Personal Statement
Art has always captivated me, not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for the hidden details and backstories it often carries. Every piece of art tells a story, and I find joy in creating art that conveys hidden meanings, something that I wish to pursue in my higher educational study of fine art.
My interest particularly lies in portraiture studies. Whether I'm replicating a face or inventing one from my imagination, I find myself drawn to the intricacies of facial features. I strive to create characters that are both flattering and unflattering, leaving room for viewers to interpret the personality behind the portrait. Creating self-portraits is an intriguing exercise as well. It's fascinating to see the characters that emerge from my own imagination and try to include techniques that artists I am inspired by, such as Christina Troufa.
What I love about art is its boundless nature - you can create your own narratives, whether they're based on reality or pure fantasy. To deepen my understanding of art, I chose to study Art History and Graphic Design at A-level as well as my passion, Fine Art. This allowed me to explore the works of renowned artists and architects, understand their inspirations, and learn how their experiences influenced their creations. I've have visited many art institutions; The Royal Academy, the National Gallery, The Ashmolean, Tate Modern, Birmingham Museum and Tate St Ives. Recently I visited London with my family to visit the National Gallery, The Royal Academy and the Tate Modern, I used this time to understand more about the artists that I study at college - using this time to form my own opinion on what inspires me.
The range and style of the artists at these galleries seemed to be endless, some of it different to what I'd seen before (a stuffed cat sat in the middle of the gallery at the Royal Academy for example challenged my understanding of what art could be!) The artists who inspire me the most hail from the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. I'm inspired by Christina Troufa, I really enjoy her use of facial expressions and also the use of space, which brings her art into life and focus. I also really enjoyed Paul Cézannes style of using the whole canvas to tell his story, and how he used his brush strokes, I loved the Sea at L'Estaque and the beauty of the colours he used. Their work exudes energy and expression, the way they paint seems to be influenced by the emotions they wish to convey. Their exaggerated brush strokes and marks create an overwhelming feeling in most pieces, which I find incredibly intriguing.
My brothers have played a significant role in shaping my artistic journey. From a young age I would often replicate the stylised sketches my brother created. This practice helped me hone my drawing skills. One of my fondest memories is when my brother taught me to draw an eye. This sparked my fascination with creating faces, and after numerous attempts and countless YouTube tutorials, I could perfect a realistic-looking eye.
In my quest to study realism, I came across the YouTuber BananaJamana. Her hyper-realistic paintings of various characters piqued my interest, and how she uses a range of mediums to produce her work. Inspired by her work, I began creating hyper-realistic drawings using Prismacolor pencils. I later joined art classes where I could focus on developing my unique style and exploring different painting techniques.
Art has been a constant passion in my life, and I find immense inspiration in the diverse perspectives of fellow artists. Exploring various universities and engaging with students has been a rewarding experience. Witnessing their artistic journeys and examining their creations has fuelled my anticipation to be in their position. I eagerly look forward to embracing the challenge of meeting the high standards they have set, working diligently towards my own artistic aspirations.