This collection of 4 canvases was created for my exam. Our theme was 'passions and obsessions', many people who know me might suggest i have a slight passion for tattoos, I thought it would be a really good idea to combine my own personal passion for tattoos with my friends passions, using the medium of tattoos as a way of expressing their passions and obsessions. Many regard the human body as a canvas and a way to express themselves, some do this through clothes or piercings, yet i focused on tattoos. It says a lot about someone's commitment to their passion if they're willing to alter their body for life in order to show this passion or obsession off.
Earlier in the blog, you can see my prep work ,gathering paintings of my friend's favourite things. In this composition, I have been inspired by Alison Watt's early work of small square painting of parts of the body. I also wanted to include material in the painting to give it a real life sort of feel. I concentrated on trying to create a realistic fleshy texture, but also bringing out some of the more discrete colours hidden in the flesh. If you look at the skin, you can see all colours. Not only did I want the tattoos to look like they were a part of the skin rather than an image sitting on top, I also wanted the flesh to be an equally important part of the painting, and therefore tried not to paint the tattoos too big.

I also wanted to use a variety of skin tones to demonstrate that tattoo culture is universal and popular across the world.

This painting was created to contrast with the 'traditional still life' many of these objects represent a modern form of opulence, such as lady gaga, the shoes show how vanity is increasingly spreading throughout the world, yet, just like the other canvas, a odd element is thrown in there, here it is the candle stick, again emphaisisng the point that everything we have now is still influence by the past. the material is displayed in a different way as opposed to the 'trafitonal canvas' where it is on the table as well as a backdrop for behind. this painting also tries to show our import industries, exotic fruits such as a pineapple demonstrate that although the very un-opulence of basic fruit, now in modern day are able to import fruit from across the world.

This was one of my final pieces based on the theme 'opulence' many of the objects represent a traditional still life approach to opulence, yet also being a metaphor for life. Many of the vanitas paintings were an allegory for the brevity of life. the broken clock, emphasises the life span, and how time every body dies. the broken strings on the violin again shows dischord and how music must eventaully stop. other items such as the lemon and grapes are traditional elements of the still life genre. the modern element thrown in suggests that although this painting is focussed on a traditional approach we must move on.

I found this clock in an antique shop, I thought it would be perfect for the theme of opulence ans i really enjoyed painting it, part of its charm is the fact that its crumbling, it doesn't work and cannot balance alone.

I really really love sugar and food.
This painting is of a photograph I found in my elle magazine, I knew as soon as I saw it, I would paint it one day. I absolutely love painting food, if it's making your mouth water that it is what I aim for when recreating it through the medium of paint







These are copies of Nanda Palmieri's work, largely based around delicious deserts and pastries

The paintings depict some of my friends passions and hobbies, one loving fairy tales, the other being a ballet dancer, and one used to be a competitive swimmer

These are all copies of other artists' work. When looking at the still life genre, I looked at a wide range of different objects and styles. Different compositions and paintings styles created different moods.

Tai-Shan Schierenberg
Obviously no one can ever create a perfect copy, and it differs from the original, i've tried to incorporate his heavy brush strokes with my own style of painting, i hope it worked...