L. G. Mathews

:D

2011-06-09T12:56:00.001-07:00

Think I just hit the jackpot! ...which I understand is a strange thing to say about a skip full of old laminate flooring...but that's just how I roll :D
So this could be what I make the Horses with...

Masquerade

2011-04-08T13:43:00.001-07:00

Work in progress of a mask for a ball this weekend....
Built on top of a simple store-bought one.

Dr Sketchy..sketches...

2009-08-26T05:09:00.001-07:00

2009-07-15T03:24:00.001-07:00

Space beast

2009-07-13T01:38:00.000-07:00

Pig Making

2009-07-13T01:36:00.000-07:00

PIGS! visualisation of what they will look like when finished.

Trent Reznor

2009-04-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Old painting, found it, scanned it in.

Some more drawings!

2009-03-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

This did have subtle blue in it, but my scanner did not want to show it...think I've got the expression right in this, Ive called it 'Smile for the camera...' haha, reminds me of my reaction when I used to get told to smile.

Experimenting with thicker and thinner lines after an email from Stuckist Charles Thomson about using that to depict background and foreground in 'Not Afraid to Use it'. think it works well considering the photograph was an odd angle making proportions all funny.

Did like this one, there was a lamp behind in the photo, made me feel as though he was turning away because it was too bright, but the pose meant it was sad, resigning to the shade. I dont know, its strange putting emotions to photographs/drawings of other people, you imprint ideas onto it, which seems really personal, but I do because they are my photos/drawings. Think I might try a painting of this one and really emphasize that idea.

Yoga! And don't forget to breathe...

Fast drawn, but turned out quite well, was reassuring to see that even when im not fussy with it they turn out in proportion.

Really pleased with the supporting leg on this one, the knee and muscles seen to work well. Difficult version of the 'Tree' in yoga, I cant do this one, yet...

Reclaimed wood trinket boxes

2009-03-05T15:46:00.000-08:00

Evaluation which was handed in with them-

In this project I used 100% reclaimed wood, both from discarded, smelly pallets and old wood found in skips and on the street. I love using pallets because they are abundant everywhere, piles and piles of them rotting in builder’s yards. They are the worst of the worst wood, deemed unfit for furniture and then thrown out after a brief use. This makes it more special; to give life and purpose back to the wood, than simply using brand new and perfect pieces.
This idea came from looking at a stack and trying to create a receptacle that wasn’t just a box. I was thinking about caves and how the rock is formed in layers built up over time, the idea seemed to fit perfectly with the grain of the wood, marking its age. I started making up maquettes with layers of card, working out where to cut out each layer to create the space inside. When they were re-created in the wood they were glued together and carved by hand to fit together to replicate the interior of a cave.
To unify the colours I scorched the surface of the interior, this also seemed to fit the natural theme; burning forests renews life, getting rid of the old and creating something better. I initially wanted to highlight the burnt interior by making the exterior smooth and perfect: when they were primed with white they looked good, really stark contrast, but as soon as I painted them blue they lost something and looked really bland to me. I got really disappointed and upset after spending so long with them and now not liking what I had done, so as time was running out I decided to try a different colour.
However, before I managed that I was tidying up the burnt wood on the inside with a blow-torch and accidentally caught the painted surface with the flame, I really liked the effect. I was worried that doing that to all the surfaces would spoil them, but as I wasn’t happy with the finish at the time I went ahead with it. It ended up come back to life again, looking completely different. The surfaces were coated in layers and layers of spray-varnish to prevent the burnt flakes coming off.
I am now really pleased with the result, they seem like natural forms, the inside and outside being more unified, and the blue just adds a nice amount of contrast. They’re a bit strange-looking and bizarre now, whereas before the blow-torching they were safe and boring.
The only thing I would like to have tried would be to build up many layers of varnish to encase the flaked surface completely, almost as though they were under a sheet of glass. I think this would make the surface more durable to everyday knocks, but it might also have spoiled the raw effect of it, and I would be back to being unhappy with them.

Some more drawings...reasonable scans this time...

2009-01-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas I did a photoshoot/lifedrawing session and (with a little tweaking in photoshop due to my awful photography skills) got some great photos out of it. My life drawing wasn't so good, think I was a bit shy! Anyway, here are just a few of the drawings I have done from the photos.

I think the bathroom is a really interesting space. Bedrooms can always be invaded, and are often shared, but in a bathroom you are completely alone and un-disturbable. I know I do all my best thinking in the bath, being naked and uninhibited, you can daydream for hours in warm water.

And then there's this one, its a self-portrait from one of the only photographs I like of myself. It reminded me of one of my favourite images, (Parsifal by Jean Delville).

Some (bad photos of) Drawings

2008-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

From our drawing module, I've really enjoyed this, having not really drawn properly for myself for quite a while, this kind-of forced me back into it and has really inspired me, artistically and personally. Funny isn't it?

