A Seated Figure

12 thoughts on “A Seated Figure”

• Great slideshow Paul

  Reply

• This excellent. I was feeling rather lost and even angry about my feeble painting 1 course, on a number of counts (not the tutor; the tutor is brilliant). Finding these new resources in Elements has brought me right back around with new motivation.

  Reply

• Interesting to see a little of the way the artist has done preparatory work for the final painting.
  The current exhibition of Italian drawings at the British Museum shows sketches by artists such as Fra Angelico, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Michael Angelo and others which were later redrawn in major paintings.
  As a photographer, I am bound somewhat by the nature of the medium; one often needs to make the real impression at the original scene such as in a portrait session. It probably requires a succession of frames unless you are someone like H.Cartier-Bresson who could wait for the right moment. One may do things in Photoshop later in an attempt to bring out the meaning.
  There is a shared sense of working towards something unknown.
  AMANO
  (OCA Level 1 student)

  Reply

• I think this student has been badly let down by both the Director of the Curriculum and by the tutors who have misled her towards the production of this ‘portrait’ and then to have to listen to such twaddle in a justification of the work…….Rebecca Moore should ignore such rubbish, form a strong connection between what her eyes show her with her hands that may now give her the chance, using a world of techniques, to use the unique freedom of her own mind……..just get real.
  I.B.

  Reply

• Re: Ian Bailey’s comments….”I think this student has been badly let down by both the Director of the Curriculum and by the tutors who have misled her towards the production of this ‘portrait’”
  As an OCA tutor, this comment makes me feel badly let down by Mr Bailey himself. I find it a pleasure to be given a glimpse into this talented students working methodology, planning, sketches and the final piece. Obviously, her tutor has encouraged and supported this artist on her chosen artistic pathway and we can see her strong grasp of techniques. Why do you feel that she has been “let down”?
  “to have to listen to such twaddle in a justification of the work…….Rebecca Moore should ignore such rubbish”, Ian, a vast majority of OCA students are feeding back just how useful they are finding the new videos, and a heck of a lot of work has gone into their development.
  “just get real”, you said it Ian!!

  Reply

• I think you get great insight from this video into both the hard work of the artist and why the work is valued by the OCA.
  I’m surprised by the negative comment. It’s really disrespectful to the artist who was incredibly engaged in this work.
  People should think about how their comments might upset other people before criticizing in such a detrimental way.

  Reply

• Whilst I admire Rebecca Moore’s tenacity and diligence, I can’t help but regret it wasn’t directed in a different direction. I feel the end result is as uninspiring as it is mundane. To even mention Lucien Freud in this context is preposterous.

  Reply

• It makes me feel incredibly sad to think that we live in a society where someone can feel justified in make such cutting remarks about the work of a second year student.
  I think that Alison McCauley has totally missed the point of this video, which is not just about the final work, but the whole process which went into producing it. This student’s work totally encapsulates the whole concept of how the OCA teaches art, which includes all the research and theory work, working drawings and colour studies which lead up to the final painting.
  (OCA student)

  Reply

• I’m afraid I can’t see the Lucien Freud connection either.

  Reply

• Actually, we (or perhaps those in the UK) don’t live in a society where someone can express their opinion, especially when it doesn’t involve mutual back-patting. I agree that this student’s work ‘encapsulates the whole concept of how the OCA teaches art’, but I have my suspicions that ‘research and theory’ is often more about playing the game and proving that the hours where put in than any real voyage of discovery or self discovery. I think it’s also worth considering the fact that the end result is paramount … and also entirely subjective.

  Reply

• I found this short video very informative and encouraging also for myself as a student. I think that the student’s interest and commitment to her subject are undeniable even if the end result does not appeal to everyone. Personally I do find it striking and very competent. I feel sure that this person would have looked closely at Lucien Freud’s work but unpicking the influences that go into one’s work can be quite difficult even for the artist.

  Reply

• I think that it is very positive that this slideshow is provoking debate, on the Lucien Freud influence I hope this article is of interest.

  Reply