Screenshot #5

Screenshot #5, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic on paper and acetate

Another painting using the three dimensional effect of an acetate 'screen' covered in glitch-like paint.

Screenshot #4

Screenshot #4, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic and masking tape on paper and acetate

To create a three dimensional effect, I created a box around my painting made of acetate and painted on it in strips so that the portrait would be distorted differently from different angles.

Care Package

Care Package, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil and chalk on padded envelope

Most of the work I've been creating relating to my long distance relationship has centred around glitched screens and digital forms of communication, so I wanted to contrast this by creating a singular realistic portrait related to the rare time that we send each other physical post.

Phone Call Timeline

Phone Call Timeline, Chaz Howkins, 2017, series of mixed media drawings on paper

Phone Call Timeline, Chaz Howkins, 2017, series of mixed media drawings on paper

Phone Call Timeline is made up of 100 individual drawings.  Each of the drawings are 58x104mm, the exact size of my phone screen, and are based off of screenshots taken while video calling my partner.  I experimented with a range of media and drawing techniques in order to create a variety of glitched effects  The similarity between each drawing and the continuity in size mirrors the mundane frustration of communicating through a tiny screen, having repetitive conversations at a set time each day.

Poor Network Connection

Through painting, drawing and photography Poor Network Connection explores the realities of a long distance relationship in the digital age.  The majority of the works are based off of screenshots while video calling my partner, distorted in a similar manner to how the screen glitches and interrupts us.

Poor Network Connection - Opening Night

The opening night of Poor Network Connection was very successful.  The exhibition will run for another two weeks at The Good Shepherd.

Progress of Shattered Screen

The process of painting the image then smashing it and rearranging the shards of glass.

Poor Network Connection

Poster for Poor Network Connection, Chaz Howkins, 2017, poster

Next Monday night is the opening of my next solo exhibition - Poor Network Connection at The Good Shepherd.  The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings and photography that explores the realities of a long distance relationship in the digital age.

Glass Experiment

Shattered Screen, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic on glass

For this piece I painted directly onto glass, which I then smashed and reassembled.  I think this effect is visually interesting but may be a slightly too violent approach to portraying my subject matter.  I also think it's not as obvious as I'd imagined that the painting is done on glass as it has lost its reflective quality, so I will go over it in a glossy coat.

Phone Call series

Phone Call #9, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil

Phone Call #4, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil 

Phone Call #1, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil

Phone Call #23, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil

Phone Call #29, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil

Phone Call #24, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil

These drawings come from an ongoing series in which all the drawings are 58x104mm, which is the exact size of my phone screen.  Each of the drawings are based on screenshots taken while video calling my partner.

Glass Experimentations

Computer Screen Print #2, Chaz Howkins, 2017, oil paint on glass

Computer Screen Smudge, Chaz Howkins, 2017, oil paint on glass

Computer Screen Print, Chaz Howkins, 2017, oil paint on glass

My intention for this piece was to paint onto a sheet of glass and then place another sheet on glass on top of the wet painting so that the paint is squished and distorts the image.  However when I squished the two sheets of glass together, the paint wasn't very distorted and the desired effect wasn't achieved.  I then pulled the two sheets of glass apart and found that the image left on the underside of the upper sheet of glass was quite an interesting, distorted shell of a portrait, so replicated the effect with another sheet of glass to create this triptych.

Glitched Screen - Cardboard

Screenshot #3, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic and masking tape on cardboard

I continued working on cardboard as it has connotations with relocation and represents fragility in a temporary state.  To create this glitch effect I created an abstract green painting as a base layer and then taped off small square sections, painted the image on top, then removed the masking tape squares and rearranged them as if they are pixels which have strayed from their original placing.

Glitched Screen - Cardboard

Screenshot #2, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic on cardboard

I wanted to experiment with various techniques of creating glitch effects, so for this painting I first created an abstract green painting, then taped over two horizontal sections and painting the image of the face on top, then removed the masking tape to reveal two glitched sections.  While removing the masking tape, some of the painted cardboard peeled off with it, creating a further unintentional but genuine glitch effect.

Glitched Screen - Cardboard

Screenshot #1, Chaz Howkins, 2017, acrylic and oil on cardboard

Working from a screenshot taken while video-calling my partner, I wanted to replicate the glitched effect of a lagging connection.  For this painting I used a dry brushing technique to create the smudged effect.

Collaborative Video

A video piece illustrating the issue of time difference within a long distance relationship.  A collaboration with Katya Veleva.

Long Distance Relationship Problems

Sleeping Together, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photograph 

Sleeping Together #2, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photograph

This series visually communicates one of the issues of a long distance relationship - the time difference and attempting to communicate at awkward times of day.

Date Night

Date Night, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic & pencil on canvas

“Date Night” visually communicates the struggle and beauty of a long distance relationship.  I wanted to romanticise a pixilated screenshot taken from a midday/evening Skype conversation by painting it on a large scale so that I had a means of seeing my girlfriend’s face other than on a 4 inch screen in my hand.  I wanted to glorify this loving moment because our communication is made so difficult by time differences and poor signal that these beautiful moments are made all the more special when they do happen.