Scotcampus Magazine Interview

 Hello world! 

I was approached a few weeks ago to be featured in an article for Scotcampus, Scotland's National Student Magazine.

 I was interviewed by the fabulous Shauna McGegor. 

Here are some quotes from the interview questions I was asked :  

Did you always want to be an artist?

"...Yes! Since I can remember I’ve known this is what I was born to do."

How do you find studying in Dundee, was DJCAD your first choice?

 "...It allows for a somewhat collaborative space in the sense that if you put a bunch of artists in the same room, they are bound to draw some kind of inspirations from each other through engaging in in-depth conversations about their work. It’s like a little community within the uni." 

What are your highs and lows of uni life so far?

"...I find the atmosphere I am surrounded by at the institute to be very motivational, with great tutors and support to help me keep developing my talents."

Can you tell me more about your most recent artwork?

"...I have just finished a contemporary portraiture project in which I painted myself and the walls that stood behind me psychedelic, playing around with the idea that I literally become the painting as I paint myself." 

It can be said that artists struggle to make a living.  How do you respond to this?

 "...Sometimes I think people are too quick to shoot down the idea of being an artist, for somebody who studies a fine art course I have heard far too many people completely dismiss the idea of just being an artist, not even giving themselves a chance to try to ‘make it’ in the art world. Success is difficult to measure, if it’s just about making a good living I have not picked the most reliable industry. The one certainty I have about my future is that I will be proud to have given myself a chance to push my skills to the max and make the most of what I can do, and ended up with a career choice I love."

Check out the full interview here :

http://www.scotcampus.com/eyes-onartist-alexzandria-moncrieff 

If you would like to see more of my work, don't forget to like my Facebook page, and follow me on my other social medias - find all links at the top.

Alexzandria

The Avenging Unicorn

The Avenging Unicorn.

My initial inspiration for the piece ‘The Avenging Unicorn’ grew from the idea of the ‘dark side of fairy tales’. I knew I wanted to experiment with the idea of something that appears to be welcoming, bright and colourful but with a dark undertone to it.

I decided upon creating a large scale wooden box, which I wanted to draw the viewer’s eyes and attention straight to it with the inside portraying a literal darker side with some sort of horror within.

I had to build the frame work of the walls I would use  

I measured out the frames of the walls so I had one large door and one smaller. 

I nail gunned the plywood to the structural frame 

I dragged the four walls to my studio (with much help from my boyfriend)

  I then had to drill together the walls I’d built to create the box like room 

TA DAH! 

Over the time my ideas developed and it was to be the case that the inside was more effective kept quite minimalist. While still undecided of what exactly I wanted to show inside the box, in the children’s toy section of a charity shop, I found a unicorn stabbing a business man with its horn. The way in which I found the toy, where and how it was displayed, for children to play with, made it perfect for my box. I love the dark humor involved in the toy so used it as a minimalist center piece.

This is what the inside of the box looked like (not a very clear photo as it was so dark)

Terrible quality but you get the idea

In addition, music was used as another form of medium placed hidden within the inside of the box. The Disney song ‘it’s a small world’ was selected with the aim of having a different effect on the viewer from the outside when compared to on the inside. From the outside the song was both cheerful and upbeat aiding in drawing attention to the box itself and drawing the onlooker in towards it, almost as if the combination of the outsides aesthetics and the music were to be casting a magical spell of excitement and interest. However, from the inside, this song takes a more sinister meaning. The lyrics it’s a small world represent this change in environment and now being inside a hot, dark and confined space. 

I then began Painting the outside of the box with large colourful swirls and flowers 

This is me... painting!  

I would try to use up one colour at a time, so I didn't waste paint

Not going to lie, this took many, many hours

 The outside of the box remained with its initial intention of being aesthetically pleasing, or at least eye catching as a piece of work.

 

Here I am again, PAINTING! 

outlining the swirls in black paint

I also decided very close to the deadline, it was ESSENTIAL I had to outline everything in black... terrible timing but totally worth it as it makes the colours stand out much more. 

Assessment day!

In front of the smaller door

Garish, bright colours where selected to make the box stand out with opinions being divided within the student population, whether the box was a beautiful creation or an eyesore, both of which meeting the aim of attracting attention and people’s eyes to the work.

In front of the larger door

Taken the box apart, it's now nailed to the walls of my living room! 

I had lots of fun with this box and some deliciously good grades to go with it!

If you would like to see more images similar to this, don't forget to like my Facebook page, and follow me on my other social medias - find all links at the top. 

Alexzandria

Pencil Studies

               Pencil studies 

Again a few drawings as sometimes I really do just love to draw. Here I show some portraiture, close up studies of hands and a plant drawing. 

Drawing of an old man

I liked drawing this one as the wrinkles of the face made for lots of interesting detail. 

My older brother as a baby

From photograph

The drawings range from life and photograph.

My own thumb and fingers, I was enjoying looking closely at the markings in nails and the skin

From photograph, again I drew this as I like the amount of wrinkles in the face

From photograph, playing around with shadow and light

From life, I liked the way the vines weaved 

 Honestly I don’t think I draw enough, I always aim to do more in my free time but since going to University I've barely done any drawing, I've been busy expanding my skills in different mediums and experimenting far more with installation work while I have the studio space free to me. I have found a real passion for installation work!  

So expect lots of posts on that SOOON! 

If you would like to see more images similar to this, don't forget to like my Facebook page, and follow me on my other social medias - find all links at the top. 

Alexzandria

Life Drawings

 I work with many different mediums, I love to experiment with form and bright colour! However it is important to me that while doing this I still continue to keep up with my drawing skills. Before everything I drew and I really love to draw in pencil sometimes, it really relaxes me.

So here are just a few life drawings I have been doing.

Here I have on the left a five minute drawing, and on the right some very quick sketches

Fifteen minutes

Quick sketch using strong angles 

Generally they are quick sketches I try not to spend more than fifteen minutes on each drawing.

Quick sketch using smudging to shadow

Fifteen minutes concentrating on the face

Ten minutes

Fifteen minutes, concentrating on shadow and light 

It’s good to get back to basics (sometimes)

If you would like to see more images similar to this, don't forget to like my Facebook page, and follow me on my other social medias - find all links at the top. 

Alexzandria