Part Three – Project Four – Exercise 1.3 ‘The Mirror as a stage’ – Blog 1 “Research”

I have separated the blog for this exercise into three parts. The first, this one, will look at the research and inspiration that I referred to complete the exercise. This research lead, in turn, to the sketches and experimental paintings and then onto the two paintings that I completed.

The subject of reflections, reflected images, reflective surfaces is a source of interest and fascination for me. I find interest in how light is turned upon itself to create mirror images of objects. The flat landscape of the Fens, where I live, is magnified in the reflected light in the water. This creates a grand canvas upon which the landscape and nature of the Fens can be observed. As I work through this course and consider potential topics for my parallel project I am increasingly drawn to focusing in on reflections in water.

I have used mirrors in my paintings and sketches in previous courses as can be seen in the sketches and paintings below.

***Mirror sketch – Produced as part of Concepts in Practice***

***Mirror painting – Produced as part of Concepts in Practice***

The topics explored in these sketches and paintings will be explored in the first painting that I produced for this exercise, see blog 3. The use of mirrors is a device that has been used extensively in art history. I am reminded of both Van Eyck and Massys.

***Extracts from paintings by Massys and Van Eyck***

Having attempted to bring reflections into my paintings with varying degrees of success I looked for examples of artists who performed this successfully.

The first example, which I recalled from visiting the David Hockney exhibition at Tate Modern in 2018, was one of his large charcoal drawings of Yorkshire. A rain puddle on the roadway is used to give the drawing depth, scale and interest.

***David Hockney, Woldgate 6-7 February 2013, Charcoal***

A further example is the work of Covadonga Valdes who, it was suggested, that I research as part of the feedback I received from Assignment 2.

***Covadonga Valdes, Homeland II, Painting from Homeland series***

Just two examples of many that have helped to inspire and challenge me.

The continual source of inspiration and fascination, as touched on earlier, is the Fenland landscape where I live. I have numerous photographs which I have taken over the years which explore the reflections. Some of these are close ups others look at the landscape from a wider, larger perspective and use the reflective qualities of the water to expand the view. The examples below are recent additions.