Getting Back

So it's been a while. The other day I was walking through a part of town I haven't been to before, and saw this Polish church. I thought it was quite interesting, and the style of brick creates an intriguing texture on the front of the building.

Didn't stay long as I had a bus to catch, and the photos were taken on my blackberry so aren't great quality. Really want to save up for a new camera (!)

Jess (:

You already know

I just like that song.

Anyway.. just a short post with some links to some things I've been reading recently.
Firstly, the online version of The Architects Journal (http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/) Probably a pretty standard read if you're interested in architecture - they have a good page on sustainability as well, which is something that I'm particularly interested in.
Also ABC+D have an online magazine (http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/1e2ee86c#/1e2ee86c/1), and you can find more at www.buildingtalk.com, but thats more about products and technology than design.

Jess (:

Slightly more architectural, I think.

So, long time no blog. I know. But what with January exams, UCAS and general stress I've had little time to get on with posting. Maybe in future I can use this as break, rather watching endless series of tv on the internet..
Anyway, here are some bits I've done over the past month. Hope you like them (:

This was a landscape I recently did, around where I live the landscape is pretty boring (no soaring hills, deep valleys or waterfalls, sadly) but it can still be quite beautiful - and there's always a lot of the sky to see. Which I guess might be why I like looking at the sky so much.

So you'll probably recognise this building (though it's not a brilliant drawing). The Flatiron Building in New York, designed by the architect Daniel Burnham (a favourite of mine).

Above is just a sketch of a ceiling of an archway in Cambridge (you might recognise it from here ). 

Again a recognisable place: Newcastle. I've never done many cityscapes before (at all), so let me know what you think (:

Lastly a piece under the title 'My Street' and as my street is quite average I tried to make it more interesting with perspective. Not sure if it worked, still looks pretty boring to me but hey.

I'm going to try and get into blogging more regularly again - I know I've said that before, but at least I'm consistent, right? Feel free to comment if you feel the urge.

Jess (:

Something fishy's going on

With applying to university,comes sending off a portfolio of work, standard. So I thought I would post a selection of my work from my portfolio, mainly done over the last year.

 This was from a figure project where I worked especially on drapery, I was very pleased with this mostly because I managed to finish it pretty quickly without it seeming rushed. (Acrylic)

This is one of my favourite pieces from my most recent project on 'identity', I focussed on the figure - more particularly the face, letting the body blend into the background. (acrylic & pencil)

This is one of the few 3D pieces I have done, inspired by an animal skull and under the title of 'empty spaces'; referring to the empty space inside the skull and what would have once been there. I must admit I was a bit creeped out at first by thought that I was holding what used to be a live animals head, but after a while there seemed a kind of beauty to it.

Again, under the title of 'identity', I like the sharpness created by the monotone and the way the tracing paper blurs the background. I seem to have developed a thing for painting on tracing paper, not sure why. (acrylic on tracing paper)

This was one of the first paintings I did with oil paint (well, a type of oil paint), it was quite large (A1ish?) and took a while, but I was pleased with the end result. This was actually exhibited in a local art gallery over last summer along with some other work from my college. 

These last three are all from my exam  project last year, the last was my final piece and was also exhibited over the summer. I think the title was 'shine' (?) focussing on the shine of water on skin. (pencil on newsprint, acrylic & PVA and acrylic, respectively)

Hopefully I'll be able to put up some more architecture orientated work soon, also I've got a new book which I might tell you about 

Jess (:

Up in the clouds

Its seems forever ago when I last went away to Italy, but it was actually only in July. I've been a couple of times with school for music (managed to get on the trip with my poor flute skills), but I really wanted to go because of the rich texture of the buildings out there, the intricacies highlighted by the burning sun. I love the relaxed atmosphere created by the culture and the warmth - it makes it easier to simply admire the architecture (or maybe that's just the effect of being a tourist?). Anyway, here are some of my favourites (:

The colosseum in Verona, quite tiring getting to the top but it's such an beautiful panoramic view of the city it's definitely worth it. I'm always amazed when you get inside because of the sheer size of the space (ok so always means twice, but still), I do have a photo of the inside but I can't find it, so maybe another time? Besides, I doubt a photo could portray the atmosphere created when you're actually there - so if you ever get the chance, go.

The look of the tall buildings with their layers of balconies has always appealed to me, I like the idea of stepping onto a balcony and having conversations with the people on the surrounding balconies. Or perhaps it's just the symmetry they add.

This is the famous Juliet's balcony (as you might be able to tell from the tourists..) it's difficult to talk about the  history of the place when really it's packed with people wanting to see the spectacle of romance, so there's more a sense of excitement and the mystery of what may have actually occurred there.

Now, back to the cold streets of England.. Hopefully I'll be able to go back there again one day, but as this is my last year of school I think I'll have to find another way to get a visit in. Somewhere so beautiful can't show you all it's secrets in one day.

Jess (:

FINALLY

YES, finally I finished my final piece for my last project. So it's not architectural, but it is art so I thought I would put it up here.

What do you think? Only trouble is, now I've got to do some more prep and a second final piece to follow on from it.. yay. I'm joking, I did enjoy doing it, it just takes a lot of time! Then again, most things do if you want them to turn out well.

Hope you had a merry christmas (:

Jess

Long Time No See

So I know it's been a while, but as it's nearing Christmas (and therefore January) I've had a load of lovely deadlines. This also means I've been compiling some portfolios - yes, it's stupid, they all want different ones - so I should have some good stuff too post soon. On top of this I have some photos from a little trip to Italy lined up, so things should be picking up on here (:

But for now, this is a bit of a random post as I have a selection of random photos I thought I'd share with any one who happens to be reading this.

This is a shot of my friend's apartment building, sounds boring I know, but it's a converted textiles factory and the space that it's created is really interesting - like there's a background atmosphere still buzzing around from when it was a factory, it's really easy to imagine the feel it had when it was in action. I really liked the lobby space as that was where it was most open, and the structural beams have a kind of rawness and strength about them (ok, that sounds stupid, obviously they are strong, but they add a lot of character).

This is a painting I found in a restaurant in Cambridge, of a building reflected in the River Cam. The idea that you only see the reflection of the building is appealing to me because its like you're seeing an impression of an impression, and you have to work harder to distinguish what it is you are looking at. I also like the saturated colours, but that's just because they get your attention.

Here is a photo of the Olympic village, a bit old news, but it's an interesting design - it reminds me of the kind of Sicilian cities you get on hillsides, with all the buildings almost stacked on top of each other (just a bit more modern and a bit more blue). Its good how they've tied the colour scheme with the environment of the river though (I'm guessing that's what they intended?).

Finally, this is a building I saw on a walk to the Tate, I thought the geometric style was striking - I just turned around and it was a nice surprise (you can tell I live out in the countryside, surrounded by little stone cottages - don't get me wrong they're nice, but there sure are a lot of them). Really need to get out more so I'm not surprised by interesting things. Hopefully when my exams are over...

Anyway, as I said, a bit random, but a way to get back into blogging.

Looking forward to Christmas? Have to say, those stone cottages look darn cute at Christmas time (:

Jess (: