Shuna Rendel, 'Pleated Rhythm 2'...

I have previously seen Shuna Rendel’s work before exhibited in the Oldham Gallery and I was inspired by it from then on, so to my surprise more of her work was exhibited in the Holden Gallery with similar aspects to it. ‘Pleated Rhythm 2’ presents repetition of the pleats that are constantly twisting and folding, the chosen colour palette is harmonious and natural looking this fits in with the material used. Shuna Rendel explores flexibility and movement in every possible way; she makes simple line and form and transforms it into excitement just by exploiting materials flexibility. Its structure changes movement through manipulating the material and simple actions of twisting, pulling, turning etc.

'Peace'...

“Nature can be inspiring and can help people to deal with personal difficulties. Cranes are large birds that feature in the legends of many cultures. In China and Japan they symbolise long life and good luck. There is a story that if you fold a thousand paper cranes your wish will come true. Sadako Sasalki was a young girl when an atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, in 1945. She became ill because of the radiation from the bomb. Sadako wanted to be healthy again so she tried to fold a thousand paper cranes. There is a story that Sadako’s friends and classmates helped her fold the paper cranes. Sadako said of the cranes “I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world”. Today, paper cranes are the international symbol of peace”.

 

Manchester Museum- Butterflies...

Most butterflies are large and have bright and colourful wings that are generally noticed and used for their motifs of their wings in art subjects. Butterflies have a structured life cycle that is designed for their growth and evolvement; the wings are structured for movability. The four winged insects are characterised by their scale-covered wings, the scales are attached loosely and often come un-attached without harming the insect, and scales are formed by light and pigments. Butterfly wings decay with age and cannot be repaired. Butterflies were used by many cultures especially by Egyptians who used butterflies on temples, buildings, carvings and jewellery. Butterflies as symbols differ from what they represent by how many is seen.

 

Flower prints...

Structure within pattern prints...

I created prints using the structured pattern found in a leather chair that I had seen in Lanzarote. The materials used are not the usual print making stuff; I used regular watercolour paints and foam board that was drawn into using a sharp pencil. As the foam board was risen was I began drawing with the pencil the indentations became clear but I did worry about whether the foam board would rise back up taking away the pattern but this did not happen. I applied the paint ruff, filling the surface and pressed it down hard on a variety of papers.  

This print below was done on a4 plain white card

 This print was also done on a4 plain white card but repeated symmetrically

The prints did turn out better than I had expected but they still were a bit faded in some areas and very light. The prints are visible and for them to turn out this good for a first try using these materials I was impressed with them. 

Teguise Market Building...

 

This was a building that intrigued me on holiday, I came across it when I went to the Teguise Market, and it was based in the centre. With the cross situated at the top of the building it made me think it was a church, if it is a church it is modern with brick exterior which is strange in the Lanzarote buildings as they normally have a plastered finish. I draw this building twice in different media’s; ink and then ink with watercolour, the one with watercolour worked slightly better as it looked more realistic than the other. Using different media’s is one of my themes for my summer project, I want to be able to know what media would work best with what I’m doing without having to try them all.  

Cesar Manrique...

Above is an image I took while on holiday in Lanzarote, on the way to the Teguise Market the tour guide mentioned an artist named Cesar Manrigue that was born and raised near Teguise. Cesar Manrigue based some of his art work around his home town area, this being on of them. This moving wind sculpture is situated on a public roundabout and rotates from strong winds, this playful sculpture is made out of Cast Iron metal. It's structure and mobility is beautifully presented and by creating a moving wind sculpture it almost gives Manrique's work function. His work is so known in Lanzarote that Manrique presence still remains after he ceases to exist.  

Manrique was born in Arecife on the 24th April 1919, he was a; painter, sculpture, architect, ecologist, monument preserver and construction adviser, he also worked with the government on an ambitious programme of public works, tourist attractions and architectural commissions. Manrique was said to of "visually unify the island into a harmonious whole". Through looking at more of his work they show character through his subtle use of repetitive shape and a harmonious colour palette. Apparently Manrique's work developed a close link with the natural world, he died in a car crash at the age of 73.