Robert Ellis

Combining Images

Learning Intention – to translate selected imagery into more resolved media using artist models

This portion of the course is about a more sustained investigation into wet and dry media and may or may not incorporate aspects of your artists models.

Selection of source imagery in this section should be more focused on working beyond the school and more into your own local area Turangawaewae

Artist Model Robert Ellis

Born: 2 Apr 1929 · Northampton, England Died: 23 Nov 2021

Robert Ellis is one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent artists. Over the past decades Robert Ellis’ paintings have addressed issues of New Zealand identity in which he draws together threads of European and Pacific cultures. These works make observations about the two cultural threads from a personal as well as social perspective.

Using a visual language rich with symbolism, Ellis draws on a diverse range of sources. Motifs from the Ratana church, constellations, military history, geology and natural flora (especially whau/NZ mulberry) all make appearances in his paintings, whether in textured oils or softly layered watercolours.

His history of being in the airforce and working as a aerial survey photographer add to his differing viewpoints seen in his work

Symbols referencing his Turangawaewae can also be seen in many of his works

ARTIST MODEL Robert Ellis

AKO - learn

Techniques study

In your visual diary [or large sheets of paper and tear up] try to recreate some of his markmaking using acrylic paint and scratching back into it [sgrafitti].

Try layers of colour or on coloured paper.
Use different equipment to mark make with.
Make lines and marks with oil pastel and then washes of thin paint

WAIHANGA - Create

Response to Artist model - Te Awhiti iii

Personal response to Ta Rawhiti.

You will create a personal response piece to Ellis work by combining maps and your own photographs of buildings together, and rendering in a range of media. Your composition needs to include

an image from the school environment,
an image of a local landmark,
a map of the local area.

Start by making some thumbnail sketches in your visual diary of possible compositions that reflect Ellis style of combining images.

See teh attached Slideshow on how to develop your work from your design

Responding to Robert Ellis Te Rawhiti

VISUAL DIARY WORK

Thinking and Reflecting

Do some simple research on your artist and their style of work. In your Visual diary note down some important or interesting facts about your Artist.

Select 2-3 images from the provided sheet on the right [or search your own] and glue them into your Visual Diary.

Consider/answer the following questions and make notes in your sketchbook [these are guides only, not questions to be answered]

Describe what you see.
- Drawing conventions - The arrangement of formal elements (line, shape, space, colour, tone, point, texture, form, mass) and principles (balance, harmony, rhythm, tension, contrast, etc).
- Composition (strong circular forms, diagonal, vertical/horizontal, or a combination).
- Space – negative/positive areas of the composition
- Application of media ( washes, gesture, painterly, impasto, layers etc) or Drawing media [hatching, shading, line, value]
Analyse & Interpret- what might the artist be communicating in their artworks?
- What themes and ideas can you identify?
- How do the methods you have identified in Question 1, contribute to or develop the themes and ideas of the artwork?
- Discuss the relationship between the conventions used and communicating the themes?
- How is subject matter arranged and what significance does this have?
Research the context that contributes to the art works. Consider...
- Where and when was the image produced
- Who was it produced for and why was it produced.
- Where was/is it viewed (e.g. gallery, marae, private collection, in print).
- How do the ideas and techniques you identified above reflect the context?
- What value (e.g. monetary, emotional, cultural, political or social) would the artworks have to those that view the art works?

Value Study

Starting with Ellis more recent work, shielded histories. Complete a value [tonal] study of one of the pieces of work.

Two examples are provided in this link.

Colour Study

Redraw one of his shields at least A5 size
Use oil pastels to heavily add colour into areas as per his artwork
Brush over with indian ink, then dab off ink from the surface of the oil pastel
Some areas can be scratched back to brighten colours or black pencil/marker can be used to emphasis lines.

Personal response

You will create your own “shielded history” piece in response to Ellis’s work. In your book design 2-3 shields in the style of Ellis [thumbnail sketches]

Your shields MUST contain

Koru
A part of your Birth countries flag
A Cultural pattern from your birth country or NZ
The school Waka [or the waves]
Focus on the school crest colours

From your best design,

Complete an A5 value study
Render it in colour, you can use oil pastel and indian ink or Paint on a black prepared surface {gesso]

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