People are my main focus here, allthough 'people, animals and articulation' are my choices of personal research.

This is from our very first drawing session, which was about 'mark-making' which I hated, and when we were told to 'do something' with the samples (all the bits of collage), I decided to turn it into something I loved, namely Neil. The samples reminded me of different thoughts and ideas and emotions, so here he is thinking weird and wonderful things, allthough in truth, when the photograph was taken he was probably thinking about what to have for tea. Its about A3.

This is a graphite sketch of the photographer Loren Cameron, he is transgender (I hope that's the correct term...) but you would not be able to tell, he's so masculine and actually a very good looking guy. I saw him on a T.V programme and immediately wanted to draw him, from his own self-portraits which are beautiful. This idea of sexuality not being what it seems interested me, girl/boy/male/female, they're only words, but so important to define who we are.

And then there's this guy. I saw him first when I was about 16, maybe 15, my boyfriend at the time knew him and said 'hi' at the bus station. From then on I kept noticing him when I was out in pubs and clubs (yes, I know, at 15) and always thought he would be great to draw. So finally, at 20 I had a genuine reason, and some genuine confindance to ask, and he said yes. So hopefully over christmas I will be doing some life drawing with him, but untill then here are some sketches from his (many) photographs on facebook and myspace.

I think what appeals to me is just how sure of himself he appears, and how aniamated and alive and un-inhibited with himself and his body. A part of me is worried that when I actually meet him he will be different to how I envisage him, and I think that will possibly spoil these drawings for me. But for now, I am really pleased with them. And sorry for the rubbish quality of photographs. I would scan them, but I've lost the cable that connects it to the electricity that makes it work.

These are only a few of the drawings I have done for this so far, Ive got some more to photograph/scan in and will upload them. During the presentation of them my work was compared to Otto Dix, a German Critical Realist, who I've researched and am quite flattered! Also suggested to have a look at Hans Bellmer, who I also really like, but all the books at the library were out. Good old Wikipedia for now, but his ball joint dolls and drawings are really my kind of thing. Its funny getting back into more arty drawing, not designing or technical or anything. Also having an interest in the Stuckists and joining in their demo has inspired me to do more.

Blue Light through Recycled Bowl

2008-12-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Sharquarium.

2008-12-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Design for the 'Public Art' module, I asked a company who makes acrylic aquariums what sort of cost I would be looking at... £2million plus!
Maybe some rich millionaire will want one :D

Think it would be great to walk around and through, with some nice fish, and plants etc...

First Post.

2008-12-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

Currently working on:

Recycling project. Its nearly finished, not presented yet, just want some incredible photos to print out. Hopefully will borrow the boyfriends underwater camera and take some in the bath. Which sounds odd...but it is based on coral reefs (specifically the Kuda Giri reef in the South Male Atol...Maldives) and is swirly glass and spikey copper. Will post the amazing photos when I take them.
Jewelery Project. We weren't really meant to finish anything for this as it isn't being persented, but I am doing. Opening and closing bird conceptual necklace, 1 hand-cut version, flow-jet articulated version, and 4 flow-jet cut non-articulated versions, one of which is my Mum's Christmas present (aww) and the other 3 I think will be made into a mobile/light sort of thing. Again, will post pictures. Oh I do have one though....

There we go, thats my flatmate modelling one for me. It is hand cut, which took a long time, annealed and shaped slightly for a more 'in-flight' inmpression.

Public Art Project. Mine is going to be a large, segmented 'Sharquarium' (an aquarium in the shape of a shark...) set outside in Trinity Square in Nottingham. It is to raise awareness for the 'Shark Trust' http://www.sharktrust.org/ due to the plummeting numbers of sharks in the world's oceans. It is a subject very important to me and there isn't enough awareness about it. I have some sketch-up pictures that I will post. It will be in glass or acrylic (acrylic not yet UV stable enough to be outside, but is much better option otherwise that glass due to weight and durability etc) and I am getting an approximate quote from an acrylic aquarium manufacturer. Might be a bit outside my budget right now though!

Drawing Project. As well as all the bits and pieces we are doing in the lessons, I am concentrating my research on people, animals and articulation. Spent yesterday drawing the ferrets. Have permission to draw a very interesting man I vaguely know from nights out, might even ask him if I could do some life drawing of him...but that might be a bit wierd...

Also got a very slow moving personal project, my wooden hare, basically a hare version of my wooden horse(pics). It will be done one day though.

Oh and then there's also the Business Project. I am actually really enjoying learning about it, I feel so strongly that it is what I want to become that I am sponging up all and any information that will help me. I understand that it will be really hard, and I will be really skint, but the first time you sell anything, properly, to an outside buyer, and they love it and want it in their home...that would be great.

Anyway, that is what I'm up to currently.