The idea of this is that I wanted to source my own natural pigments locally, that’s what I started to explore in my negotiated project. However, I’ve been beset by health problems – nothing serious thankfully, just enough to make juggling everything around doctor and hospital appointments was hard.

So I compromised, I sourced natural pigment powders and made my own paints using linseed oil from these.

My inspiration was the landscape of Scotland as it’s the one place I really feel at peace and calm when I holiday there. I needed to use muted colours.

Using the powders was not without uts own challenges. I found red madder really difficult, almost impossible to mix and I will in future grind it down into an even finer powder to use. Woad was also hard and it was very gritty. However, on researching the use of pigments and directions on how to make your own paints, Jackson Art supplies was extremely helpful for this. I found that some pigments are known for being grittier in texture.

I feel that everytime I approach my art and making my own paints, I will be continually learning.

My portfolio practice is about using reclaimed materials as a canvas. Whether that’s wood, or materials that can be used to make a canvas on a frame.

For these pieces I wanted to use reclaimed wood. I had an idea on the size and one was fairly easy to find as it was an offcut from the piece of work I did last year. Its a piece of mdf board, and already had acricly paint on it so the wood was already primed and the colours mad a great base layer for the image I had planned.

The second piece I wanted it to be as close to 1m x 1m as possible. Luckily there was an old piece of exhibition board that wat able to be repaired well enough to use again. This was also painted with emulsion, I decided to leave the marks and imperfections as they were, in the hope they will add rather than detract from the image.

The third bit of wood was some old wooden flooring. This was cut from our living room floor when we built our extension and had to match the new floor to the existing.

I am using an app called Trello to help me with my project management. It is relatively easy to use and follow. I can set up automated rules for my to do tasks and then mark them as complete once I’ve done them.

I don’t like adding lots of apps on my phone but I actually like how easy it is to use, and it syncs very smoothly and almost instantly with my laptop version.

The key here to its success is me remembering to update it. Which I will openly ad.it could possibly be my downfall.

16 March 2023

I am proposing to do one large piece of mixed media work that is based on themes of nature that mean a lot to me.   The landscapes of the Scottish Highlands are where I feel most at home and will be inspiration for the colour palette I choose.   I also feel that as I am establishing a sustainable art practice where I make my own paints, from natural resources some foraged, others purchased from sustatianable resources as much as possible.   I would like to represent wildlife as well.  As I am choosing the Scottish Highlands as my colour palette it makes sense that the Golden Eagle features as one of our endangered species.  

I will be making use of off cuts of hardboard and handmade paper some purchased from sustainable sources, and some will be homemade.   I am also looking at experimenting a little with used engine oil and application.   This is a nod to Jackson Pollock and his use of the pouring acrylics designed for the car industry.   The main medium I shall be using is linseed oil based paints and I will be experimenting with how to make up the colours and whether I can mix the pigments to create my own colours, rather than mixing the colour once the paint has been made.  Another technique I will be looking at is using egg tempra, these will either be smaller pieces to compliment my main piece of work, or even integrated in the larger collage.

I am committed to creating a portfolio of works that is made from re-purposed, re-cycled, re-claimed, home made mediums from natural and sustainable sources, either foraged or purchased.

I work better when I just get on and work through feel,  as yet I don’t have a final detailed image in mind, just the key items that I wish it to incorporate.  It will possible take on some inspiration from the fauvism, abstract and surrealism art movements.  Hopefully a nice blend of them all.