Sonia Ahmed - National Portrait Gallery

Throughout studying this part of the project I was asked to visit the National Portrait Gallery and Camden town I have posted information on both visits and my findings.

Artwork.

Firstly I noticed a painting of Anna Neagle by McClelland Barclay, which is made with oil on canvas in 1940. McClelland was an American painter of pin up art, he was born in St Louis in 1891, Barclay studied at the Art institute of Chicago. 
Anna Neagle was an actress and film producer, beautifully captured and created by McClelland the texture of the piece stands out, I specifically chose this image as the colour stood out to me with just a glance. The way the dress has so much tone in places where it settles, makes the picture almost realistic.

   
(Marion Margaret) Violet Manners (née Lindsay), Duchess of Rutland 
(1856-1937), Artist; wife of 8th Duke of Rutland


This next piece of work was produced by Violet Manners  who was one of the first exhibitors at the Grosvenor Gallery when it opened in 1877, Violet  made many portraits of men and women. Drawings of people in her social circle. Above is a portrait which she produced I found this piece related to me as I enjoy sketches and portraits of people, the shades of a picture give me the realist effect of drawing, therefore the detail of this artwork lead me to study it much further.

Dame Alice Ellen Terry (choosing), by George Frederic Watts

During an engagement at the Hay market Theatre, two sisters had their portraits painted by Frederic Watts, Terry and Kate. He then proposed marriage. Above is a portrait of Terry named "choosing", Terry must select between the flowers, one symbolising showy (earthly vanities) and scentless camellias/nobler values symbolised by fragrant violets. A few other paintings by Frederic, of the sisters were created and Terry was impressed therefore she married him shortly before her 17th birthday, however Watts was at the age of 46, Terry was uncomfortable with the role of a young bride therefore they separated after ten years of marriage.

The reason in which I took interest in the picture was because it gave an impression of tranquility and beauty, the image so elegantly designed, it almost looks realistic. Flowers in a picture decorate the whole scene and brighten up the artwork dramatically with a bit more detail.

Lucian Freud, Reflection (Self-portrait) (1985)


Lucian Freud (1922-2011) is one of Britain’s most well-known portrait artists, creating over 100 portraits Freud creates work with depth and detail. Above is an image I picked personally because of the texture of the artwork, you can see the shadows and detail of the face and shoulders as the tone of the image steadily progresses over the whole image. The detail and realistic touch on a piece of artwork gives it the attraction and appreciation, studying art in my recent years I have become to learn and appreciate detail of work.

"Baron Morrison Lambeth"


Juliet Pannett was born in Hove in 1911 she was a painter and she is one of the oldest living artists to have work in the National Portrait Gallery collection. Throughout her artwork Juliet has drawn many portraits of Prime Ministers, politicians, lawyers, judges, academics and musicians.
Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth,(3 January 1888 – 6 March 1965) was a British Labour politician, and above Juliet has drawn a portrait of him, the reason in which I chose this image was the because of the rough/rigid shadings and detail of the face, as I mentioned before the detail of artwork I appreciate and it finishes the image with the right look. The toning in this piece gives the impression of and olden image, as he was a politician in the 1880s, I think this effect gives it the touch of Lambeth's Days as a young man.


Below I have drawn a response to Juliet's work as I found this piece would be interesting to focus on and it inspired me to create something similar. 

Janet originally used chalk in her portrait however I used pencil, and with the same effect I tried to create the same texture has her picture, learning and practising new techniques throughout the process gives me a much more detailed study on how the original image is made.

Andy Warhol, Joan Collins 1985.
Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. Andy has created many pictures based on the theme of pop art, his most famous pieces are based on famous glamorous women. Above he has created an image of Joan Collins who is an english actress, author and  columnist. I have added the original image of Joan Collins that Andy has used to create this image as it gives me an insight into the dramatic change whereas the same image is still in proportion and clear to see. Andy has screen printed the image, concentrating on the bright colours and striking texture. The image is definitely different to the artworks I have focussed on previously, the reason in which I chose this artwork is because the pop art stands out and  and looks unqiue. Differentiating it to the common sketched and painted portraits you see, pop art gives the portrait a retro look suiting the whole pop art theme.Below is my version of Andy Warhols piece, to create the same look using different techniques I used Watercolour and Acrylic Paint.

