In this work from a few weeks ago, I placed myself into the corner of the room and gestured around corners. Down wall and onto the floor in one movement, that was the plan. I was also attempting to open up my marks and start to use vary the thickness of the brush and begin to layer. I have still used some straight-edged shapes/lines in an effort to stay connected to my previous ideas, however slowly they are receding – they appear less and less and take a less dominant role.
The colours were very flat, except for the little suggestions of aqua, which were transparent and painterly. At first that was not my plan, but I liked the effect when I first applied the paint and it didn’t have the same coverage as the other colours.
I am a bit torn as to where to go forward with this. And I have spent the past few weeks wondering what my mark is. Wondering which direction to take. I received some criticism – some constructive, some not so much. “Move away from flat colour” “continue with flat colour” “it looks designy, that’s bad” “it looks designy, that’s fine” etc. I think there’s a real art to knowing what to do with feedback. Ultimately, the thing to do is what you want, but it’s very easy to internalise it and confuse what it really is you want.
Despite the polarised responses, I felt quite happy with this work. I love this opening up of my marks. It feels good, and spatial. It’s interesting how as the artist and knowing your intent, you don’t realise that some of that doesn’t always communicate to viewers reading it cold. Lots of food for thought.
Cornered Gesture (c) 2013 Naomi Nicholls
Acrylic on wall/floor
Cornered Gesture (c) 2013 Naomi Nicholls
Acrylic on wall/floor
Cornered Gesture (c) 2013 Naomi Nicholls
Acrylic on wall/floor
Cornered Gesture (c) 2013 Naomi Nicholls
Acrylic on wall/floor
Cornered Gesture (c) 2013 Naomi Nicholls
Acrylic on wall/floor
