Lock-in Fun ... a Blast from the Past

[dizzojay]

I was doing a bit of spring cleaning this morning (yes, that's right, it takes a global catastrophe for me to galvanise my arse into spring cleaning), and I came across a bag of papers stashed away under our spare bed.

When I opened it up, I found the artwork I submitted for my Art O Level way back in 1984.  I'd totally forgotten it was there!

Just for those who might not know; here in the UK, O Levels were the exams kids took at 16 before leaving school, and before going on to whatever they were going to do next, whether it be sixth form college, tech college or, like me, straight out to hard labour!

O Levels were discontinued the year after I took mine and replaced by another type of exam.

Anyhow, so my O Level was Fine Art, and it was (I think) a 14 hour exam over 3 days.  The main artwork was a still life over 10 hours, and the subsidiary paper was a life study and it was over 4 hours.  In addition to this, you had to do a lot of prep which was a good few extra hours.

And so, this is my stuff:



Life study - practice sketch in graphite pencil,



Life study - the final submission.  Graphite pencil and white pastel.
The model's name was Thomas, and he really was that thin!



Still life - prep works.  Various media including graphite pencil, coloured pencil, pastels, charcoal, and inks




The final still life had to be composed of elements from a set list which included flowers, fruit, a vase, a newspaper and some folded material, and we were allowed to add a few elements of our own: I used some celery, a brick, a horsebrass and a porcelain horse.
(I've still got the porcelain horse - I'm looking at him right now!)



I can't believe this is such a long time ago, and yet it seems like yesterday.  I'd forgotten I had these; but what amazes me, looking back at them, is how little my style has changed over the years!

Oh, and I did pass the exam!!

Comments

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

You are so talented!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you; still life really isn't my thing, that's why I included the porcelain horse, it made me feel like I was actually drawing an animal!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think I've got some of my exam stuff stashed away somewhere too, I hated that prep work so much. LOL
I really like the green version in your selection, I think I prefer that to the final piece!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I hear you - it seemed to go on forever!
That green version was my first attempt at putting together some of the items into an arrangement. I like it, but I though thought the folded material was far better in the main picture than in that one.
My favourite piece out of the prep was the front end of the horse on black paper - that was done with silver ink and white pastel.

[christalin80.livejournal.com]

Good grief, to have even a tiny bit of your talent. : )

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Aw thank you. It's something I love to do, so that's half the battle!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

You have such a distinct style! Such beautiful work, right from the beginning!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[fufaraw]

Those are all gorgeous--if not completely in fact, then in possibility. You're so talented!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it !
I can't believe it was so long ago!!

[tyrsibs.livejournal.com]

So amazing! I love your shading and composition.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm glad you like it!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

What a lovely treasure to find! I love the horse, especially the one of him on the black background, and that you still have the ornament. And that is a very skinny bloke! Thanks for sharing :)

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I like that one too. That was done with silver ink and white pastel. I think it may have been the first picture I did on a black background. I've done dozens more on black since then!

[stellamira]

Oh wow, those are all great!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

GORGEOUS work!!!!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

I should hope you passed the exam. The drawings are wonderful. And at 16 years of age, too. Very talented, indeed.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thankfully I did - I wouldn't have wanted to have to do it all again!!!
Thank you :)

[casey28.livejournal.com]

You have such an amazing talent. I love the way you do shadows and highlights. It's all brilliant!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much - I'm glad you like it!