Bringing a new perspective to the urban landscape - Edward Waite exhibits a contemporary, painterly approach

Recently graduated from the University of Lincoln in Fine Art, Edward’s work draws inspiration from the urban landscape which he captures through constant documentation using drawing, photography and painting.

He defines his role as an artist, by building experiences of places, conveying direct and tangible interpretations of particular landscapes. His work is memory focused as he describes:

“My painting becomes a subsequent response where feeling, reinterpretation and imagination are implicated. A city is unique. Individual interpretation is something that fascinates me and it is this idea that feeds my practice. I choose to work with manmade scenes rather than natural landscapes because I find that the compositions and perspectives are more motivating. The work reflects the city’s visual reality as I perceive it.”

Edward starts the process by drawing. He has entire sketch books filled with continuous marks which enable him to respond to the subject in a quick, direct and portable way, creating a wealth of detailed visual information. The process of walking and drawing creates a relationship between surroundings and self. His desire to repeat this action of documentation aids focus to look again, deeper and harder at surroundings.

Influenced by painters Pollock, Kiefer, Turner and Kline; all exponents of evoking mood through the application of broad gestured, thick paint and surface marks relates to the way in which Edward layers paint to create structure, his self-experience and physicality, as he explains:
“I build up each layer applying the paint direct from the tube, scratching with a palette knife and using broad brushstrokes to create form until I can sense the atmosphere I want.” You can see more of Edward’s work at http://www.artgrad.net/ or you can view his paintings in person at Rogues Gallery in Lincolnshire where he has just started exhibiting. For more information visit their website http://www.roguesgallery.co.uk/.

99.9 – A Graduate Exhibition

Above image by Gemma Jones

Nine recently graduated Fine Artists of De Montfort University, Leicester, are exhibiting 18 – 29th August at the Degree Art Gallery, 12A Vyner Street London, E2 9DG (open daily 12 – 6pm).

Worth a look – or check them out on www.artgrad.net

Those exhibiting include:
Chandni Challa, Charlotte Cleaver, Kathryn Harris, Naomi Hewson, Gemma Jones, Manolis Manarakis, Joe Moran, Tracy Walker and Hanna Whitmore

Scholarship Winner on-course to Exhibit in London

Kathryn Harris, is from Neath in South Wales, she did foundation studies at Swansea Metropolitan University prior to Fine Art at De Montfort University, where she has recently graduated and now has her sights firmly set on developing her work as an artist.

Throughout the 3 year degree she examined aspects of childhood and memory, exploring darkroom techniques and photograms along with projections, using drawing and photography to back up her practice.

Kathryn’s final work used hair as the main element, exploring her ideas surrounding memory with a broad look at such things as fairytales, which influence us from childhood. She used 'lo-fi' as a means to create her work, employing old technology and artistic techniques, and describes her inspiration as:

“The use of hair is something which has been explored due to a want of both beauty and attraction teamed with repulsion and fear within the work, bearing resemblance to the ideas behind the work of Mona Hatoum. Hair is steeped in social, historical and symbolic resonance. Here, the hair is representing a part of something that has gone, a physical memorial to the person to which it once belonged. The Victorians used hair to remember their loved ones; locks were treasured within jewellery, or woven into pictures. ‘Hair Art’ was born out of people in mourning wanting a keepsake of their loved one; it was not seen as grotesque or macabre as it would be viewed as today. It is this Victorian sensibility of wanting to hold onto something from the past through hair which interests me, teamed with a fascination with fairytales, many of which being popularised in this era, with obvious links to Rapunzel along with a more general look at the use of fairytales to teach children morals and their use of symbolism; objects, colours, characters are used for specific reasons. Their resulting impact on our memories can often shape the way we perceive the world”.

She was awarded the Clephan Scholarship in her final year of study and a triptych of works from the final degree show was selected to be kept by the fine art faculty. See more of her work on http://www.artgrad.net/

Kathryn is currently organising an exhibition in London with a group of fellow DMU graduates to take place from the 19th-29th August – watch this space for further details about the show!

