Uncategorised

While exploring colour in London, I started to notice new as well as repeating colour combinations found them in posters, graffiti, brickwork, nature and loads more . I realised that the way a colour is perceived is heavily influenced by its surroundings especially within the city. This led me to base my “exploring colour” task on focussing how the context around a colour can completely transform the way it appears. I really wanted to explore this idea but in my own way including bits of realism as well as my own abstraction.

1- This piece is demonstrating in the simplest form how contrasting and out of place colours (in this instance black) can look when compared to bright colour. The black becomes over powering and the vibrance of the red and blue all of a sudden sinks to the back of the focal point. This is significant as if this black was layered over a photograph taken in a very urban location filled with greys and blacks it would not stand out at all.

2- In this piece i have done the opposite. i have contrasted the greys and dull colours of the background with vibrant blues and reds taken from various places and marks i have seen all over London. This really emphasises the idea that the context and surroundings of a colour can change it completely. i have seen these colours amongst various graffiti walls all over London in places like Shoreditch and Hackney wick but only now i feel they are at their mot vibrant.

3- This is a vibrant wall in Hackney being over powered by the deep black found in other parts of the city. The black looks out of place and un-belonging

4- This is a more abstract piece that was influenced by how the colours seen across the city made me feel and how they connected to my self and my own experiences. All the colours that i saw resembled or inflicted memories and feelings within me. Weather it was a consequence decision to connect the colours to emotions or not it did make me feel something. What i discovered about colour is that it connects with everyone in a completely different way.

This is a simple piece that really shows the vibrance of colour when its compared to dull shades.

i took a different approach with this piece as i wanted to connect with how the colour is created. Lots of places i saw full of colour were created by spray paint, therefor i created the colour upon a spray paint bottle to really draw together the story and life cycle of how the art and colours are created. i painted, drew and expressed places such as China town that i visited and became inspired by the colours in the surroundings.

-Throughout all of my work created i only used shapes that i had seen all around the city. The little doodles are taken from zoomed in art work, graffiti, buildings and shapes found amongst them all.

1. This Drawing was inspired by a piece of graffiti I came across in an alley near London Bridge. As I walked through the narrow passage, the vibrant artwork on the wall immediately caught my attention – the bold, colourful font was striking, making it interesting to look at. To reflect the texture and style of the original graffiti in my own work, I used a range of techniques. These include water colours, oil pastels, coloured felt-tip pens, ripped coloured paper and denim fabric, allowing me to create layered texture.

2. This second drawing was inspired by a vibrant coffee stall in Borough Market. Its bold and inviting colour palette stood out among the surrounding stalls, instantly drawing my attention. To capture the warmth of the scene, I experimented with a variety of techniques, including watercolours, oil pastels, felt-tip pens and ripped coloured paper. These materials helped me bring texture and depth into the drawing.

3. This third drawing was inspired by a vibrant shopfront in Camden Town that immediately caught my eye. I was drawn to it’s stricking pink brick wall and the bold graffiti artwork covering the roller shutter front door. The building was bursting with colour, creating lively and captivating scene. To bring this energy into my drawing, i used a mix of techniques and materials, including watercolours, oil pastels, coloured felt-tip pens, and even ripped magazine paper iIcollected from a stall in Camden Market.

4. This fourth drawing was inspired again by Camden Town. The graffiti font on this side of the brick wall was so bold and vibrant, it was quite overwhelming at first! To bring this energy into my drawing i used a variety of techniques, such as water colours, coloured pencils, oil pastels and felt tips.

5. This particular photo was inspired by a vibrant fruit and veg stall stall i came across at Borough Market. I was especially drawn to the rich variety of tomatoes, displayed in an array of sizes and deep, stricking colours. To capture this scene I decided to use water colours as a base, and then work on top with water colours to add texture and shadows. I also used felt tip pens to give the drawing more of a defined look.

6. This drawing was also inspired by the same colourful fruit and vegtable stall at Borough Market, but this time I chosse to focus on the bright, tropical tones of the oranges. The way they were stacked created a stricking, organic pattern that immediately caught my eye, i had to capture it! I began with a base layer of water colous, then built up texture and detail using oil pastels and fine line felt tips.

