ARTISTS TALKING

# 20 [15 March 2013]

The long gap between posts represents starting an MA Fine and Applied Arts. Working three days a week at a gallery and a mid-winter trudge through the snow.

A lot of work has happened and I have recently updated my website with some of it: www.harrietgifford.com/newworkphotography.html

# 19 [10 September 2012]

Water Light:

Experimental film project with artists Harriet Gifford and Hazel Stone.

This is a free public screening of short films by us, the two artists, onto the facade of the old cinema building on Whitstable High Street. The event is taking place between 8-9pm on Saturday 15th September. 44-48 Whitststable High Street (Budgens). It is free and open to all.

All plans are steeming ahead, all permissions have been granted so its all go. I am really excited and a little anxious as well. But it should be great. We have a couple of other film makers who will be recording the event and posting on youtube and elswhere. We have a fb page. So check out http://on.fb.me/QeQFwa

# 18 [30 August 2012]

Water Lights. I am curating an outdoor public screening of new experiental films by myself and Hazel Stone for Whitstable Bennale Satellite. We had a technical run through last night and it looks amazing. I'm very happy. More details to follow.

# 17 [24 August 2012]

phew, what a round-a-bout.

I am trying to organise a public outdoor screening for a new  film as part of the Whitstable Biennale Satellite. Mostly I have encountered enthusiastic and helpful people but trying to establish whether or not I might require planning consent or temporary events licence is proving to be a circular process. Maybe I do need one, maybe I don't, but so far no one is willing to go on the record, even at the planning office to say I definately don't.

At this rate I am hoping to have 3 films screening at different locations during the Biennale. So I am feeling good, if tired trying to keep all the balls in the air. Plus I am doing an all day art market in Ashford tomorrow to try to keep the free exchange of art for money going!

And a week's holiday, planned long before all these other balls went into orbit, the week before the Biennale. Hopefully I'll be relaxed and not a  screwed up ball of elastic by the time I get back.

# 16 [20 August 2012]

Debut Film:

on Saturday I made my first short film. I got up early and shot some footage, on my first video camera, in the village where I live. I imported the files to my computer, used my new software to edit it, made and added some music.

I opened a Vimeo account and uploaded my little film. I went to the social network sites and let people know how to find it..

www.photisms.com

By Sunday lunch I had been invited to have a public screening at...

The Marvellous Miniature Cinema, at the Horsebridge Centre as part of the Whitstable Biennale Satellite this September/October.

I'll admit to being really quite pleased.

# 15 [24 July 2012]

As I enjoy a couple of weeks uninterrupted work in the studio, part of me, even whilst loving the physical act of painting, is thinking that painting is the wrong answer, slow, out dated, redundant.

The companion photographs to accompany this series of paintings - weird and disturbing little vignettes - are quick, slick and seductive to make and view.

I had been considering showing the photos as small 'labels' to the paintings but now I think they could be enlarged to the same 1m x 1m proportions as the paintings and be hung as diptychs. This of course is an expensive proposition, especially when you include printing and framing the photographs.

I am as a rule, uncomfortable with seeking funding for my projects, believing rather, that if at all possible artists should pay for their own production costs. An unpopular notion I am sure; but I do recognise that for certain projects it is the only way to get things made or produced and this may be one of those times.

[In the time between writing this and deciding on the images to post with it, my mind wondered up to the idea of making this a purely photgraphic project. On the face of it this seems like a straightforward solution to my unease, but there is something about the paintings, about painting that won't let go.]

More thinking time required....

# 14 [16 June 2012]

Its been a busy time since last I blogged, reading, reading, looking, making reading. Showing, selling, marketing and working.

And the conculsion I have reached is to do an MA in fine art. I have considered it many times over the last 20 years and now I believe the time is right.

Next week I have an appointment for and "initial chat with the head of the course. I have the application forms printed and ready to go, I've even lined up assistance with the fees.

onwards and upwards

# 13 [18 May 2012]

A lot of time recently reading and researching, diving into the pool of new data visualisations and net-art has led to the creation of a new website experiment:

www.photisms.com

a simple first step into the warm waters.

# 12 [26 January 2012]

time, time, time

grey skies

sleep

brain work

# 11 [16 January 2012]

In the winter cold, out walking with my camera. Taking a break from uploading some old black & white negatives onto the computer. Playing around in my digital darkroom, having fun. Just enjoying making, not worrying about results. Sometimes that's when inspiration strikes, sometimes that's when the delete button gets well used.