I have been working on the self portrait again; reassessing what is actually required for this assignment, I think that my ideas have been a little off track, judging by the very few examples featured in other peoples' portfolios who are doing or have done this course. I think that this second assignment is still very much a primary scanning assignment rather than a manipulative one. I have therefore treated it as such.Significance of some of the elements within the final image:
The camera:
Although cameras are featured in many of the images seen in other peoples' work, and certainly by no means an original idea, it has been included here in preference to a photograph. I have been taking photos since I was 5 years old, a camera was the first thing I ever asked my parents to buy me. I have had many cameras in my life ranging from antique bellows cameras to SLRs, this is merely the most recent one that I own. I rarely get rid of a camera, I sometimes give them away but I never sell them; however, I have had at least two stolen. Taking pictures is an intrinsic part of my life.
Old drawing of human chromosomes represents my profession (Clinical Cytogeneticist): From C.C. Hurst, The Mechanism of Creative evolution, CUP (1933)
I still feel the other areas I have been exploring are interesting but more to do with the next module than this one. As I have received almost no guidance from the course tutor I will just have to judge for myself what I think is the right thing. Maybe there is no right or wrong thing.
Hi! Hope this means you are still doing OK with the course and enjoying it? Sorry to hear there has been little tutor contact - I do understand that one and am a lot happier with the new tutors contact when I have any!
ReplyDeleteKeep going - maybe as you say there is no "right or wrong" ! I somehow expect that is the case! Chris
I like this very much. It has lots of interest and pleasing colour and composition, and I like the contrasts of texture, materials, line and tone, I suppose you could say the formal qualities. And you're right, there's no right and wrong, which maybe is why art is so hard! (or easy, as the case may be)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments; I think why I am finding this course to be rather challenging is that it seems as though there are only about three or four visibly active students on my course. Students doing CDA1 hardly ever contribute any material to a portfolio on the OCA website or indeed to discussions. There are about three or four of us who have put up any work at all. Nobody has said they need to be good images, indeed they are just put up for criticism or discussion. If we were at art school, tutors and fellow students would be criticising every bit of work produced, that is how we progress. So thank you again for your comments, it is very helpful and encouraging and I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteHi there - thanks for the link here - only just discovered it - I've put one for you on my UK / Global blog-roll. Good luck with the course - keep on keeping on
ReplyDeleteSteve (My Dog Ate Art)
You make a good point about the OCA portfolios. We had some debate in the past about how they should operate, public or private. The fine artists wanted private, the photographers were ok with public. It was supposed to be brought up at a meeting but nothing happened. That was about three months ago. For myself, I hardly use the portfolios for this reason, I'm waiting for some movement on the privacy issue. The thread is here: http://www.oca-uk.com/forum/student-the-coffee-shop/open-portfolios?page=1
ReplyDelete