First Class Hons – for a First Class Collection

Penny Newton, by her own admission, is an enthusiastic, bright and hard working individual with a passion for intimate apparel and the drive to succeed. Her thirst for knowledge and the desire to excel has resulted in a well deserved 1st class honours degree in Contour Fashion from De Montfort University.

Inspiration for her final collection, ‘AD-82- Anatomical Distortion’, was based on research about the human anatomy and plastic surgery. This led Penny to focus on the clean lines of flowing muscles which resulted in a capsule collection of lingerie, corsets and collars.

The fabric garments were all embellished with subtle red stitch detail, denoting muscle lines. The plastic corsets signify our desire for perfection and plastic surgery’s ‘quick fix’ to attain ‘the body beautiful’.

During Penny’s investigation she spent time studying alternative design labels and fetish wear. Trend research also allowed her to focus on fabrics such as denim and leather to gain texture and provide a different look at ‘alternative’ lingerie.

Her colour palette of creamy whites and blood red accompanied by chrome fastenings came from looking at Gunther Von Hagen’s Body Worlds exhibit.
Penny was also inspired to look into plastic corsets which are used to alter the spines of those who suffer with spinal deformities.

To see more of Penny’s work go to: http://www.artgrad.net/

Contour Fashion Excellence Exhibited on artgrad.net

Focus on Samantha Leigh Tretton

By her own admission Samantha is determined, self motivated and driven – so rightly deserves to do incredibly well from her recent degree show at De Montfort University.

A final year student on the Contour Fashion course, Samantha distinguished herself with an exceptional catwalk show and an exhibition to die for. Check out her work on http://www.artgrad.net/

Her final collection was inspired by the feminine, polished style of the last debutantes of the fifties. Samantha gathered research in Paris and London, and was influenced by various exhibitions and extensive research trips.

The last London Season in 1958 marked the end of an incredibly glamorous era; the hourglass figure enhanced by the minute belted waist, full circle skirts with layers and layers of tulle, vibrant colour with stunning floral prints.

The bespoke designs celebrate the femininity of the young aristocratic girls ‘coming of age’, into a world of cocktail parties, balls and dinner dances, pearls and couture gowns.

“I designed clothes for flower-like women, with rounded shoulders, full feminine busts and hand-span waists above enormous spreading skirts." Christian Dior.

The unique collection reflects a contemporary take on this classic female silhouette with a twist of the elegant fifties style; hand-finished tailored lingerie and outerwear pieces using specially sourced vintage fabrics and antique trims combined with luxurious silks.

Samantha is a talent worth checking out – very quickly!

Virtual art gallery Artgrad.net launches to showcases UK university talent

www.artgrad.net launches this month. The website specially designed for art students to exhibit and sell their work goes live today with universities in the Midlands being the first to take advantage of the virtual gallery.

The site, which is free to join, has been developed to showcase the work of students in art disciplines to a global marketplace, offering pieces for sale and opportunities for commission.

Artgrad.net differs from other sites in that it works actively to find buyers, collectors and enthusiasts who are searching for contemporary art from emerging artists.

Commenting on the development of artgrad.net – Sue Gordon, director said: “We have been to many excellent graduation exhibitions and it seems sad that so much talent has just a few days of exposure and then in many cases is lost to public view. We designed artgrad.net to offer this creative pool of talent a broader market, actively contacting potential buyers who are seeking individual works of art, commissions and also jobs.”

Each individual artist or designer has their own virtual space on artgrad.net which they can manage, price their work and sell through the site. The creator is in total control of their virtual gallery at all times allowing them to keep it fresh, interesting and using descriptions that includes key words to help buyers search and find exactly what they are looking for.

There is also a bespoke service for buyers to help them source artists and designers for individual commissions.
For more details about how graduating students can join and buyers can access the site go to www.artgrad.net