I have done this the wrong way round. Having completed Project 1 & 2 and the relevant exercises I have got round to researching the artists that were recommended to investigate. I will assess in this blog whether I believe they would have influenced the work that I have completed.

The first artist that was suggested was Alberto Burri, 1915 – 1995, who apart from being a painter was also a visual artist, sculptor and physician. The two painting that interested me were ‘Sacking & Red’ and ‘Assemblage’ both of which I have added below. It appears to me that I have explored similar techniques in my work. Although I note that the colours are much more muted than mine. Should I explore further but use a more harmonious, Fenland inspired, palette?

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The work that I looked at by Will Kendrick, 1983 -, was more a mixture of installations and sculptural works. The work ‘Architecture of a Spectral city’, shown below, is a colourful mixture of sculpted objects against a layered background.

Jason Martin, 1970 -, works in both two and three dimensions, seemingly at the same time. The works are somewhere between painting and sculpture. Often his works are in pure colour, the example below, ‘Rajah’, is created from pure pigment on panel.

I find that there are similarities between this and the experimental work that I completed. The paintings I made were on kitchen foil which enabled me to create a textured surface.

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I took the following quote from a blog by Tracey Harnish writing about Jason’s exhibition at L. A. Louver in 2011. “the work is seemingly abstract and minimal yet it doesn’t sit there quietly unassuming. Instead it powerfully vibrates outwardly drawing you in, close up and personal, taking you on big meaning by involving you in its physicality”

I have viewed some of Frank Stella’s work as an abstract painter previously. The painting below is a good example of his work. There are aspects that have influenced some of my experimental pieces.

Lastly I examined the pioneering work of Eva Hesse, 1936 – 1970. She created works using materials such as latex, fibre glass and plastics. However the pieces that I was drawn to when re-examining some of her art was a drawing and a painting. The drawing looks like it has been stitched together.

Whilst the painting has an untutored, scribbled look. The figures are barely described but convey vulnerability and menace in equal measures.

Conclusion: Would I have changed my approach to the exercise if I had completed this research prior to commencing on the exercises? I don’t think so. However, it is always good to experience and look at other artists works and to draw something from them. This is part of the continual learning experience. The culture of the art thief. Picking up ideas and inspiration from each other and melding it into their own practice.

• Part 4 - Parts of a painting