7. This drawing was inspired by a vibrant ‘Pimms’ stall i came across at Borough Market, which immediately caught my eye as ‘Pimms’ happens to be one of my favourite alcoholic drinks! The artwork is based on a colourfull poster advertising the beverage’s price, which stood out with various colours , creating a vibrant appearance. I decided to use oil pastels, water colours and coloured fine line marker pens for this drawing.

8. My eighth drawing was inspired by a cluster of vibrant flowers I often see during my daily walks in the local park near where im staying. Their bold colours and unique shapes never fail to catch my eye, and i felt compelled to capture their beauty on paper. For this piece, i used a combination of watercolours, oil pastels and black marker pens to bring out their vividness and detail.

9. This is a quick sketch and colour study of a postbox I came across while walking though the streets of London central. I was drawn to its distinctive shape and vibrant green colour, which made it unique and stand out from the other postboxes. To capture its character, I used watercolours for the base tones, oilpastels to add texture and depth, and fine line marker pens for more of defined detail look on the outlines.

10. My tenth drawing was inspired by a beautiful flower pot i discovered at my local cafe while having tea. I was particularly drawn to the unique shape of the flower and the angle i managed to capture. I thought the petals are especially stricking, with their unusual form and varying shades of pink. I also found the spiky stigma at the center added texture and character to overall piece. I used combination of water colours and oil pastels for a vibrant, layered finish, and added detail using black fine line pens for defining shape.

REFLECTION

During this talking colour task, I began by focusing on my surroundings, drawing inspiration from some of my faveourite areas in London, particularly Borough Market and Camden Town. While exploring these locations, I took time to observe and experiment with the variety of colours and textures I discovered, capturing them through photographs and quick sketches to develop some initial pattern and colour ideas. At Borough Market, I was initially overwhelmed but also excited by the vibrant and exotic displays of food. The fruit and Vegetable stall especially caught my attention, I had never seen such brightly coloured produce before. The textures and natural patterns of the fruit sparked numerous ideas for how I wanted to represent them in my drawings. For example, I chose to focus on the oranges, tomatoes, a colourful ‘Pimms’ poster, and a nearby coffee stall, each offering unique visual elements that i found inspiring.

As I continued exploring Camden Town, I was captivated by the graffiti art covering the brick walls. It was both fascinating and mesmerizing , a visual explosion of colour and expression. The graffiti fonts radiated a frenetic energy, each stroke seeming to pulse with life, as if the walls themselves were breathing. Vibrant and full of character, the artwork drew me in with its bold curves, dynamic shapes, and diverse styles. The texture of the brick beneath added depth, making the art feel raw and tangible. I truly enjoyed taking in every detail.

Working on this task made me realise just how much colour means to me on a personal level, I see it as an essential part of life’s meaning. Experiencing and visualising colour everyday brings me joy and allows me to express my emotions more freely. While exploring Camden and Borough Market, I encountered a wide range of colours I had never noticed before, which I found truly fascinating, and gave me ideas for my future projects/tasks. When creating my drawings, I intentionally experimented with a variety of materials including water colours, oil pastels, coloured felt tip pens, coloured pencils, ripped coloured paper, magazine and even denim fabric. I really enjoyed blending these materials to add texture, character, and depth to my work. This process not only enhanced the visiual impact of my drawings but also helped me discover my personal style and prefrences in designing and live drawing, whether its what materials I connect with most, and which ones I dont.

Acrylic marker pen & marker pen & colored pencil
While my friends and I were blowing out the candles on our birthday cake

Marker & Acrylic Marker
Collection of Group Photos of Me and My Friends-Various Emotional Versions. I linked our heads together with chains and drew a lock and a key. This symbolizes that our emotional connection is very strong and also shows my possessiveness towards my friends.

Marker pen & acrylic marker pen & oil pastel
This painting uses exchanging tears to symbolize that my friend and I always support each other when we are at our most vulnerable moments.

Pastel
The architectural complex of Center London

Pastels & Watercolors
I depicted my friend using the method of blind painting. The randomly splashed colors were expressing the raindrops that fell on the painting that day.

Watercolor & Markers
My friend and I took pictures of the maple leaves. The various-sized spherical objects were raindrops.

Watercolor
The scene in my dream: I was walking along a long road that seemed to go on forever with my grandma holding my hand.

