In my current practical work I am referring to the idea of the family gathering. In particular the traditional Sunday family dinner, I am interested in the focus on the mealtime. The people sitting around the table and the objects that surround them such as; tablecloths and food. In this work I have been exploring the delicate and fragile antique tablecloth, which is used each Sunday for a number of years. I am curious about the way this symbolizes the family unit being brought together. From these first ideas I realized that it was essential to think about the making process as well as the piece of work created. The meticulous process of applying tiny dots of PVA glue to acetate really enhanced the subtle nature of the work. The viewer sees the painting but cannot see the hours of work put in to making every dot the same size. At this point the delicate nature of the work as in some ways become a metaphor for the fragility of family relationships.

More recently I have been looking at the work of John Lawson, who’s work has a sensitivity and fragility I can identify with. Some of his work is of a large scale and explores the idea of symmetry and surface quality in a very sophisticated way. Additionally I have been referring to Catherine Bertola’s work where the wallpapered wall has been cut and manipulated to create a highly textured piece.

I am interested in studying fine art at degree level as I feel I want to further my knowledge and challenge myself to enhance and develop both my practical skills and become a more ambitious creative thinker. I feel that a fine art degree programme is the next step in my journey and development as an artist.