ARTISTS TALKING

# 38 [3 April 2013]

Well definitely something between paddling and rowing...

To help make more room for my art practice and to allow a proper rhythm to emerge I've slimmed down my online presence and and will be focusing on keeping my axis pages and my blogs as current as is possible. Its been an interesting exercise already freeing up time and head space-without the white noise of facebook I feel particularly 'exempt from external direction'- Collins Concise Dictionary circa 1985

And will start a new blog to explore the development of my art practice after my recent more formal studies... 

# 37 [21 January 2013]

Setting myself some opportunity deadlines to help focus and have something to aim for. Attempting to be discerning about them so that applications made have some relation to my wider practice. Really just there to keep me paddling or is it rowing...

# 36 [14 January 2013]

Is it really almost two months? I guess the festive season does steal time as well as money

As with all who have undertaken a period of study there's the euphoria of achievement followed by the loss of perceived structure, a return to normality though what that is I'm really not sure

I've been drawing, making and setting some simple deadlines to help give structure to my practice not too much as I have to find my natural mode of working

And I have to admit I do feel a little at sea so I better get building a boat...

# 35 [19 November 2012]

I felt fine yet now I feel a bit neverlandish, too long not drawing or making? Though its been good to have a short break, still only two months since the final show and after all the hard work I guess I need longer than I thought to reflect...

Definitely back in control of my physical environment, letting go of old stuff (easier than I thought) to help clear the way and realising that I and my practice are markedly different. The next stop is sorting my workshop out temporarily so that I have somewhere to explore ideas, still not big enough though a small space is better than no space

And I have re written my art CV and made changes to my artist statement to support all those opportunities just over the horizon... 

# 34 [31 October 2012]

I forgot to say I recently took part in the Pecha Kucha Night Wakefield Vol. 7:Drawing Lines at The Hepworth

I was drawn to it because I really enjoyed seeing Eva Rothschilds 'Hot Touch' there last year and the Pecha Kucha was all about lines-my favourite subject.It was also about getting out there, a toe in the water to see where my practice fits

Although I found the post graduate presentations on my MA challenging somehow I thought this would be much easier-out there as a professional...

I was suprised at how nervous I was and that I couldn't completely memorise what I wanted to say. I had to keep crib cards to maintain a flow. I think this was partly because I was talking about Tim Ingolds Lines a Brief History in relation to mine and others work, perhaps if I had just spoken about my own work I may have felt more confident

Also the platform I was standing on was noisy as I moved, I had a spotlight directly in my eyes and a very large microphone preventing me from moving around as freely as I would have liked...

However with hindsight it was a great experience, it made me think about my work in relation to others, it was good to meet other artists and hear about their work, eat parkin and drink homemade wine in such a great venue

So here's to the next interesting opportunity…

# 33 [25 October 2012]

Well what can I say I'm delighted to write that I've completed my MA and have a certificate to prove it...

Challenging and amazing at the same time so if there's anyone out there thinking about academic study or already in the throws then my top tip is make sure that you're technology hangs in there, most of my issues arose around documenting my practice-photography and formatting papers and my research folio-computer rather than making artworks...so the very best of luck if you're grappling with any of the same

Now all I have to do is keep making art and look out for interesting projects and opportunities... 

# 32 [7 September 2012]

Disassembling all the work made me feel very uncertain. And time away concentrating on the research folio added to a feeling of displacement which took some time to shake off. However I got there in the end the secret being not to over think and to trust your instincts.  

# 31 [16 August 2012]

With only two weeks to create my show its exciting and challenging at the same time. Tomorrow I'm going to disassemble all the work made over the last four weeks, draw the space and start to reassemble...

Also thinking of whether and how I can introduce drawings, here's an example of a wood panel drawing balancing on one rusty nail high up on the wall, no cheating yet though will probably have to secure works to ensure safe for the private view night

# 30 [2 August 2012]

I've finished my paper, now working on my folio and I'm happy to say that I've been drawing and making, isn't that fabulous?! And all of my pieces are liable to topple in a moment, I've already disassembled five towers to make more so still too early to say what will make up my final show. I find it hard to imagine that two years of research are nearly over though already I can see the benefit to my practice, how good is that. And all I have to do now is keep up the momentum, there's a task...

# 29 [12 July 2012]

What I meant to write was body-mind, see what I mean, lost in translation. I wish I could say my paper was all finished, now I'm editing down the chapters, who would of thought that 5,000 words could be so long in the making?

Thinking of making wouldn't that be a great thing to be able to do...

Perhaps next week, fingers crossed