COURSEWORK: 1st Artist Analysis- Carne Griffiths (and Brainstorm of Ideas for Personal Investigation)

Formal Analysis


(http://www.cellarviewines.com/wine/media_item.html?cr_i=41796)

 This is a painting by the artist Carne Griffiths. It is created by using many types of media which include; watercolour, tea, brandy, vodka, graphite and pencil. It has been painted on a large piece of white watercolour paper, roughly 72 x 54 cm  The general shapes used are triangles and different sized quadrilaterals, which is combined with brush strokes and other marks of watercolour, and forms a portrait of a young woman's face. It is a vertical painting as it is a portrait and it varies in line strokes as this is the general style of the painting. Some of the shapes overlap each other as well as the rest of the portrait such as the facial features of the young woman. The colour scheme of the painting is varied. The main colours that are used are bright colours such as blue, green and red, however because they are being painted on using watercolour, they occasionally fade and become a soft colour instead of being vibrant. The texture of the painting is slightly rougher than paper as it is specially designed for the use of watercolour. Unfortunately, the original location and date of the work is unknown to the artist's website, however it is thought to be between 2011-2013 and the location to be somewhere in London, as he moved there and his studio is located there. 
 The most distinctive feature of this painting is most certainly the face formed from the marks of watercolour. It may also be argued that the colours used in the painting are also the most interesting feature. The painting has a chaotic and varied composition as there is no real order as to where the paint should go. The colours in the painting contrast as the blues represent cool colours while the red represents warm colours. This may be to show that the young woman has both a cool and warm side, or possibly feels both pain and happiness. The treatment of space and landscape of the image is both real and illusionary as the portrait of the young woman is real however the colour is random and could be classed as quite imaginary and random. The movement of the piece is quite free as there is no particular place for the watercolour to be. There is a certain effect given by the watercolour, as it makes it an untypical portrait and holds many different aspects that would make the viewer want to look at it for a long period of time. I think the whole piece is balanced and works as a whole because the colours contrast and work well together.
 This piece of work was originally created for an exhibition. It represents freedom from self imposed restraints, and shows the inner beauty in all of us. The work was created to show the viewer that even with something covering you, people are able to see your inner beauty. 
 I think it is an extremely good piece of artwork because I love every single aspect of it. This work may have many different interpretations however I think it is a good piece of work regardless.


Brainstorm of Ideas for Personal Investigation