I am really interested in texture and using mixed media to create 3D work on canvas. I also make ceramics which I sometimes combine into mixed media pieces or leave them as pieces on their own e.g. Ceramic Roses. I recently had the opportunity to travel widely to Thailand and Australia and the rich culture and local art has had an influence in some of my work.
During the final year of my degree I was exploring how to use visual art to convey the physical atrocities of war. I extended this by also looking at the theme of light and darkness, life and death, good and evil. One of my final pieces ('Imprints of War') were cay tiles imprinted with barbed wire and glazed with a copper oxide, to convey the sharpness, pain and suffering of war, inspired by my reading of First World War poets. Another of my final pieces ('Fruits of Victory') was a mixed media piece incorporating some clay work, found objects, barbed wire and toy soldiers influenced by the work of Anselm Kiefer. From a distance I hope the appearance seems beautiful but on closer inspection reveals the sting if its reality.
CV:
Foundation in Art at MMU 2004-2005
BA/HONS Degree in Fine Art 2005-2008
Exhibition at the View Two Gallery in Liverpool 2007
PGCE in Art and Design at MMU 2009-2010
emal: toftemily@yahoo.co.uk
phone: 07963965899
