My first approach to any project is always to begin with research- considering my chosen theme of ‘changes and choices’ considering choices women can make and how much choice is time based in a woman’s lifetime. 
I considered the painting styles of Tracey Emin and Louise Bourgeois. Loose and delicate lines when applied have an almost blood like fluidity in them. This makes reminiscent of cild birth and menstruation. Both artists paint about the crisis around mother hood and the choices we make wither it is when choosing to embrace motherhood or to have the chance to opt into mother hood taken away.
Textile, water colour
Using roughly torn strips of fabric I created two ribbons one painted with foetus’s from water colours and the other with placenta. The water colours gave a translucent bloody drop appearance when applied to the fabric.It spread and created forms which were not fully controlled much like blood droplets falling. Both ribbons were tied one below the other between two bamboo canes. This was inspired by the idea that women would once have the bedding from their marital bed hung out to show the consummation of marriage to a virgin. To hang a foetus and placenta showing choices made and how they would have an impact on any future.
Found object, ink and water colours.
When choosing a mount to pain upon I came across a tailors mannequin. The fabric body felt it would lend its self well to having water based paints soak and bleed into it. I used watercolours at first soaking the body to cover the base layer. I then move onto using a mix of diluted ink and water colours. I had to re layer the paints as they would soak into the fabric and wash out loosing definition. I enjoyed the uncontrollable nature in this method. I could not predict how much the colour would seep into fabrics a bleed our around the areas it was placed. This process was slow as it took time for each layer of paint to settle and dry into the fabrics.
I used a prop from a previous project create a text art work potentially more useful as performance work. I looked up the dictionary definitions of the words: options choices and decision. unwrapping each layer until a scull exposed. The death of choice once the decision is made.
A3 paper acrylic paint and Scull
while cleaning up I came across the tissues which I had used under my brushes, they had ink and plant spots on them which I found interesting, a consequence of my choices in painting. I dried and flattened the tissue paper before I scanned it. Using photo shop I created digital images layering and dawning over the ink spills.
I picked out what I seen as representations of a female figure on one image, layered this image to create an abstract digital art work. The images made me think of a woman body moving, almost sexual with her legs open and breast exposed. I felt were reminiscent to primal cave paintings, contrasting to the technology it was created on.
I didn’t think pushing the art forward was going to lead to better avenues as I was not pleased with the results I got from doing this. I felt the ink stained tissues were more aesthetically pleasing than trying to pull images from them.
Digital Image
Waiting on things to dry in this work created time to work on multiple projects at once.
I considered what changes take place in a females life and what they could represent. Restoration at its different stages representing a woman’s choices and potential value as a sexual partner. This then led onto considering how a woman’s sexual appeal is interpreted through age, what value that places on her.
I wanted to experiment more with the loose and abstract way of working. Exploring a more spontaneous way of working I used a mask as a tool to put paint onto paper. I put paint onto the mask and used it almost like a stamp to see what would be created. using a pallet knife I move the paint across the paper creating a mix of spontaneous mark making.
A1 papered, acrylic paint.
I continued spontaneous mark making beginning with a piece of card which had holes it it. I used a pallet knife to work the paint over the car to reveal lines and dots of paint which were left through the holes like. a grid. I liked the rough lines being left and continued doing this , I then layered on lines with a dry brush which appeared to give a sense of depth to the image.
This led me onto thinking about the potential in things to use for mark making. What would represent the ideas I am exploring. I deconstructed a tampon and used the different elements to see what marks they would leave. I was almost pleased with the results and considered how the images they create could make up a repeat pattern work.
Having found prints in the reuse hub with the word HOT I used a paintbrush on the end of a cane. Doing so I once again used a strstege which gives away some of the control in the creating of the image. I created exaggerated ideals of a female body. The bright neons in the prints reminded me of an article written about older women and why they should not were neon colours. Neon being associated with the 80’s where women in their youth then would now be approaching their 50’s being the target audience of the article. The reminders of their youth now a reminded of their loss of youth. This made me consider value and how age can add or subtract value to a female.
I found cut out cardboard shapes which seemed reminiscent of a vulva. I considered painting each one individually and creating a collage. while playing with placement I arranged the shapes into one large vulva.
To continue with the theme of value I thought how these could be represented. How a female has value in a physical form. How women incrtesingly use sex industry as an almost social acceptable way to bring in money. How value is placed differently on different types of women.
I bought paper money to wrap the shapes in and re create the large scale vulva.
Keeping on the theme of finding a woman value, I considered my own body and its literal market value. With the rise in women working in the sex industry, sex work becoming much more socially acceptable and popular due to online platforms, I had considered value different women hold in the sex industry. I felt this concept had too many variable elements to tackle at the moment. I may revisit this line of investigation again in the future.
