Summer Project Review
Over the summer, the archives I visited were the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, the Slavery Museum in Liverpool and The Hepworth in Wakefield to get inspiration for my drawings. I photographed in the places I visited for my inspirational file as well as getting ideas online.
Slavery Museum
Whitworth Art Gallery
In the Hepworth I found the sculptures interesting to observe and draw. I saw work by a lot of artists but was drawn towards Barbara Hepworth’s work for its soft form. In Manchester Museum, I particularly liked the Egyptian exhibits because of their interesting designs, including the hieroglyphics. The Whitworth Art Gallery was interesting for its wallpaper exhibition especially the Bodies of colour breaking with patterns collection. The Slavery Museum in Liverpool was the most inspirational not just for the things that were displayed, but also for the history that I learnt. I knew the stories behind the treatment of black slaves, but it was moving to read it in detail. The sculptures that were on display, which I got inspired to draw were really impressive for their shapes, form, colour, pattern and the culture they show.
When I broke off for the summer after my first year of the course, I thought I really wanted to go back to weaving but when I researched for my inspirational file, I decided I would rather do embroidery because I came across techniques I wanted to develop further. I haven’t done much of bead work so I want to work on that as well as fabric manipulation which I find fascinating.
From my first tutorial I was asked what inspired me the most from my sketchbook, which would be the drawings from the Slavery Museum. So I need to take books out from the library on Slavery or African artefacts for drawings. I also need to develop further the drawings I’ve done so far.