Watercolor
One day, while I was half-awake and half-asleep, I saw something mysterious. It was an illusion of mine.

Watercolor & Marker Pen
My friend is cooking

Reflection

I am a person with rich emotions. In my previous works, I always like to incorporate all my emotions into my paintings – the beautiful, the innocent, the evil, the complex, and the unknown – I want to express them all. These paintings also showcase my emotions.
Six out of these ten paintings depict the friendship between me and my friends. I used a slightly exaggerated style to express our openness and closeness.
My friends and I can talk about art and fashion, and also discuss the most private and ultimate topics in life, such as sex and death. They have brought me a lot of joy and meaning to life. I can also learn new knowledge and life lessons from them. I alays share my innermost feelings with them, pouring out my heart. We laugh and cry together. We have no secrets from each other. I cherish the bond I have with them as if it were a precious treasure.
Therefore, I recorded our daily life in these paintings. I think this is a testimony to our friendship. Whenever I see these paintings now, I always smile. Many years later, perhaps when I am middle-aged, I will still laugh out loud when I see them.
My grandma is the dearest elder relative to me. Unfortunately, I lost her in 2020. In the years since her passing, I have missed her almost every day. I often meet her in my dreams. She takes me to the world where she is, which is the world of the dead. I have drawn the scenes I saw in my dreams. I think it’s very warm. It’s a kind of warmth that transcends life and death. Although there is a huge gap between us, we can still talk so much and embrace each other. Although these might just be my imagination and dreams, I still think they are very meaningful and have given me a lot of strength and spiritual support.

Acrylic marker & watercolor
Marbling on raw beef

Acrylic marker & watercolor
Fat lines of salmon meat

Oil pastels & watercolor
Details of meat pie

Acrylic marker & watercolor
Details of matcha cake

Watercolor
Details of Octopus Tentacles

Colored pencil
The vascular network on the rabbit’s ears

Colored pencil
Texture on the lizard’s eyeball

Reflection

These ten paintings focus on the details of some foods and animals, such as the marbling on raw beef, the fat lines in salmon, the texture of a lizard’s eyeball, and the blood vessels on a rabbit’s ears.
How to transform an image into a pattern is the main issue I explored in these ten paintings. During the painting process, I constantly experimented with how to extract elements from the image and make them more vivid, or more artistic, and more like mature printed patterns. The skin of a rabbit’s ear is very thin and almost translucent, which allows the network of blood vessels beneath to be clearly visible. I really like the deep and shallow, intricate combination of the blood vessels and the blend of deep red and light purple. I also enjoy the feeling of the layers of fur covering the blood vessels.
When painting, I was hesitant whether to repeat and arrange many outlines of rabbit ears and add blood vessels to each of them, or to separate the concepts of rabbit ears and blood vessels and develop the blood vessel network. The first approach could display all the elements I like and enhance the visual effect through repetition and superposition. The second approach could thoroughly showcase the core element of the blood vessel network, making it more concise and clear. Eventually, I chose the second approach because although the first one could incorporate everything, it would lack a focus. Moreover, I found that I preferred the blood vessel network more and wanted to emphasize them. However, if I followed the first approach, the blood vessel network wouldn’t be as clear, giving a sense of “inadequate expression”. By the way, I chose pink as the background color, attempting to add a touch of the cute and warm atmosphere of the little rabbit. I think this process is about clarifying what I truly like and also about eliminating the unnecessary and extracting the essence to make the pattern more concise and clear, with a more direct and straightforward theme. It’s quite interesting.
Similarly, when painting a piece inspired by a matcha cake, I tried to present its soft and dense texture and the granular feel of the matcha powder on the canvas. So, I painted many layers that looked soft and wobbly, and randomly sprinkled watercolor on the paper to create some speckles, giving a “powdery” effect. I find it interesting to make the pattern look visually appealing to a certain extent, so that when people see it, they might feel the aroma, thus breaking the two-dimensional boundaries of the pattern and giving it more dimensions and layers. 
I believe that after completing these ten paintings, I have enhanced my sensitivity and creativity in pattern design, and explored areas I had never attempted or understood before, expanding my thinking ability.

