New Sketchbook!

Just received my sketchbook for the sketchbook project, I'm looking forward to getting on with it, I chose the subject 'fold and stitch', so will be doing some new experiments in it. I may take it with me to the Tin Ladies Non Birthday Meeting today... it would be good to do some scribbling and eating non birthday cake at the same time.

I've been drawing and using dyes a lot lately. I really enjoy doing this and can loose myself in that flow when drawing, that I can't achieve in other ways, the above image is one that I did last week. I've joined a website that is an artists community and had to pay to subscribe, this is forcing me to produce work as I am inherently quite tight with money, so I want to get my full use out of the site. It's also brought out my competitive side, which I usually keep dormant, I find myself wanting to be at the number 1 spot!

The second image is my interpretation of a photograph I took of some rocks. I enjoyed playing with Oil & Acrylics last weekend and this was the result. I'm enjoying working with mixed media for now.

I've just done the online application for The Sketchbook Project. I'm quite excited about it, I've opted for the subject 'stitches and folds' and will be experimenting to see what happens. I'm already trying to figure out how I can get a sketchbook into my embelliishing machine... I will have to fill this sketchbook by January 2012, and post it off to the US, where it will tour around the world with other artists sketchbooks. I heard about it last year, but didn't take part, so this year have taken the plunge. I am setting myself achieveable challenges that will get me out of the house over the winter months as this is when I tend to withdraw and hibernate, which isn't good for me. I really looking forward to getting my sketchbook.

The above image is my first experiment with mixing the two mediums of textile and mosaic. Over the next couple of months I'll be developing these pieces into abstract images and seeing what comes out. Its a way of combining different techniques that I really enjoy using and hopefully make something that is aesthetically pleasing with some context.

Busy September

Its been a busy start to September. I could write a list, but its too long. Needless to say, the first things that get put at the bottom of the pile is the artwork and creativity. Which makes me feel like an adminstrator and not an artist. But I have just cleared some headspace to be making again. I also have a commission so that will force me to start making again. To make sure I keep doing something creative in between all the paperworky stuff, I have joined a website that I can post images to, I have had to pay for this so it forces me to do it because I don't have a lot of disposable income, so I want to get my moneys worth. I've submitted two funding applications for Corridor Arts which feels quite exciting, more on how that progresses. I had an attempt at John Piper style of working after the exhibition in Eastbourne, of course the outcome was nothing like his, but I quite liked my outcome.

Part of supporting my creative inspiration, is to get out into the countryside, which is abundant with foraging opportunities and after making the sloe gin, blackberry brandy, damson vodka, I've still got enough fruit to make some jam. Ah domestic bliss.

Summer Travels

Its been a wonderful summer holidays. As I have 3 school age children, obviously I have to stop working for 6 weeks over the summer when they are off school.

Actually, I don't know how to stop working, its integral to my lifestyle.

I've had a child free break when we travelled down to East Sussex to visit some friends, and discovered the wonderful Towner Gallery. There's a John Piper exhibition and I managed to contain my excitement and look grown up, staring at paintings thoughtfully, while secretly my heart was thundering inside my chest and the urge to stroke and lick the paintings grew stronger with every image. I managed to contain myself though. Also on show was a piece by Claire Morgan, who is evokes a thought provoking visceral reaction whenever I see her work. I don't have the words to do either of the artists mentioned justice, so heres a link to the Towner Gallery. Its well worth a visit.

http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk/

Then last week, a return to my family home on Anglesey, where we got soaked in sea fully clothed one day, soaked by the rain up a mountain the next and by the third day, I gave in and took my clothes off for a bracing but liberating dip in the sea. It had become obvious that the water wanted me to join it, so I thought it best to give in and keep my clothes dry.

We also visited the old mansion house that is hidden away in the woods near my parents house, its in a dangerous and dilapidated state, but that doesn't stop us trekking through the mud and trees just for some photos and to see what gifts the patriarchal stone wants to bestow on his prodigal visitors. This old haunt always gives me treasures, bits of victorian glass, plasterwork, slate. And this time, a piece of very old speckled mirror. Who knows how long it was buried in the gardens that nature has reclaimed before being pushed to the surface for the serendipitous moment when my family and I meandered past.

Safe Art

We all sat in the Black Swann, revelling in our hard work in setting up the Art Trail, ideas were flowing, philosophical debates between the others were binging around the table. I sat and tried to absorb the intelligence that flowed around me, and not let the negative thoughts that so often determine my emotions creep in and whisper 'you're not really an artist'.

Then Jay turned to me and asked the immortal words 'how's the residency going?'

I paused, then launched into a diatribe of how I'd been feeling...

And while the words decided to network around the room and stop off at the bar for a bag of crisps, they slowly wormed their way back into my mouth, my tongue flapped around a bit more, lapping at my drink to wash away the salty crisps.

'I hate my work because its too safe!' The words jumped out of my mouth and danced mockingly on the table.

And then, with one swell foop of creative inspiration, Jay swept the contemptuous letters off the table with a vaudevillian hook.

'Hacksaw, cut em up and see what happens, do something free, thats what I'd do...'

And with one simple sentance, the audience were blown away and the show transferred to the West End.

Artist In Residence - The Arboretum

I'm currently half way through my first residency at Derby's Arboretum in Normanton. It's a beautiful busy park full of wildlife and old trees. It was the first free park in the UK, and has undergone a restoration over the last few years.

I'm working out of the Orangery and spent last week drawing and just getting to know the park. I enjoyed the opportunity to just draw, instead of worrying about answering emails and all the usual day to day things that get in the way.

After a few days of not being in the Orangery, I've returned to today with a new sense of vigour!, and spent a few hours bending wire and covering it in modroc, I'm not sure the forms are exactly how I want them to be yet, but they will be dry enough tomorrow to put a covering of plaster on and the form will grow and develop further.

Perspective

A recent shift in how I view the world has happened.

It has left me feeling more secure and stronger in my roles as artist and mother.


1 the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other. the appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position , distance from the viewer, etc.:
a trick of perspective[count noun] a view or prospect.
Geometrythe relation of two figures in the same plane, such that pairs of corresponding points lie on concurrent lines , and corresponding lines meet in collinear points.

2 a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something;
a point of view:
most guidebook history is written from the editor's perspective;
true understanding of the relative importance of things ;
a sense of proportion:

And looking up the Oxford Dictionary definition, my attitude towards life and my way of regarding how the world works has recently been altered. I've never had to question this which I now find surprising when the two definitions include sculpture and life...