The following presentation is a creative modern response to Realism based on the Manifesto of Gustavo Courbet to a group of future proposed students of a school that he intended on opening. Although he did not open the school, the manifesto directs a sense of individualism and encouragement to be the artist you are, no matter how you choose to perceive something, draw something, it is yours and no one else can comment otherwise. 

My re-creation of 'The Last Supper' is in a more realist and modern way. For me, the painting by Da Vinci is not real, but it was real to someone and more importantly, real to the artist. It's demonstration of all members eating on one side of the table also doesn't present to be a true picture of eating together. However, Courbet's manifesto only made this more real for me because it was Da Vinci's expression of realism at the time he painted it. Creating my own vision of what the last supper looks like consists of what is real and true to me today. 

I love food, im a 'Foody' and life revolves around food most days. Not to mention with the current Pandemic situation, where food has become a huge factor. Throughout the last 1-2 years, I have grown to appreciate food more, I don't take the accessibility for granted anymore and I am conscious of the impact supermarket giants have on our world as well as the fast food industry. I have been privileged enough to sustain income, remain employed and work in the industry I want to. The realism here is that for some, they have not been so lucky. Some may not know when the next meal is coming, or how they will afford it. For others, realism of hardship comes in the form of a homeschooling a family of four with one working parent and expectations of dinner on the table by 6pm every night. Food is so important to our health, mental health and wellbeing. My perception of this is that no matter what you eat, you did it for you and concluding that meal should bring a sense of gratitude, wether you made it, someone made it for you, you paid for it, or you didn't pay for it.

My artworks initial basis was from a photo of an empty plate. However I wanted to present from a freehand point of view rather than just an image. In my expression of this I wanted to create something that is a bit 'washy' to leave the viewer room for creativity with their own perception. 

Initially I sketched an outline using lead pencil to bring the image some representation form.

Setting aside that page I began to create a more detailed composition

Testing the water colours on top of the lead - This didn't go as well as I'd hoped and it appeared to bleed where there were more lead shadings.

The final approach was to develop the artwork using watercolour. I scanned my final sketch piece to digital form, made a few colour and texture adjustments and then printed, ready to watercolour over the top. The below images were my inspiration.