Freya Welchs EPQ Blogz

  Continuing to design final pieces for derwent and Swansea open. This week I did a multitude of different ideas for my derwent prize and Swansea open final peices, on childhood.  I've been really considering adding together multiple photos of me and my sister together, (drawing) and then layering them slightly. I want to use penicl medium for both as thats my specialism and strong suit, as I want to do an Illustration degree in the future and then a possible MA or degree in Fine art afterwards.  I did some small sketches, looked at mt primary sources that ive gathered, referencing them, of me and my little sister. I wrote some medias that I could use and some ideas that were floating around my head as well as some that were sitting in my head as well.  I then reviewed my ideas and continued creating, looking at my primary sources and really thinking about the designs of what im planning to create for the derwent prize and the Swansea open.  That was it for this...

  Beginning to design final pieces for Dewent prize and Swansea open! Here I began planning for Swansea open and the derwent prize. I sketched some quick and simple ideas and some more detailed ideas down, I did some sketches of me and my sister through our childhood, and I was thinking that I could add a load of them together and create a piece out of some layered pencil drawings of me and my sister when we were little. I feel as if this week went well, I got many ideas down and ready, I wrote some ideas and thoughts that I could possibly add or think about, and jotted down things that came to mind, being part of the design process. I thought about what mediums I could use, for derwent prize pencil, but for Swansea open I thought about paint, charcoal, pencil, pen, all of it. But I am heavily considering going down an Illustrattive pathway for the Swansea open in particular, with pencil and fine liner.  That was all for this week as well as some small mind maps too. I was thi...

  Abstraction with charcoal, layering. Abstract charcoal. Here i did an "Abstract" charcoal drawing.  I first grabbed a piece of A2 paper and masked it off with some masking tape.  I then collected some resources that I needed, I grabbed some willow charcoal, a rubber and some compressed charcoal and spare masking tape and had paper on side just incase I needed it.  I then looked through my childhood themed EPQ Primary photos.  I made sure to look at lots of different photos of mine, and select one that I think would work with the technique. We were first asked to draw from our primary sources, so I chose a really old photo of Catcti on my bathroom windowsill, these were really special to me and was a big part of my childhood, as when I was young, about 8-14 id always keep my own cacti and id take care of them really well and they lasted for years, I really loved cacti and these were some I had, so they were super special to me and really relate to my theme of c...

  Blending coloured pencils - . Here we started practicing with our coloured pencils, we first did some tonal lines with blending with out coloured pencils. I found this really useful to do as it made me realise how to work the pencil and how they react with the type of paper I was using and how much can go on etc. After I did that, I continued on the create a coloured pencils drawing, I began by finding a primary soucr of mine of childhood and Nostalgia, I chose a picture of me and my little sister walking together in mumbles, near the arcade where we always used to go. I find this picture really special to me and it connects to me and links to my theme so I chose it. I also chose it due to the fact that it has a good level and amount of detail in it and good shapes and bits to draw, perspective as well as distance and proportion, this excited me.  I began by sketching out a rough idea, whilesign de looking and inspecting my primary source, I then started to add more detail a...

  Half term - research and gathering primary and secondary sources. In half term I decided to go and collect primary and secondary information. This includes photographs and some interviews. I researched and dug up old pictures and photographs of me as a kid with some of my old childhood friends and of course my little sister.  I also thought about my childhood overall as well, and what it was like and how if still effects me today in this current day and age.

  Continuing with charcoal landscapes. This week in continued with my charcoal landscape of the nostalgic campsite from when i was a kid in my childhood, up till now, tat id go to with Girlguiding and do camps and fun activities, etc. 

  Landscapes in charcoal. We did landscapes in charcoal and i decided to choose something very relative and relating to my chosen theme for EPQ, childhood and nostalgia, i did a campsite that I've been going to for a huge chunk of my childhood with Girluiding on camp- i find it nostalgic there and when i go there, Every-time, it brings back all sorts of interesting memories, good, etc. 

 Charcoal drawing me as a child I found this a hard-ish, but fun process, however it was good experimenting and sampling, i love to improve on things, but i've struggled with charcoal a-lot in the past and i think i am improving with it, but it always take time to improve, but i think i did well with this piece and it really made me thinking of that childhood day of mine and brought a little nostalgia along the way. 

  Tony Orrico, experimental drawing. ADDITION I've already written about this but i was going to put a little extra about it too, all in order. i found the Tony Orrico technique of drawing, very free and loose controlled. it was an interesting experience, but i found it a really cool thing to try out. its a really unique and fun technique to do and it has very unique and cool looking and feeling outcomes too. I've never seen any artwork like it before, and the performance that i watched online of him doing it, was very interesting to watch too. i found it cool how he worked and the pure dedication to it as well, the endurance level as well. I find it such an inspiring and different way of working, and id like to try it again in the future someday. 

  Research and research into the Derwent Prize and Swansea open. This week we did a variety of research, i researched into the theme i had chosen and then i also looked at and researched into the Derwent Prize competition and the Swansea Open too.  i found researching both of the competitions really interesting and really inspired me to enter them! i am really excited to enter the competitions! i found out all of the specs and rules for the competitions too, and it was really fun as well! Here are some secondary photos that I researched online about The Derwent Prize and The Swansea Open

  Mood boards I started to create mood-boards and more mind-maps and deciding and developing my theme even further, exploring the possibilities on where this theme starts and where it can lead off. Gathering inspiration and sources to inform and fuel my project further, focusing on secondary sources too. I absolutely love creating mood-boards, it is so fun, yet so important, Its great for inspiring and informing my project, gathering ideas as well as exploring ideas even further as well!

  Mind maps  On week 1, I really explored lots of research on what I could do for my EPQ project. I wanted to chose and pick something that really relates to me, and that I have a good connection to, and high interest.  I ended up choosing the theme of "Childhood and Nostalgia", it really liked this idea, as i can really relate to it and describe what it was like for me, as everyone has different experiences.  On week 1, I made lots of really hearty mind maps, full of inspiration, fuel and ideas. I was really motivated, so I continued out my exploration.  I also looked at making some mood boards for my chosen theme. I really love making mind-maps as i find it such a helpful and inspiring thing to do, as it helps really discover and unveil what i want to do, so i did multiple mind-maps to see how many ideas that i could explore.  looking back at mind-maps is also a good thing to do as it can bring in new ideas and inspire others - very insporational and a go...

 I've been checking my blogs and reflecting on it and I feel as if i need to add more detail to my weeks in my blog. I am going to be making additions on other weeks on separate posts, so that I can add things on, I will start on week 1 and continue from there just adding more detail and photos from what I have done, and rounding it all together so that I dont fall behind. This plan should help inform my blog and populate it even more than it already is, I will be adding primary and secondary sources, and my own research to this as well. Also the reason for not uploading for about 2 weeks is due to 2 weeks of 2 trips on Wednesdays that took away my blog session time. However I have been planning it out,  And am now catching up!  👍 👍