University of Newcastle   2008/2009

Andrea Toth

The predominant themes in my work concern light, atmosphere and a sense of space. I am continuously drawn to the landscape in order to capture a moment, or to stimulate a mood evoking memory. Using formative memories of the vast landscapes of Canada and my new experiences in the northern British landscape, I recall these moments through a variety of media, seeking to recreate the joy, tension, pressure and vulnerability that the landscape brings to me. In my work there is a search for a fine balance between the unconscious flow and direct control of media. The space between the accidental and the deliberate offers the opportunity for areas of light, movement and emotion to exist in the work.

The horizon and the ambiguous space between earth and sky is the focus of my present work. It has long been an interest of mine and I am currently exploring the line, or space, that occurs where the two areas meet. The line that is drawn can become a space due to its weight and the tension created on either side by atmospheric conditions such as a low cloud ceiling.

The AA2A Scheme has been an invaluable opportunity and experience, as I have been able to expand my working practice through printmaking, including intaglio and monotypes. The immediacy of monotypes has been ideal for my work, and with the generous support of the Print Dept at Newcastle University, I was able to complete two bodies of work exploring light and horizon in monotypes and a series of cyanotype photographs, enjoying the combination of developing images of the sky with UV light.

This opportunity of concentrated focus on my work has been invaluable in developing my skills and thus developing my work in new directions.