George.aadams
Artist's statement
Artist’s statement, George Adams
Currently the main ideas that underpin my work are all linked by being influenced and directed by primary research. One area of art I’m interested in is portraiture, and a part of this which is growing in importance for me, is to explore the character and emotional state and history of the subject in interview and discussion, as part of producing the work. Thus the finished work is much more revealing of the sitter than just a portrait. This direct use of the subject’s emotions and character as a main influence on the work greatly improves its impact and relevance and adds depth to the finished work. My works based on emotions also vary greatly. Some attempt to directly portray an emotion through painting; others try to show the subject’s emotional connection to other factors such as environments and other people. For example I have completed a piece which shows the subject’s emotional link to large bodies of water.
I am very interested in people, their motivations, experiences and states of mind. It is evident in my more traditional portraiture and life drawing. Also, when I produce collaborative work with other artists, other people tend to play quite a significant role in my work.
Another influence on my work is an eagerness to experiment with surfaces on which to paint. These range from roof tiles to discarded boards and corrugated metal. In this way, the surface used for the work can also reveal or highlight a characteristic or personality trait of the interviewee. For example, if they were very concerned about the environment, painting directly onto wood may be interesting.
The use of different surfaces can also engage the subject more in the creative process. This idea of getting people interested and therefore involved in art, and my work in particular, is something that I would like to improve and develop in future pieces. This aspect is recognised and well developed at the University of Brighton. Schemes such as the community university partnership program (CUPP) aid the local community and provide opportunities for both students and community members, with projects like On our doorsteps, already being run.
A key area of my work that I am keen to advance is to further develop the concepts behind my art, so I can evolve and refine the underlying meaning so as to further increase the impact, distinctiveness and relevance of my work.
Artist's statement
Artist’s statement, George Adams
Currently the main ideas that underpin my work are all linked by being influenced and directed by primary research. One area of art I’m interested in is portraiture, and a part of this which is growing in importance for me, is to explore the character and emotional state and history of the subject in interview and discussion, as part of producing the work. Thus the finished work is much more revealing of the sitter than just a portrait. This direct use of the subject’s emotions and character as a main influence on the work greatly improves its impact and relevance and adds depth to the finished work. My works based on emotions also vary greatly. Some attempt to directly portray an emotion through painting; others try to show the subject’s emotional connection to other factors such as environments and other people. For example I have completed a piece which shows the subject’s emotional link to large bodies of water.
I am very interested in people, their motivations, experiences and states of mind. It is evident in my more traditional portraiture and life drawing. Also, when I produce collaborative work with other artists, other people tend to play quite a significant role in my work.
Another influence on my work is an eagerness to experiment with surfaces on which to paint. These range from roof tiles to discarded boards and corrugated metal. In this way, the surface used for the work can also reveal or highlight a characteristic or personality trait of the interviewee. For example, if they were very concerned about the environment, painting directly onto wood may be interesting.
The use of different surfaces can also engage the subject more in the creative process. This idea of getting people interested and therefore involved in art, and my work in particular, is something that I would like to improve and develop in future pieces. This aspect is recognised and well developed at the University of Brighton. Schemes such as the community university partnership program (CUPP) aid the local community and provide opportunities for both students and community members, with projects like On our doorsteps, already being run.
A key area of my work that I am keen to advance is to further develop the concepts behind my art, so I can evolve and refine the underlying meaning so as to further increase the impact, distinctiveness and relevance of my work.