ARTISTS TALKING

# 61 [17 May 2013]

Where to start?!

I have lots of things going on and am starting to think this is a problem.  Fragmentation leads to lots of little broken bits.  

Knowing that I should be doing 'good works' I decided yesterday to cut up a lot of clothes into very small pieces.  Seemed pertinent to the day.  Pleased to say that it was the right thing to do.

As usual overthinking is both a good and bad thing.  I have lots of ideas and it gets to distract me.  Starting to think this may be a self destruction mode but have to go with the flow....

# 60 [10 May 2013]

Good God I am so sick of failure!  As if FridayFail were not enough - now it's Saturday and Tuesday too!

Am I truely forever to be 'always the bridesmaid and never the bride'?  

Getting close to things is almost worse than being nowhere near - you get your hopes up, you spend more time and money and still end up with NOTHING..... It started off as a silly joke but I really am getting quite good at being a successful failure.  This of course fits perfectly into my work ethos.

I really don't know quite what to do - keep on keeping on is time wasting and demoralising.  Making my own opportunities opens up a whole other realm of failure possibilibies.  Hide in a cupboard?  That's the one I think..... 

# 59 [26 April 2013]

BLIMEY! I've been efficient this week!

FridayFailure I fear you no more!!!

My (grade 1 RSA circa 1986, I'll have you know) typing fingers have been flyiing accross the keyboard - no artistic opportunity is safe!

I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO TURN ME DOWN!!     *primeaval scream*

Thank you - superhero power statement now out of the way, I will continue.

As you may have gathered my SUPERHERO COSTUME (onesie) is well under way despite a small but engrossing distraction with a LOT  of seed beads and I am nearly at the tricky stage....

I will complete this work

I will complete this work

I will complete this work

I will complete this work

                                                 continue until finished 

# 58 [19 April 2013]

DISCIPLINE!   is what I need!

Honestly I am hopeless.  Several times I have sat down to write this blog (which I have neglected somewhat lately) and there I go thinking that I will have a quick look at everyone elses first - then lo and behold....

TIME ALL GONE - NO BLOG POST - aaaaaahhhhh.

So -  dear everyone - all your posts look very interesting but just for now.  I AM NOT GOING TO LOOK (not even a peek).

Where was I? Oh yes.

Tempting Failure was a while ago now and I have had time to let it settle in my mind a bit.  As usual in my life, I returned home to a load of stuff to do and the school holidays - which is never a good mix.  So the fact that I managed to master 'photoshop' (in a fashion) and produce a 'PIG NOSE' workshop is no small miracle! (pictures available on request).

I will do a more fulsome report of the debut of Cicatrix Macula (paratus) on my collaborative blog with Sally Lemsford ssocial ssocial

http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/sing...

Needless to say it was a very interesting night and not in the way I particularly expected.  Immediately afterwards I swore never to do another performance but (as you do) here I am applying for performance opportunities here there and everywhere now.

So this is what I have been doing this week - my superhero dreams are becoming real.......

# 57 [30 March 2013]

It's funny how one thing can completely change a whole mindset.  

I'm delighted to say that I have been awarded one of the a-n RE:view bursaries.  Hooray!!!  Suddenly I feel like I can conquer the world again!  

In addition to this, watching David Bowie on BBC4 last night and hearing about how much of a big blag the success of Ziggy Stardust was initially in America - it is clear to me that:

Nobody really knows anything - I CAN JUST MAKE IT ALL UP!

YOU are no smarter than I am (well ok you may be but go with it for a moment)..... it is all a matter of PERCEPTION.

Please now perceive me winning the Turner Prize......

# 56 [22 March 2013]

With the threat of BIG SNOW coming, my well planned week has been yet more messed up.  I had been planning to go to Wysing:

http://www.wysingartscentre.org/whats_on/events/re...

which looked very exciting.  I expect this will have to be replaced by a day of sledging.

Having been virtually tied to the computer writing up a proposal all week it will be nice to get some fresh (if chilly) air. 

