Monday, 8 May 2017

Cabin Fever Exhibition

Myself and my artwork: Ode to Henry Vincent, 2017, ink and tea on paper
Cabin Fever was an exhibition put on by students following a weekend visit to Wadjemup Bidi (Rottnest Island), we all created artworks on the island and then developed them afterwards for the exhibition.  The artwork I submitted was a poem I wrote after finding out about the dark history of the island in that it used to be an Aboriginal prison and is now covered in unmarked graves of the prisoners.  The poem is an ironic Ode to a superintendent of the prison who was responsible for many deaths and much mistreatment of the prisoners.  I also co-curated the exhibition.

Saturday, 6 May 2017

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.

Friday, 5 May 2017

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.

Quokka Painting

Quokka, Chaz Howkins, 2017, oil paint on paper
An A3 sized painting created after a trip to Rottnest Island.

Monday, 1 May 2017

Process of Screenshot #3

Process of Screenshot #3
This gif demonstrates the process I used to create the glitched effect on this painting - by painting over a series of squares of masking tape then removing and relocating them.  The gif demonstrates the make or break moment of the process.

Sunday, 30 April 2017

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.

Wednesday, 26 April 2017

Sketchbook Project Exhibition



The Sketchbook Project was run by Propel Youth Arts and invited people aged 12-26 to fill a sketchbook however they wanted and then have it included in an exhibition at the State Library of Western Australia.  My sketchbook revolved around the theme of feminism.

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Recreating Diary Pages

Diary Deconstruction #1, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Diary Deconstruction #2, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Diary Deconstruction #3, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
A recreation of pre-teenage diary pages of cryptic messages about discovering my sexuality.

Monday, 27 March 2017

Feminism Sketchbook

#freethenipple Sketch, Chaz Howkins, 2017, collage and fine liner

Men's Nipples Sketch, Chaz Howkins, 2017, collage and fine liner
Some slogan images featuring photo collage of men's nipples discussing the hypocrisy of nipple censorship.

Monday, 20 March 2017

Feminism Sketchbook - Typography

Grab Them By The Patriarchy, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
Feminism Banner, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
Further experiments with hand-drawn typography exploring designs for protest banners using feminist slogans.

Saturday, 18 March 2017

Feminism Sketchbook - Typography

Safe Abortions, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Support, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
Kyrgyzstan Marriages,  Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

























Experiments with hand drawn typography.  Potential designs for protest banners and the beginning of an exploration of laws which exploit women around the world.

Friday, 17 March 2017

Feminism Sketchbook

Vagina Fold Collage, Chaz Howkins, 2017, paper collage 
Vagina Fold Drawing, Chaz Howkins, 2017, chalk pastel
Using the fold of the sketchbook pages to portray female anatomy as an exploration of body positivity.

Thursday, 16 March 2017

Feminism Sketchbook

Love Your Vagina, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
A drawing done for International Women's Day to encourage inclusive body positivity.

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Self Portraits

Reaction Selfie #2, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner on paper

Reaction Selfie #1, Chaz Howkins, 2017, pencil on paper


Thursday, 19 January 2017

Self Portrait Series

Mohawk Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
Triangular Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner
Hamilton Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Detail Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Vag Hair Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

Calm Selfie, Chaz Howkins, 2017, fine liner

























































A series of self portraits created while intoxicated.

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Portrait Drawings

Katya The Tank Engine, Chaz Howkins, 2017,
 fine liner
Katya Melting Portrait, Chaz Howkins, 2017,
 fine liner and coloured pencil
Two portraits taken from a series of drawings created while intoxicated.

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Transtastic Exhibition





















I submitted these two artworks for a digital exhibition at Transtastic - a talent showcase for the gender diverse community in Perth.

Thursday, 5 January 2017

Quokka painting

Quokka Painting, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic on board