New Year and a Fresh Start

I didn't do too well at posting during the last project, mostly because I wasn't really enjoying the media element! It was a bit hard going, and although I found things to enjoy, as a whole the project turned out a little disappointing. So, New Year and Fresh Start! This term we are working on 2d and 3d fine art. I was really looking forward to making collages and painting but we are supposed to be working in abstract and I HATE it! I am not an abstract artist! I have tried hard. We had to make 10 collages, with no theme or anything representational. So here are some of mine.

My first collage - silver, white and transparent

My second collage - spots and ribbon

My third collage - trying to work small but failing!

 These are the first three I did, and I just feel they're a bit nothing-y. I could just have easily used a box of what I used to call 'licky-sticky' shapes. I felt like I was doing what I was told when in fact I could have produced something of a much higher quality if I'd worked representationally. I have realised that I already know enough about myself as an artist to know that I like my art work to tell a story, and although I don't need photorealism for that, I do like things to look a little more like something rather than just a collection of stuff stuck on some paper!
OK - rant over! We are also working on printing this term - hooray! Although we were encouraged by the tutor to work in abstract, she also said that she never does so not to worry if we'd rather be representational! So we started with monoprints - direct trace etc, which I LOVE! So here are some of my first prints. I chose a space theme as a couple of my collages looked a little like planets.

Direct Trace - Space theme

Using a pencil and my thumb to create a ghost like image

Direct trace using several colours - I think this has worked well.

In the style of Rauschenberg's Stoned Moon series

Combining colours, pencil and fingers to add pressure and lift the ink.

Wiped away with a cotton bud

A mask for a print

Mars Rover - using the above mask

Martian landscape using wipe away technique

The Rover was too pale so I used the mask!

I am happier with these because they have a theme. I love the immediacy of printing, and it's magic - you never know quite what you will get! After working on these I tried some space themed collages, which were a little abstract but I am still not happy with them. I think I am trying too hard with the abstract that, and it's getting in the way of my style.
Space as a theme is also maybe not quite right. I love space travel, espcially anything to do with the Apollo missions, but I feel like I am wasting some of that enthusiasm on something that is not really working. I want to make the most of the space theme. So I have just been researching teapots!