Zoe Louise Ridgway

 

 

I am currently in my second year at Merthyr Tydfil College, I am studying a Foundation Degree in Art Practice.  The course is very dynamic and lets you explore different avenues within art such as ceramics, painting, photography etc.  At Merthyr Tydfil College you get the use of a variety of specialised equipment to allow us as students to explore and try new things, letting us to achieve our full potential within a certain area within art.

 

 

I have had such a new outlook on art since being on the Foundation Degree, I have had the opportunity to touch upon subjects I had never explored before such as, Printmaking and using oil paints.  Since starting the course I noticed I had a natural flare for using oil paints and love exploring techniques within mark making whilst painting.  I have genetic disorders called Marfan Syndrome and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and have a few other health issues that can sometimes limit what I can do which can be challenging especially because I have difficulty with my hands, but I have found a way around this so I use my fingers to paint which gives a unique texture and also a personal touch to my paintings. 

 

 

As an artist I love to explore and exploit subjects that really matter to me, so I try to use personal experiences that make the viewer think and shock them by bringing a strong meaningful message.  To do this I use symbolism within my work to bring messages alight and also to make the viewer question what’s going on.  By making art personal it makes the viewer have an insight to what your life has been like, so I put a lot of thought into my work so that I make the viewer put themselves into the painting and imagine what it is like to be me.  I am currently working on a series of painting that are taking me outside my box, where I am laid bare, painting myself nude which will bring a deeper meaning, exploiting my body to the world, and seeing that no one is perfect.  My body is out of proportion and when doing life drawing, artists measure the body in a perspective way so that it is accurate. With my genetic disorder I am very tall with my arm span being longer than the length of my body, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and my hips are higher up than that of someone who has no disability.  I will be exploring Body Image, Identity and Genetics, naming the project B.I.I.G.

 

 

 

Education

 

St John the Baptist High School, Aberdare- 2002-2010

 

Howard Gardens, UWIC- 2010-2011

 

Merthyr Tydfil College -2014 - 2016

 

 

 

Exhibitions

 

Merthyr Tydfil College -2015