New Website

I'm working on a new website, check it out:  www.mfurness.com

Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormonism

It's now the end of another semester and more importantly the end of my Bachelor's Degree studies.  The work I did this final semester is based on early Mormonism and its founder Joseph Smith.  Here are some photos.

Crucifix Detail

Translation of the Book of Abraham

It's been a great two years at Duncan of Jordanstone, I've learned a hell of a lot and met a ton of great people but I'm ready to move on and excited to move away from Dundee.  I'm heading down to London in July and after spending six months there I'll be moving to New York.  

Quick Update

I haven't posted anything for a while because I've been doing a lot of research, working out some ideas and focusing on my essay.  I'll post something again shortly.

Another Painting

I started a new painting last week, here's what it looks like so far.

-Work In Progress-
Oil on canvas

Films

I'm making a few films at the moment and I'm messing around with quite a few ideas, which keep changing.  Here are a couple clips.

A New Painting and 'The Mountains are Fountains' Exhibition

I've mainly been working on a few films and focusing on my dissertation proposal this week, but today I decided to paint.  I'll upload some of the film clips next week, but here is the painting.

"The Enunciation"
Oil on canvas
Music - The 13th Floor Elevators

For the past two weeks The Mountains are Fountains exhibition has been on display, it's an exhibition showing the work of us 3rd year Fine Art folks; here are some shots of the exhibition.

Close-up of some of my work

Quick Update

I think I'm giving up on this painting, I'm frustrated with it.  I don't really like it but I think the idea might work for future paintings.

Oil on canvas
Music - The Cave Singers and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

I have been working on a film and I've got a few other ideas rolling around in my head that I want to try before I start painting again.  I'm hoping next week will be more productive than this last week was.

A Painting Within a Painting

I recently had an idea for a painting, I thought it might be interesting to paint people looking at a painting, so I am currently working out this idea.  I'm planning to do a few of these, and they will have a lot of religious symbols and imagery.  This first one is a sort of test painting to see if this idea works.  I am using a painting from last semester as the main painting that the people are reacting to.  Here's what it looks like so far.

Oil on canvas
Music - Devil in a Woodpile, Hillstomp, Elba, David Bazan and Dan Auerbach

I'm planning on adding sculptural elements and possibly some collage to these paintings.  I'm also thinking about projecting a film onto one of the paintings...who knows, we'll see how it goes.

...and semester two begins.

While visiting Rome during winter break I became very inspired by all of the religious artwork there.  I'm intrigued by all the repeating themes, the storytelling, and the epic quality they possess, but most of all I'm interested in the propaganda of it all.  I'll be using a lot of religious themes and imagery in my artwork throughout this semester but I will be changing the main focus a bit.  I plan on blending a few different religion's gods, idols, icons and stories into one painting while maybe placing them in a modern setting.  I'll be researching all of the major world religions, their artwork and their history for this project.  I'm just getting started but I'm excited to see where this takes me.