Week 1

I have only been here for a few days and I’m already noticing the differences between GCSE Art at AGS and A-level. I was used to being given topics to explore, for example, portraiture, which I’m hoping to steer away from when doing A-level. I did a lot of this at GCSE, which I was capable at but didn’t enjoy it; it always seemed like a chore. From hearing the variety that other students’ ‘who am I?’ projects have, I can already see the greater freedom that A-level will allow me to have.

In my induction task, I focussed mainly on still life and discovered new artists like Jo Bradney and Catherine Beetham. I chose this over portraiture and landscapes because they don’t interest me. Objects can usually seem simplistic but a collection of them is what brings character to our homes and often, some of them have sentimental value. I am also influenced by Barbara Kruger, a feminist artist, as I believe that everyone should have the freedom to pursue their goals – both male and female. I think it is important to become an individual and not be warped by others’ beliefs and actions.

However, figurative art does interest me but I found it difficult to do a drawing that was observational. The body is something that is unique and some people become obsessed with the idea of dieting and perfecting their body image. I want to convey how you can’t set your goal to look like a certain celebrity, because we’re all different.

Also, I have a military family and so I thought it could be interesting to look at that side of my life. My Dad’s side is military orientated and is something that I’m incredibly proud of. I would like to look at their training and their tours. Perhaps I could look at the significance of poppies during World War I.  I have photos of my Dad’s service in the army so already have a starting point. I could then go onto looking at the rest of my family and looking at the means of communication between home and elsewhere – for example, the letter I sent to my cousin while he was on tour. I could do studies of medals and look at how the media try to keep up morale at home both in the World Wars and in more recent ones.