Statement

I particularly like Manchester’s programme because of the openness of its structure, which gives me the opportunity to focus on what I really want to do unlike any other course I have found. I really like the Arts School Building and the feel of Manchester as a place to study. When I visited and met students and the course tutor, it made me feel enthusiastic for the year ahead and very sure that I wanted to apply to join the Interactive Arts programme.
I am interested in becoming a prosthetics artist and understand there will be no direct training so responsibility will be on me for independent learning. The Interactive Arts studio set up felt conducive to independent work in a creative environment which will give me the support to experiment and I am excited by the range of facilities and workshops which will mean I can explore different techniques, and develop my skills.
I especially like the encouragement given to make connections and build industry contacts creating opportunities for the future. I am hoping to do summer work experience with McKinnon and Saunders in Altrincham and am particularly interested in their use of silicone and other materials.
For my Blog, I have chosen images to show a range of my work. I have selected some which show finished pieces, others which show experimental and developmental studies plus work in progress. I have included examples of my 2D and 3D works, drawing and painting, colour and grey-scale. I am currently working in a project group with others creating full body casts. Independently I am working on a project for a local gallery to raise awareness and funds for a homeless charity. It is a sculptural work in which I am exploring ways to build outwards from a flat surface.

Nikita Kruschev - Experimenting with distortion using David Hockney styles and caricaturing

A2 multi-medum painting on board using oil, acrylic, mod roc, sandpaper, crackle glaze

Sculptural coloured pencil pepper drawing using contour lines (left): pepper sculpture made with chicken wire and papier-mâché painted with acrylic and glue glaze (right)

Pencil drawing of Henry Moore sculture completed during visit to the Moore Foundation gardens (left); pen and chalk - contour line pepper drawing (top right); wax resist, ink and pen - gradually distorting pepper image (bottom right)

Experimenting with print making over scanned images (overlay of latex on final image)

Mod roc face cast used as a mould to create a latex face mask

Life Drawings

Charcoal

Acrylics: finger painting (left) painting with cardboard (right)

Ink wash over wax resist and oil pastel with stick and ink outline/shading

3D sculpture made of polystyrene, coated in polyfilla and painted with acrylics

Two hand-made canvases: Oil paintings

Body Casting - using mod roc, wire and latex (top right-pastel sculptural drawing)