Shreya
Project 1
Shreya’s Project 1 was created in response to her chosen starting point of ‘Animals’. She began by exploring a range of different animals, experimenting with various media and materials to investigate how details such as the texture and appearance of fur could be represented. As the project developed, Shreya began to focus more specifically on cats. Discovering the work of Lesley Anne Ivory became a significant turning point, inspiring her to explore the contrast between realistic drawings and paintings of cats and decorative, colourful, patterned backgrounds. She experimented with repeat-pattern printmaking and, following her research into the work of William Morris, developed these ideas further through printing onto fabric. Her final piece brought together these different strands of experimentation, combining her printed fabric designs with detailed paintings of cats presented within embroidery hoops.
“I have always had an interest in drawing animals ever since I was young. I wanted to explore creating artworks of different species of the animal kingdom”
Project 2
Shreya’s Project 2 was created in response to the starting point ‘Reflections’. She began by exploring reflections in water, researching and experimenting with different ways of drawing and painting water and capturing its movement, colour and reflective qualities. Using her own first-hand photography, she then developed her ideas by photographing reflections of her family in water, as well as capturing images of them looking out across watery landscapes. This led her to consider the theme of reflection in two ways: literally, through reflections seen on the surface of water, and more personally, through the idea of herself and her family reflecting on their lives, experiences and moments together. As the project developed, Shreya experimented with combining her paintings of water with illustrations of family members developed from her own photography. Through collage and composition, she explored different ways of bringing these elements together, including placing water imagery within shapes to frame and draw attention to the figures within her work.
“I researched various artists in this project including John Everett Millais and Alfred Usher Soord. The work of Soord inspired me to draw people, particularly young children’s reflections. I was inspired by his piece ‘Viola’ of a toddler looking into a mirror.”