When I went to Brick Lane, I expressed some of the more interesting local elements through colors. For the most part, I didn’t use conventional lines because the place left me with an impression of being rather disorderly and rebellious against rules. So, I mostly used curves and jagged lines to convey this. At the same time, I employed a wide range of colors because I noticed a lot of colorful graffiti there and drew inspiration from it, using its distinctive multi-colors to express the essence.

1, The inspiration for this painting came from the neon signs on the roadside stores. I extracted the colors of the lights and the reflections on the glass to create this painting.

2,I observed the furnishings in a furniture store and found that the color of this vase with these three flowers was quite distinctive. However, the original color of the vase was a bit monotonous, so I added multiple colors to create a better match.

3,This is a corner by the roadside. I noticed that the graffiti on it was a contrast of warm and cool colors, so I separated it into two parts using warm colors on one side and cool colors on the other.

4,This is a pattern of a plate in a furniture store. I really like its design and the color combination, so I drew it in my own way.

5,This is a sculpture on the roadside wall. The fusion of it and the graffiti makes me feel very interesting. So I let my imagination run wild to make it more interesting.

6,This is a combination of a paint bucket by the roadside and a plant. I like the color of the bucket and the green of the plant together.

7,This is a cat I happened to meet by the roadside. The cat itself is nothing special, but I decided to use graffiti colors to make it more lively.

8,This is a hat I saw in a vintage store. It’s an old-fashioned military cap. I think it’s very distinctive.

9,This is the light leading to the underground market. I found the dispersion of its color very interesting, so I decided to draw it.

10,This is a portrait made of bottle caps on the wall. I really like the feeling of different colored bottle caps combined together.

My reflection : I think the activities in the first week were of great significance to me. I was able to conduct research in various interesting places in London. At the same time, I gained a deeper understanding of the local culture and many artistic inspirations. I believe this is something that no other place could offer me. My painting skills have improved, as well as my way of observing things, which has greatly inspired me. I am particularly looking forward to the upcoming exploration.

Mirrored sample-

This observation was inspired by a view outside my student accommodation of a tree branch, that has pierced its way through a structured fence. I walk past it every day and find it incredibly empowering how nature always finds a way to reclaim space(although it has been chopped down it is still resilient.) To create this piece, I explored with collage, oil pastels and a scraping technique to add depth and texture. I also placed the piece on my window ledge to catch the sunlight, giving it a more lively and dynamic feel, which accidentally aligned perfectly with the real tree branch pushing through the fence.

A quick sketch of my family home, drawn from direct observation.

An oil painting inspired by my neighbours geese. I really love how oil paints allow me to capture a soft, luminous quality, which I feel perfectly suits this subject. I quite like the unfinished look of this piece, as I feel it adds character and enhances its overall effect.

An oil painting of my family cat, using subtle blues and pinks rather than traditional colours. I find it really interesting to experiment with colour and how it can create a completely different mood and expression.

A sketch of a little deer I came across. I tried to capture the gentle presence and delicate features of the deer.

A quick acrylic study of flowers in a vase. I wanted to experiment with mark making to convey a sense of energy and movement in the piece. I really love how working with just two colours gives the piece a striking simplicity and focus.

Another oil painting, exploring mark making through expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement.

Here is a quick digital floral design and visualisation to see how the design would translate into a fashion context.

This is another digital study where I explored variations in tone to develop depth and contrast within the design.

I recently came across some beautiful bluebells and was inspired to see how they might translate into a fashion context. I created a collage to visualise this, which later influenced this garment design.

Acrylic, card and oil pastle study. Thought this was a really inspiring peice of daisies growing through a gap in some concrete stairs.

