Project Title: - CLOWNS Clowns initially intrigued me as they link back to my childhood as I use to go to circuses and funfairs. I was also inspired by watching the film called the Dark Night, which influenced my further passion for clowns. My ideas and inspiration also came from my dissertation as I wrote about ‘How is the Notion of Identity explored through Self Portrait in Painting and Photography?’ The dissertation focused on the response of the painter Jenny Saville and the photographer Cindy Sherman. Sherman in particular most inspired me, as she creates photographic prints of Clowns. Dressing up transforms and manipulates her identity and self portrait to create a disguise. Other artists who have inspired me are Frances Bacon, James Ensor, Picasso and Boo Ritson. Clowns are surrealistic and the imagination creates viewer connection and challenge viewer perception.The final idea focused on distorting the clown’s face/identity, in relation to the mirrors at funfairs. The distortion will represent the feeling of a clowns face referring to hallucinations and emotions, as the visual quality’s of the clown appears like it is moving. The clown itself transforms an identity, but the mirrored effect and the layering of colours distort the clown. The three clown lino panels work together and reflect the same clown in different angles. The distorted and abstract clown images either side, reflect the middle clown, which draws in attention and becomes the main focus. Overall, various techniques, colours and use of inventive mark making create this idea.