With Five Men Without Legs, a range of materials including acrylic paint, oil pastels, paint markers, coloured paper, and graphite were used to release a deliberate frenzy of line and shape onto the 155x210cm paper (two sheets, each 77.5x105cm). The two off-white papers create a split in the middle of the artwork, separating the image into two windows of a calm, chaotic, moving illustration.

Five figures sit at the bottom of the work, small in comparison to the world they look upon, but central to the witnessing of life-changing events. The simplicity of the figure’s forms allows their surroundings to not only consume them, but to be consumed by the figures. The cathartic nature of the oil pastel mark-making, in comparison to the flatness of the blue paint and areas that have no marks at all, I wanted the final work to represent a journey; the discovery of serenity in cathartic drawing; the presence of an artist even in the absence of their marks.

The class activities throughout the 2D block contributed to the making of this final artwork. I think the concept of ‘a journey’ in mono-printing inspired me the most, placing characters in a mountainous scape, overlooking their achievements in climbing this environment. I really liked the mark-making and textures created in relief cutting and collaging, so emulating that onto a larger piece was exhilarating. This final piece also reminded me of the stress-relieving studies I would do in my sketchbook, something that I may look further into for my Part B.