r . m .: 2019

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

progression of my final painting in Warsaw

In my final weeks in Warsaw (see previous post!) I wanted to depict the incredibly exuberance of being dumped into a different capital city with people from all over the continent and being told to just get on with it. Ups and downs (mainly ups!), 4 months of Polish language and approximately 4 words learnt and too much piwo later, here is my painting! Dziękuję i do widzenia!

Oil and acrylic on canvas, approx 100cm x 80cm

Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw

I must concede I was completely MIA for the remainder of 2018 on account of my having moved temporarily to Warsaw, Poland for the Erasmus scheme (dear God please let this escape Brexit's unholy clutches.) I enrolled for a semester in the painting faculty of Akademia Sztuk Pieknych w Warszawie (Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw), and my experience has been outstanding. Mingling with people from all over the world, from Italy and France to Turkey, Israel and South Korea, it has been unbelievably refreshing.
I terms of the art, the practice was wholly more technical and traditional, and I found the lack of studio space (the students arrive for a lesson, set up, paint, pack up again and leave with their paintings) quite limiting. I guess the fact we have designated areas for the whole year at Newcastle is a luxury I take for granted. I must concede to too many nights out whilst I've been here (at an average of 10 Polish zloty - £2!! - per beer, how could I not make the most of the new culture) so my work has not been as focused as it was last year. I've also been working on my dissertation, undertaking regular Skype calls back the UK to discuss my ideas and meet my deadlines.
But, on the whole, I've created enough work to post, so have a gander and enjoy.

Paintings