Stan:A crazed and or obsessed fan. The term comes from the song Stan by eminem. The term Stan is used to describe a fan who goes to great lengths to obsess over a celebrity.

Through my practice I am trying to show how due to the use of media we have started treating people like gods and/or sacred figures, this all originated from the term ‘Stan’. Looking at the likes of celebrity status and how we idolise them, I have used my skills in abstract minimalism and combined it with the use of religious symbolism, to show this.  

 

Combining a mixture of processes such as line drawings and geometric features is where my project started . Then I went on to develop my work using new ideas such as; using a print process with found objects like bubble wrap, to create a depth and texture to my paintings, while creating a style which has an organic yet geometric look. 

 

David LaChapelle has been a major influencer of my work. The attention to detail in his photography and connection to renaissance paintings, due to the clothing in which the celebrities are dressed in  and the poses of which they are positioned has helped massively in the development of my work.

Besides LaChapelle, Kurt Schwitters’ collages have helped with generating ways of using found objects within my working process by using text cut outs and images from newspapers/magazines. Julian Opie’s figurative paintings have shown an influence within the painting of figures in my work, due to his use of bold lines to create a simple figurative drawing which creates a statement.

 

When creating my work I use a step by step process, overlaying each medium.

Using quick brush strokes and bold colours can often be seen throughout my work as well as, using tape to create geometric abstract forms, which can help create separation within each piece of work. Bubble wrap and stencils are used to create shapes, texture, fore and background. Using newsprint helps to add context to my work. Producing line drawings allowed me to consider using these figurative images played against my abstract paintings. Adding a figure drawing and provocative text helps pull my piece together by giving my work a subject to focus on. Creating digital work can be seen to develop and experiment with ideas before further developing them into larger physical pieces.

 

I am beginning to expand the scale of my work and the use of a wider range of found objects and materials. My work is becoming more interesting at this stage due to my knowledge of transgressive art and how placing iconic imagery along side my own abstract style is being played together.