With only three working days left until Easter, preparations for Cicatrix Macula are getting a bit frantic - thank god for Hugh my trusty 'technical advisor' who has (as ever) come up trumps with the actualisation of my odd requests.  The broom chariots are ready (and filling the playroom) - now the challenge will be to keep the kids off them till 

http://www.thomasjohnbacon.com/2013/02/tempting-fa...

(am I plugging this too much?!)

just have to hope that the neighbours don't call the police thinking there has been an incident.....

# 55 [15 March 2013]

A much more productive week.  And here i am torn - just written about Cicatrix Macula (paratus) which will be debuting at

http://temptingfailure.eventbrite.co.uk

a performance that I am doing in collaboration with Sally Lemsford..... see our SSoCiaL page....

http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/sing...

so feel like I have written this already!  The rest of my time I have been frantically preparing my application for the RE:view bursary - fingers crossed as it is such a great opportunity.  I have been having a break from #FridayFailure which has been good for mental health but not so good for attempting to get work exhibited.  I am trying to be much more choosy now with things that I apply to - fast boat on my mind at all times.

# 54 [8 March 2013]

1. I'm trying to get to the bottom of why I never seem to get anything done.  

2. I am experimenting in 'creative visualisation'.  

I think the two may be connected.

possible answers to 1:

Reality of limited time.

Percieved reality of limited time.

Confused mind

Convinced myself I have a confused mind.

Indecision

The existance of too many decision requests coexisting in the same small space of time.

Too many ideas

The same ideas repeated ad infinitum to appear to be many.

Liking too many things

Being above averagely good at too many things but not world shatteringly, and exceptionally amazing at one thing that demands undivided attention.

An annoying combination of extreme overself confidence and crushing self doubt at the pointlessness of it all.

Limited funds

A ridiculous persistance in the idea of perfection.

Possible suggestions for 2.

Acceptance of time reality

Extremely detailed visual plan of activities to guide day and ensure achievement of goals.

Hold visions of finished works permanently in minds-eye at all times.

Cut picture of own head out and stick onto picture of Turner Prize winner's body 

Visualize myself as a serious being imparting pearls of wisdom inplace of irreverancies.

See that it's only art.

# 53 [2 March 2013]

Where to start?

Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable afternoon in Birmingham, where I had never been before (unless you count to watch football, which I don't, as I was reading a book at the time) so I was very excited to experience what I had imagined was the mythical, 'bullring'.  With a slight disappointment at the lack of Javier Bardem in Matador costume to welcome me, I was pretty impressed.

A discussion group organised by and for a-n, it was a big mix of different artists and users of this site.  At any artist gathering I always end up in awe of the diversity of knowledge of everyone at such events and invariably depart with a list of a thousand people and things to look up when I get home.  Unfortunately it is impossible to talk to everyone and you could easily have spent the next week or so in highly interesting discussion with each and every person there.  

The overiding thing that I got from this particular meeting though was a real sense of belief that WE CAN (and have to) MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.  

WE HAVE TO BE SELF-ENABLING.  

and that it is THROUGH NETWORKS OF PEOPLE THAT EXCITING AND AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN (if you make them)

Never before have I been so convinced in the theories of 'making your own luck' and self-fullfilling prophesy.

Now, like never before, it is a time to be brave.

# 52 [25 February 2013]

With Tempting Failure fast approaching I've been making a start on the bits and pieces we need for the performance.

Performing as 'SSoCial', Sally Lemsford and I first met last year at Twycross Zoo and finding many startling similarities in themes of our work have been developing 'Cicatrix Macula' off and on over the past year.  In the course of development the twists and turns of what and how have encompassed so many things it is hard to know where we started and where we end.  I think at the moment we are still somewhere in the middle as in our heads this is the first of a series of works which will be developing as they go.

That we are to finally perform it is both thrilling and terrifying.  I think I need an extra big bag to wear on my head for this one.

The trouble with plans formulated in the mind is that the logistics are never as easy as first imagined.  Practicalities such as gravity and transport have a tricky way of scuppering the most ingenious of ideas.  However do not worry, it will be a wild party.  Please come along - there will be jelly - though at the moment, no promise of cake.

http://www.thomasjohnbacon.com/2013/02/tempting-failure-tickets-now-on-sale.html