Reflection

During this task, my main source of inspiration came from my local area in Tooting. I gathered lots of imagery, particularly of nature, as it brings me a sense of joy and calm. I find it really therapeutic to sit and sketch focusing on line, form and mark-making, while experimenting with different mediums to communicate a range of perspectives. A few of my responses were developed into digital prints exploring alternative colourways, which I’d love to continue developing as I feel they were very successful and hold strong potential for future work.Ive found this process really inspiring, making me more conscious of the intricate patterns within everyday life and how everything around us can be seen as art.Working with a variety of mediums has also helped me understand what techniques suit me best, while encouraging me to experiment in different ways to achieve the strongest outcomes. Through this I’ve learned to take creative risks and push my ideas further, which has greatly contributed to my growth as a designer and strengthened my confidence in exploring new approaches.Throughout this project, I feel I’ve grown as an artist. Even on afternoon walks through my local park or on my way back from uni, textures and colours began to stand out to me, and I often found myself stopping to capture photos. Looking back at those images and my responses, I’ve noticed that I’m naturally drawn to organic, flowy, and expressive lines, as well as bold, gestural marks. This project has taught me to let go of the need for perfection and simply create, allowing ideas to form more intuitively. It’s been a truly valuable experience that has deepened my awareness of my surroundings and helped me evolve as a designer.

This drawing was taken from a door located in Hackney Wick. I really loved to combination of vibrant colour and interesting lines that moved up the building. I will definitely be taking this image further when looking at Patterns as there is a lot of intricate shapes that I would love to take inspiration from.

These drawings were created from the graffiti and street art in Hackney Wick. I was in awe of the bright neon colours that coated the street walls. I mainly focused on the shapes and line work combined with the colour. I really liked the graphic and pop art aesthetic. These drawings were made using combined mediums of Posca pens, acrylic paint and coloured pencils to create dimension and variety in my research.

The rest of these drawings were taken from around Westfields, Stratford. Typically, Stratford is seen as very modern and displays more neutral colour palettes in its architecture, However, when i actually went round looking for inspiration on what to draw i was very pleasantly surprised by the amount of vibrant colours and bold shapes around me.

1.This is the picture I observed when I was visiting the kew garden in London. Cactus attracted me. I first painted black color powder as the background, and then I painted yellow color powder. After that, I began to paint the blue cactus with watercolor, and also used watercolor to express the stone next to the cactus in different ways. Finally, I drew the thorns of the cactus with an acrylic marker.

2. This is the fresh mango I bought at home to paint. I used an oil painting stick to draw mangoes and draw the plastic net of the mango with a blue oil painting stick. After that, I continued to paint with a gray oil painting stick as the background.

3. This is the use of other media for my mango painting. I drew mangos with colored lead, and I drew the plastic net with a green line pen. I used the collage of the Bolough market in the last course in this work. After that, I also used the fruit packaging label of morrisons on it. I extended these plastic nets with acrylic markers, and I pasted the plastic net wrapped in around mangoes.

4. This is a quick observational painting around my kitchen sink. This is the first time I try to draw with my left hand. I find that this will make my lines more relaxed. I used simple color powder to color this work. Although the whole picture looks very simple, the painting process gave me a new attempt.

5. This is my work of observing a flower and catch its texture and drawing it with color powder and oil painting stick.

7. This is the work drawn by Echinopsis peruviana and San Pedro cactus in the kew garden. I dipped a small amount of water in water to brush out the texture of the two plants with a dry brush. After that, I also colored it with some colored pencils. I also emphasized the bark of Echinopsis peruviana with black and brown powder. Then I drew their spikes with a black line brush, and then I used blue powder as the background.

8. This is also the scene I observed at Sherborne Wharf Ltd in Birmingham. I used oil painting sticks to paint the whole work, just like the other similar paintings. Because the weather was very good at that time, I used bright colors to paint.

9.This is the scene I encountered when I was sitting in a restaurant for lunch. Six pigeons stood on the wall in a row. I used a variety of colored pencils to draw these pigeons. I continued to try to complete the rest of the drawing with my left hand. I colored the tile part of the wall with colored powder, and I painted the steps under the lamppost with watercolor. I also quickly painted the back building and the bridge with oil painting sticks and colored pencils. I drew the fence of the bridge with a white acrylic marker.

10.This is the denseness of the trees I observed. I first apply light green powder evenly as the background, and then use yellow, dark green and blue-green to express the density of the trees in a ball-like way. After that, I painted the branches in black, and I also emphasized these branches with gray watercolors and pencils. Finally, I drew some leaves with an oil painting stick, and I also drew some curves with colored pencils to express the drooping of the tree.

11.This is an observational painting. I drew the peaches in the bowl at home. I drew them with colored pencils, watercolors and acrylic markers.