I decided to look at my body in a much more conservatively sellable manner, meat. I researched how meat is priced per kg. Different parts of an animal costing variable prices. To simplify my own conversion to cost , I converted My weight into the cost of mince. A Variety of cost depending on the animal. To go along with the regularly used comparison to peoples beauty and animals ..I naturally chose to compare myself to a pig.
I began thinking of how I could be reduced down to my represent my market value.
I wore a pig mask while I pained self portraits. A way of devaluing and dehumanising myself..or perhaps humanising the value of a pig..
I am interested in pushing the idea further with wearing the mask to carry out acts, perhaps recording this on video or photography.
I was reminded of Sophie Ryders sculpture, split rabbit. A female body with the head of a rabbit. To me this sculpture has a sexual undertone. The rabbit posed shoulders back pushing out her breasts. 
I pushed the concept of reducing to working with mince. I first chose sausages as they were easy to handle and cheap meat to use as an experimental practice. I was in a dilemma over of food waste in this area of experimentation. I worked to have as little waste as I possible using the one sausage as much as I could. As I am vegetarian My dog enjoyed the rest for dinner that night!
To begin I used the sausages as a basic printing tool, going back to the idea of repeat pattern using an object to see which marks it left, much like how the tampon was used. I pushed further and began painting with the meat, I was doubtful this would be a successful experiment but was in fact pleasantly surprised. Painting an image of a pig with the pork mince.I used a minimal pallet of red and yellow. I really liked the way layering up the marks felt like it was bringing depth and texture to the image. 
I am juggling working from the studio and from home. Both have limitations. As a result of this I tend to work on more than one project at a time. I wanted to play more with the concept of mince and perhaps use it as a tool to sculpt and cook. This is required to be done at home where I have access to an oven.As I was in the studio I used the tools I had and I continued to experiment with the idea of mince using digital art and the concept of art a woman being reduced to her value in meat.
To carry on working my ideas I used Digital art to transform more women into the pig hybrids. While reading “why Women Can’t Paint. Gender the glass ceiling and values in contemporary art” by Helen Gorill , I read about the statue of Venus. How the concept of tis statue being the perfect example of beauty. How the concept behind the art work has filtered down through the years and even into women’s beauty product ‘Venus razor” for example. The statue was thought to be so desirable men had been know to master bate over the statue.
I wondered how Venus would be welcomed if her body was beautiful but her face not. If she was ‘a pig’ of a woman.
I enjoyed the images created and felt I could print them to Create at more work. Possible print a poster to spray paint onto, stickers to put the art out on public display or possibly something to wear.
I altered different images of female statues. The white marble sculptures surrounding ECA I could not help but consider how these sculptures in my own presence could be altered into similar themes. Could I alter the actual statues, could I print them, create altered models.I am looking forward to being able to explore as I gain more skills in workshops over the coming weeks.
I returned to the concept of female value and began taping money to my body. I thought the concept was basic and not interesting enough to be work on its own but it was a starting point. I then considered how different types of body had different value and used body tape to change my breasts. Thinking back on a woman’s ns value, how there are more images of nude women in galleries than female artist work n display. I played with the idea that I have more value as the wrk than as the person making the work.I had done research into Neo naturists painting their naked bodies and how they used themself as a canvas. I decided to push my work further by doing this while I was taped up.
I digitally edited the photo to create an image that enhances the painting on the body alma removing the body leaving only the painted areas.
a3 paper and paint
I began removing the tape and realising it was still wet I pressed paper onto my body to create a print.
While washing the paint off I remembered how the ink from the mannequin left pleasing prints on the tissue I had used for protecting surfaces. I placed paper down and let the paint wash from my body onto the paper. creating a pleasing water colour abstract.
a1 paper and paint
I had previously spoke about how I struggled to break into working spontaneously. A lot of my practice had been pre planned work based on research. I felt that I had a breakthrough into working more spontaneously.
Digital images
digital images
Pushing this idea I took unclose images of my bodying the distorted shapes.
The results made me think of wrk by Jeff Muhs, scupltures which over flow and bulge from objects. Some taking on human like qualities of flesh.
Soft serve bikini party , Jeff Muhs.
I took the photographs of myself with my body in tape with a pigs head, using digital editing I turned the image into a simplified statue/sculpture style image.
Digital Images.
I enjoyed working with the mask ands the idea of my value becoming my identity. I took a series photographs and videos of myself doing different taks such as use work and going for a train.
I edited some images digitally to create a collage scene. These are purposed as a starting pint for potential performative/video work.The idea of being watched and being seen. How we react differently and feel differently depending n how we perceive circumstances around being seen/watched.
