and new
techniques.
This plan is looking great Demi, you have obviously given it a great deal of thought, Manga and Anime are very poular in my house and group too! it is going to be really interseting to see you Gold Award take shape from this initial plan.
ReplyDeleteThe use of masks in performance is really interesting too, it adds a whole different feel for both the actors and the audience as we rely so much on being able to see each others facial expressions.
Many of my students feel uncomfortable with absract art too, it is hard to get your head around I think and some of can and others just don't like it or even see the point, it is definatly an emotive subject!