My reflection

In this “Talking Colors” task, my initial inspiration came from observing objects at home. I started by drawing mangoes, peaches, and even the sink. However, after finishing those, I decided to go out and explore more. I visited Kew Gardens, a place I have been to twice before. This botanical garden is full of plants I had never known, which not only allowed me to paint but also improved my understanding and interest in nature. I drew fairy balls, cacti, and some rare cactus trees there.

During this project, I also travelled to Birmingham and visited small town surrounded by a river. It was sunny, and I felt relaxed while continuing my drawings. I captured many beautiful scenes with my eyes and camera, including a moment when six pigeons stood in a row, which I drew in my sketchbook.

I used several new media, such as color powder, which I had rarely tried before. I also used with watercolor, color pencils, oil pastels, and acrylic markers. Although sometimes I felt unsure about my drawings, I realized that painting is not about the  right or wrong. It is a process of exploration and soothing. Through this task, I not only learned techniques but also discovered stronger curiosity toward everything around me.

Finally, I think this task brought me a lot of meaningful moments. I enjoy the process of this task, although I was a little self-doubt in the process. This task helped me learn to use color to record my life.

A group college
From Brick Lane
Inspirations from graffiti and some vintage shops
We used colorful pictures to cut and draw. Because have many colorful graffiti in Brick Lane. First, we think Brick Lane has like old school style, so we bought some magazines from this place. Then , we cut them to do some colleges. We also think the street view of Brick Lane to be visually striking and let us feel very excited. So we selected colorful materials.

1.This is when i go the underground vintage market in Brick Lane, I saw some cute graffiti in the wall, so I selected marker pen to draw it. Since, markers produce more colorful and create smooth lines. So I find them suitable for sketching the graffiti views.

2.I discovered that every wall and rubbish bin in Brick Lane, they all covered graffiti. So I think it very special for me. This work is just one colorful graffiti design in rubbish bin. Actually, I think he is very interesting and have visual impact to me. So my all works is used markers. Because, this place always look amazing.

3.This painting is based on graffiti when i saw a wall in Brick Lane. I guess it has been there for ages,because the colors is now clear now. There were also have some Polaroid photos of some people on the wall, it is very amazing and visual impact, so I painted it with markers.

4.It is also from a cute graffiti. I’m trying connect with the feeling of this graffti. So I use a lot of lines to develop what i see.

5.The inspriation from a painting I saw it in a gallery on Brick Lane. I choose a little elements from this painting and connect my impressions of Brick lane to create this work.

6.This one is I went to the underground vintage store, I saw a mask draped in sheer fabric that I think is very cute, so I used some lines and shapes to create this painting.

7.
This one was actually developed by some paintings when I saw in gallery. So I tried to put some elements from them, then choose local stylistic to create this work.

8.This painting also I felt in this place, like have many lines and shapes. So, I think maybe i can try some depict designs with modern of spaces. So i tried this one.

9.This one I used some circles and lines to draw, It also I found in gallery, and inspired me.

10.This painting is also a cute face graffiti I saw in Brick Lane, But I also choose my favorite elements- flower, and on each petal, I draw some elements from the face graffiti.

My reflection :

1st Week “ Talking Color ‘project For my first week I collected some primary research with the help of my classmates. And I was also very inspired. It helped make me more conscious of sort of how important color is in our life. And, I learned how to bring in a little bit of useful data from my own life. Actually, I know how to mix ships and the colors in my work. On the two weeks of my course, we went to Brick Lane with my group -that’s my best place in London. Because there is always artistic style around here. If I want to do some primary research, I can come this place and get idea. I also do work with materials like markers too. In fact, I’m bad at drawing with your markers. It may have been a very important step for me. I also want to keep trying how to make a work is sustainable and how to use some print machines in the future. I spent the past couple of weeks trying to study and figure it out myself with my own experience doing the work and learning how to get that mind free enough so you can break out of where your mind is confined and search for more possibilities. Including the workshop works out too many techniques, after that I have never to try it, so wish next time will make more effort and experiment some new printmaster in the future. When I am solo, there is lots of fish that I feel have not much experience. I’m realizing I need to go more place with much better view of nature.” And the two have gotten some inspiration because I always stay at home. So I believe, that cannot inspire me more and I want to do something about it like putting more natural things in my work for example plants.