Final year project
The interaction between physical colour and digital colour [Read more]
Light painting triptych
Acrylic paint on canvas, projection. 233.69 x 190.5cm
This image exemplifies my concept of the interaction between physical colour and digital colour. By combining abstract, gestural painting with projected imagery it allows the eye to experience how changes in light can transform painted colours. Installed in a gallery setting I displayed the colour changing projection bleeding over the sides of the canvas in order for it to fill the entirety of the space with the colour transformations, this process is then photographed and filmed.
Light painting triptych
Acrylic paint on canvas, projection. 233.69 x 190.5cm
Light painting triptych
Acrylic paint on canvas, projection. 233.69 x 190.5cm
Light painting triptych installation view
Acrylic paint on canvas. (91.4 x 121.9cm) x3
The process of my work is paramount to my practice. Throughout this semester I have rigorously tested painting applications and styles. I refined my approach to painting and pushed the boundaries of my work to reach new abstracted limits. The elimination of figuration and the specific mark-making techniques led me to my finalised painting style. I found this change in direction from a very limited colour palette and range of marks to a broad spectrum of colours and gestural brushstrokes the pinnacle of the success in my work. The expressive brushwork and painterly style allows these paintings to work as part of the projected installation and on their own.
Light painting triptych installation view
Acrylic paint on canvas. 91.4 x 121.9cm
Light painting triptych detail
Acrylic paint on canvas. 91.4 x 121.9cm
Light painting triptych
Acrylic paint on canvas, projection. 233.69 x 190.5cm
Light painting triptych
Acrylic paint on canvas, projection. 233.69 x 190.5cm
Francesca Edwards
Stimulated by the concept of colour interaction, my installations explore the dialogue that is created between the painted surface and the colour illuminations when colour changing sequences are projected on top of the canvases.
By combining abstract painting with colour changing projection it allows me to see the direct affect that digital light has on painted colour, and how changing the hues of this light can create immersive colour transformations. My gestural paintings are photographed, digitalised and then projected back onto the original canvas. This second layer depicts an animated colour sequence that illuminates the painted colours, creating a sense of movement across the space.
These installations encourage a detailed observation due to the changing colour sequences. This highlights the meticulous details of the interactions formed through layering; which can be seen stood close to the canvas. However, this style of work also favours the audience viewing the entirety of the space. While the wide-span projection bleeds off the canvas it fills the room with changing hues. The employment of 3 projection paintings working simultaneously together ensures that the space is filled with a range of hues that directly complement and contrast each other. My aim is for the viewer to enter the space and feel completely submerged in colour.
Curation is one of my biggest passions, therefore following my Fine Art degree I will be undertaking a Master’s degree in Curation at the University of Essex. Being a committee member of both the Welcome Mat; exhibiting students’ artwork, and the Fundraising committee for the degree show it has highlighted the importance of curating and encouraged my desire to pursue a career that field.
Dissertation
Colour theory, colour experience: a practice-led study of 2-dimensional painting with reference to Henri Matisse and Bridget Riley
Final year project
The interaction between physical colour and digital colour
Awards
Whilst at university I was on the Welcome Mat Committee, during which I arranged and undertook meetings with students in order to arrange group exhibitions, also assisting the curation of these shows. In my last year I was a crucial member of the Degree Show Fundraising committee, where I helped to raise £1019 by organising fundraising events such as art auctions, drawing workshops and socials. In addition to these committee roles I created and independently manage the 2020 Fine Art Finalists Instagram page that showcases the work of Part C fine art students as a whole cohort.
'20 exhibited in ‘Line’, Loughborough
'18 exhibited in ‘All 2 Human’, Loughborough
'17 Distinction Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, Suffolk One
Experience
During the summer of 2019 I shadowed a journalist in Bologna, Italy. This journalist was a close associate of Francis Bacon, who also arranges Bacon’s exhibitions that take place in Italy. The experience from shadowing this journalist gave me an insight into how exhibitions are installed and organised and allowed me to understand how galleries and art publications in Italy are run.
I have been commissioned for both weddings and christening/baptism photography and was an official photographer of the Suffolk Show in 2017. These photography experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the pressures of creating a set of works that have to be completed and edited within a short time-frame.
Since 2018 I have volunteered teaching Arts & Crafts at my local church group, alongside that in 2017 when completing my Foundation Diploma, I volunteered to teach a class of children how to draw self-portraits at The Oaks Primary School.