Focussing on the bright colours and reflections on her lips, I tried to create an image as striking as the original.

 Paule Vézelay (Marjorie Watson-Williams)

oil on canvas, circa 1927-1929

Margery Watson-Williams in Bristol in 1892, studying art in her home town she went to the Slade in 1911.

Above is an image painted by her and its whole aura attracted me to it. Looking at the piece to me it gives the sense of elegance and lady like style. The colours used represent a woman to me, the fine detail of the shadows in the piece gives the whole artwork attention from its viewers. The reason in which I chose it was because I find this style of art very interesting, its the kind to inspire my thoughts. Below I have sketched the artwork as I wanted to concentrate on the fine detail of light hitting the figure.

Overall I enjoyed looking at many different artists who concentrate on the detail of portraits, it has inspired me and bought me closer to appreciating fine detail of work throughout artists creations. 

Camden Town Visit.

The second part of the project we were asked to visit Camden Town, here I took images of the urban/cultural parts of the Town. I enjoyed the visit and it gave me an insight into different parts of London.
Here I got to see many new things, different markets, cultures, typography and many more.

Firstly I took images of my surroundings, I thought Camden was a very fashionable location, very stylish and punk. Below are some of my images. they include the punk fashion. The punk fashion sets the whole atmosphere throughout the visit to Camden Town. I find the artistic side of Camden Town inspires me in terms of its colour and excitement. 

Below the image I have taken are of some of the architectural buildings I witnessed and found the detail in every building interesting.  Along with the statues of the horses I found the art of the surroundings suited the whole atmosphere of Camden Town.

Throughout my trip to camden I noticed many different cultural aspects of the place, from british to china and many more. My next few images I captured the different trends and cultures within the same place, this is what makes Camden such a great place to visit. 

Above I have captured very different styled artwork to different cultures within the same location, I found these pictures reflected many different people and it gives an insight to many countries as well as England, you enter some parts of Camden and they seem as if you have entered a more cultured environment.

When looking around Camden Town I realised my surroundings were quite old looking and yet again adding to the atmosphere of punk rock and retro.  therefore below I have entered the pictures in which I captured regarding this. 

Taken from different views the environment looks olden and adds to the theme of the Town. Which is something I myself take of notice, I like the different ages you step into when you enter a different location for its specific purpose.

Throughout my study in recent years on Graphic Design, I have focussed on Typography as a main topic, this is because I enjoy the creation of Typography and making it look effective. Camden Town had a great amount f Typography and many different styles aswell, including graffiti, which I find is a very urban way of creating art. Pop art also plays a major part in the art of Camden Town, and artwork by Banksy. The use of the word "Camden Lock" as soon as you enter the markets is the strongest form of typography I witnessed as it is an introduction towards the markets and it gives a clear impression to the viewers and members of the public.

Above I have added many forms of Typography I analysed from Camden, I found they were all differentiated from each other in many ways, as they relate to the title they are given, if you notice the Tattoo typography they stand out and give the style of tattooing which tattoo artists use within their work. The graffiti and pop art use many colours and bright headings to give them a sense of a cartoonish surrounding, I find this is an interesting way of creating something for Camden Town as the dramatic look suits the location and theme all together. 

Overall my trip to both National Portrait Gallery and Camden Town has inspired me throughout the journey and I wish to visit them again one day. The artworks witnessed gave me a clear understanding of not just art but the part of society when you get to see new surroundings and new people. The Camden Town visit gave me an understanding of different cultures and an isight into punk rock, I saw things here I wouldn't see on a normal daily basis whereas people born and bought up in the location do.