More Voidscape works in progress.
Transparency of image interaction.
After making a short film with soundscape earlier in the year, I am now looking to translate a couple stills into paintings. Documentation of process.
I feel a process is emerging.
The first small study concentrated on blocking in areas with charcole in a loose way, underpainting in complementaries then final layer with body added to the paint.
To translate a work into a larger format, I found the muscle memory of the composition stronger.
“This work is taken from 2023, a day painting at Katrine, outside Toodyay, WA. Behind the farm stay a hill of golden wheat was being harvested over the days, imprinting the landscape with lines. A November sun blurred the vision by day but at dusk the mauves combined with a softer yellow. I wanted to work in a freer fashion after again working with stencils on the project before. This work focused on colour, line and texture as I tried a new paint thickener.
As summer melts into autumn, I am back in the studio.
Last summer I spent many hours in the shade of a cape lilac tree watching a harvester mark a field while staying at Katrine, near Toodyay. As the shadows lengthened in the golden hour, I watched as the harvester lines and hillside changed into a painting in my mind.
In this first study, charcoal defined the composition before underpainting in purple and gold. Juicier paint applied for final layer.
Study is a very small work which will be translated into a larger canvas with more space for the eye to get lost in.
Through developing a project from begining to end, the ASHS students decided to record the sound bytes of their school lives. Setting them loose with a letter giving permission to use their phones to record, they scattered and returned to me with sounds I would never have though of!
A school clock ticking, the canteen microwave, drinking out of the water fountain and pumping up the balls in phys ed. They also recorded interviews with their peers from a set of questions developed by the students for both present and past students.
I got to edit the sound bytes into a whole and pair with the archive images.
Truely it was so much fun working with their ideas….. check it out!
Since July I have been meeting with a bunch of Albany Senior High School students to mentor them through a creative process. What a blast!
In the recognitation that the Arts when added to STEM (science, techology, enginerring and maths) educational subjects, expands understanding through creativity, the students have directed the development of the project from conception through to the resulting exhibition.
We had our moments of quiet and moments of inspiring interaction. In the end they really pushed through and came up with very insightful responses and collaborated to elevate ideas.
Change, a simple word.
Hidden within is the excitement, fear and growth that make up a lived experience of school. The participating students of this project, a collaboration between the Vancouver Arts Centre and Albany Senior High School, through mentorship, identified coping with change as a marker for good mental health.
The students set out to know the challenges and opportunities of the students that have attended Albany Senior High School over its long history. And to talk about their generation’s experiences.
“Oh my Days” is the resulting exhibition.
So an opportunity came about to design/ make “stuff” to show in the Albany Advertiser window, York Street Albany. Not just any old thing would do because this is for Albany Pride!
With the theme in mind of “Lets get visible”, the venue and drawing on the resources I have, the project started with nothing but eyes and newspaper and somehow quickly developed from there.
Thank you Albany Pride, the Albany Advertiser and the lovely friends that loaned things for me to play with and have fun!!
New work based on a graphic novel concept with MIX Artists Inc at the Albany Town Hall
MOS – detail. Copic Markers on paper
“From early 2022, the concept for a lively urban community arts project developed, with local artists Nat Rad and Renee Tan working with Karen community members to develop an artwork suitable for a mural. It proved to be a successful grassroots project, with Renee and Nat holding workshops for the development of the mural concept, and mural artist, Chad Marwick, translating the design into a painting for the wall, which will soon be launched at 348 Middleton Loop as part of this year’s Art and Craft Trail.” Southerly Magarzine Septmeber 2022
This has been an exciting and rewarding project!
Check out the completed mural in Middleton Loop, featured in the Southern Art & Craft Trail 2022
Thank you
https://www.flipsnack.com/southerlymag/september-2022.html
“The Junction Co. and Courthouse Gallery+Studio are excited to present The Jury Art Prize 2022 finalists. The curated art prize exhibition showcases 50 artworks from artists working across regional Western Australia, culminating in an exciting show of unique perspectives.”
My selected work “Subdual”, oil on linen is the second work exploring a site on Mount Clarence Albany.
Have a look at the other selected works.
Nat Rad Artist + Artsworker 