Annabeth Orton

Recent Work

2009

Summary of Current Practice

• Broad range of outcomes: craft, design, illustration, installation and combinations of these.• Two main strands of interest running through current work:

Response/interactivity with environmentUtilisation and combination of traditional and digital media

• Recent levels of productivity positively effected by move North/change in working pattern:

Like re-potting a plant

• Main issue in need of addressing is a move away from creativity for it’s own sake and a refocusing in a more purposeful direction:

Plant now needs pruning

Craft Items Made From Found Objects/Materials

• Surface design aesthetic largely influenced by intended market at local fairs and arts festivals

• Personal interest in the transformation occurring from the moment of discovery of abandoned/unwanted/discarded items through to becoming financially valued again

• Possibilities for development include making the ‘story’ of the object implicit within the surface design Eg: Some objects marked with illustrations describing natural objects found near the item

• Further developments might include text/surface texture/ physical modification of objects.

Discarded Bottles From Weed Infested Verges

Detail of Discarded Grolsch Bottles

Discarded Glasses

Weavings from Found Fabric

Reused Food Cans

Impossible Products

• Combination of craft/illustration and digital/traditional techniques

• Naive visual language part conceals underlying cynicism

• Repackaging questions relationship between discarded and valued

• Nature of ‘products’ questions quick fix seeking society

• Used and empty nature of cans raises questions around the accessibility of the imaginary product

Reused food cans - relabelled

Imaginary Advertising for Impossible Products

Live Drawing Installations using Digital and Traditional Media

• Made by projecting photographic, digital video, pixel and vector graphics on to wall mounted paper and using traditional drawing methods to interact with the projected images

• Describes my experience of the built environment layered with natural objects found within it• Focus has been the live creation; act of drawing becomes performance and process is implicit• Work comprises of a projection of gradually changing images and video. These are traced

around, drawn over, collaged into and painted on throughout the duration so the piece grows organically across the page. As different projected images fade in and out, the marks of the drawing remain to capture moments when the images were visible. As they return, sections of drawing are highlighted once again as shapes realign with the original projection. Though there is an element of planning, much of the work is spontaneous and the outcome cannot be predicted in detail.

• Contrast between the meticulously planned and the delightfully unexpected• Attempts to challenge the boundaries of ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’• Interested in exploring the point at which the human habitat and activities

within it become removed from nature and apparently elevated into an advanced state perceived to be unique to Homo Sapiens

• My own occupation of space creates interesting implications during the making as the shadows cast on the surface interrupt the projected images I am attempting to work with

A-E Orton working on an outcome at the Futuresonic launch after party (Mint Lounge, 16.04.09)

Photographic documentation of work at the Futuresonic launch after party (Mint Lounge, 16.04.09)

Examples of preparatory images involving photographic, pixel and vector work.

Photographic documentation of work at Norvun Sunday (Road House, 07.06.09)

Recent (work in progress) development from installation outcomes - exploration of surface texture/human

intervention in environment and I’m - plans to develop this into a 3D application, possibly ceramics.

Further Recent Work

• ‘Digital paintings’ created in Photoshop but do not contain photographic elements. They are produced using the paint, smudge and blur tools from a photographic reference.

• The ‘hand drawn’ work is originally produced in ink and then digitally manipulated. This work was published in September.

• Have also recently been learning 3D modelling programme Autodesk Maya – very embryonic, much development needed!

Finding Loss, 2009Hand drawn illustrative work for The Inkermen Anthology on Loss, published September 2009

Just A Swan?Digital Painting, 2007First Place Sundown New School Graphics Competition, Devon, UK

If it Was a Dream it Was BlueDigital Painting, 2007First Place The Ultimate Meeting New School Graphics Competition, Karlsruhe, Germany

Pleased to Meet YouDigital Painting, 2008Top Ten Runner Up , Breakpoint New School Graphics Competition, Bingen, GermanyFinalist, Aesthetica Creative Artworks Competition, UK. Published in the Aesthetica Creative Artworks Annual.

Proposal for Practice 09/10:

• Developed exploration of digital/traditional media. This necessitates:• Improved craftsmanship in a range of media, especially glass.• Development of 3D modelling skills

• Continued exploration of urban/natural environment• Development of evaluative skills/develop more reflective practice• Professional skills development: Am I really ever going to have a significant income

from my creative output? How do I need to go about achieving that?

• Additional long term possibilities include:• Teaching practice – interested in moving into HE potentially• Travel - Would like to take practice overseas

Summary

• Develop professional skills• Develop more focused reflective practice• Physical skills development in:

– Digital 3D Modelling– Glass work

Further examples of work can be found at:www.glittermouse.co.uk

Anne-Elizabeth Orton 2009

mouse@glittermouse.co.uk