Influences. Artists

 I have looked at various artists to inspire my work including the architect Frank Gehry, the mixed media textile artist Helen Birchall and the fine artist Ian Murphy. The two main artists I looked at are Mathew Borrett and Piet Mondrian.

I found Mathew Borrett’s work in the spring addition of the 2014 Drawing Magazine looking at his “Room Series”. Mathew Borrett studied as an illustrator, now working in visual effects for film and TV as an environment artist, also in his spare time he draws and illustrates. His “Room Series” is highly inspirational to me as the square patterns and cut-outs links to the drawings I have created. Mathew Borrett’s childhood inspires him to create these drawings as he used to create similar shapes out of his Lego and his computer game Commodore 64. He also says he used to have reoccurring dreams that he would find secret rooms in his house, inspiring his Room drawings showing the hidden rooms. I find the way he uses past experiences as a child inspirational, as a child everything is more interesting and new, you see hidden qualities which as an adult you overlook. I find this concept highly interesting, when I move into the industry I would like to look back into my past for inspiration adding this into my own work, I feel this will make my work personal to me and also create a basis of which to work upon. I think it will also interlink all my works creating a certain look though out.

Mathew Borretts work. (www.mathewborrett.com)

Piet Mondrain’s (1872-1944) work is currently being shown at the Tate Liverpool. The work consists of his more famous work ‘Neo-Plasticism’ including works ‘Composition with Yellow, Blue, and Red’, however I find his work of Nature and Architecture more inspiring. Mondrain looked at contrasts such as; the framework of branches and buildings set in a landscape, structure and nature, order and randomness, symmetry and asymmetry. I find this interesting and something I would like to develop. I have already started to develop this in my current summer project by looking at derelict buildings in contrast to new buildings as they stand in conjunction.  

Piet Mondrains work (www.tate.org.uk)

Both artists work have inspired me to continue with my block drawings looking at contrasts of colour, density and space. I have always use contrasts within my work as it adds more detail to the project. I will continue to do this as I develop my work over the years even if it is only a slight contrast such as colours, shapes of the harshness of lines, as I find working with these contrasts exciting which encourages me to add more. I feel both these artists find inspiration in similar areas as I do, and have helped me think of new ways to gather information which will help me in later years when continuing with my work.