ARTISTS TALKING

# 41 [9 June 2010]

I'm going to be doing something exciting on my website from 1st July!

If you're an artist who is a little embarrassed about the standard of their drawing skills, or someone who just wants to learn or grow, you might want to be in on this.

My "30 Days of Drawing" challenge begins on 1st July. I'm enouraging my readers to spend an allotted time drawing every day, perhaps with a specific goal in mind. For example, to improve fluency of line, to experiment wildly with ink, to get better at observational work, to let go of all preconceived notions of good/bad/acceptable drawing. Etc, etc.

I'll be posting drawing-related content all month: images of my own drawing efforts, interviews with successful artists, illustrators and designers about their views on drawing; tasks and challenges to try out to get yourself back into the flow of drawing; art history and theory notes on drawing; and lots and lots of inspiration and encouragement to keep on drawing!

Am just starting to write the content and am really thrilled with how it's going.

i'm also looking for artists, curators and writers to be interviewed on my site, or to write/draw guest posts, during the month of July. Please get in touch via becky @ beckyhunter.co.uk if you're interested.

Twitter hashtag: #30DaysDrawing

# 40 [7 June 2010]

This weekend was pretty relaxing...

I deliberately didn't do any school work or freelance work, but instead did some introductory research into the existing gallery scene in Philadelphia and the types of businesses in existence in the specific area of the city that I'm interested in. I also started looking up studio and commerical space rental prices, as well as writing out my clearly my vision for the studios and gallery.

Today I worked on some book reviews and interviews with artists and designers for my blog and for White Hot Magazine.

Ok, that's it for now... 2 weeks and 2 days til Philadelphia!

# 39 [4 June 2010]

Gorgeous sunny day here in York. I have turned my pink gerbera so it's facing out of the open window while I type.

Writing an article today and doing some drawing. Still struggling with concentration on academic stuff. Hoping that a semi-academic article will boost my confidence.

I've been commissioned to write another short 'Rant' for Axis. I find these really fun to write as well as being a challenge, to fit a coherant and witty argument into a 300 word text. My next one is going to be on the class divide in the creative industries. Thanks Axis.

My month off university is almost over. I feel I have made real progress when it comes to defining what I want in my future, remembering what is important to me, and making steps to get there.

I'm also really glad that I've started to focus on my own well-being, rather than being an art history essay machine!

# 38 [3 June 2010]

Yesterday I made a pact with my hyper-critical self to be quiet for a while. I'm sick of preventing myself from getting on with stuff because I'm feeling exhausted from too much pressure.

On that note, I'll let light, creative Becky take over a little... Bleaching a whole bunch of sheeting today. I love swooshing bubbles and textiles around in a big bucket of water. Looking forward to seeing how they come out.

I'm excited about how quickly my blog is growing but I want to make it work for me and not just be an online popularity contest. Reading 'Blogging for the Artist' woke me up a little this morning. Less time on Twitter, more time on paper.

I've been singing and playing my guitar.

Today I'm going to think about my priorities.

Less than 3 weeks to Philadelphia summer!

# 37 [2 June 2010]

GALLERY/STUDIOS: Yesterday I read through the whole of Jackie Berridge's a-n studio blog (2007-2010) and was amazed at the hard slog she has been through to get the studios to where they are today. What an inspirational woman. And still there are legal disputes going on! She's absolutely right that only a practicing artist would set up this type of business.

I've also been emailing with her about getting some advice on my own project. I'm certainly not put off yet! In fact, I'm constantly thrilled by the warmth and eagerness to give advice, assistance and encouragement by other a-n bloggers, as well as their openness about their own circumstances. Thanks to a-n for providing this forum.

PROCRASTINATION: I still have a book review to write and am struggling with energy and motivation. I'm a perfectionist, trying to learn to be an imperfectionist. At the moment that means I get things done well, but at what cost? My health has suffered in the past year. Trying to learn how to treat myself gently while still getting things done is my task of the year and is one of the hardest things I've attempted.

INTERVIEWS: Up on my website today is an interview with Katherine Faulkner, a PhD candidate at the Courtauld Institute, studying 'The Sculpted Body: 18th C Dress'. It's really useful reading for anyone considering a PhD in the humanities.

TWITTER: I officially am in love with Twitter. My interview with Katie, mentioned above, has been RT'd by two people with big followings in the time it took to write the above sentence. Looking forward to having some new readers. Must come up with a plan for organising my time better though! Blogging is one of my favourite things, but, as yet, it doesn't bring in cash. (Do I sound horrifically mercenary for an artist?)

USA: Can. Not. Wait.

# 36 [1 June 2010]

Doctor's appointment this morning so got up earlier than usual. This means a lovely walk along by the cow-field in the fresh air, crows perched on the railings. Overcast skies remind me of a dream I had last night about getting out of the subway at 40th St to get to M's house. In the dream, it's drizzling, so I huddle inside my coat. Suddenly it's a downpour and I'm running to M's place. Then it's a disaster movie and there are twin tornadoes heading straight at me. I'm on his street but wake up, heart pounding, before I get to the door.... 

This is probably related to the fact that I have started packing my tiny suitcase for the USA, which is exciting but also nervewracking. Rolling up all my summer clothes (no need for them in York, UK!) into tight bundles feels like coiling up my energies ready to spring into action in Philadelphia. Hmm.

You know how the Americans have medical names for every slightly difficult emotional state? Near the end of a brilliant exchange programme in painting at the Cooper Union, NYC, I told my tutor that I was having trouble concentrating. He said, 'you're suffering from transition anxiety, I get it myself'. Wow. Funny thing was that his diagnosis made me feel much better. Think I'm having a spell of T.A. today. It seems pointless to do much in the UK since I have only 3 weeks left, but it really is too early to pack or to make too many Philadelphia plans with friends.

ART: Yesterday I drew! My creative streak continues.

ON MY WEBSITE: new blog post about pinhole photography, something I intend to try very soon. Will update here with photos if I do...

# 35 [31 May 2010]

Brief blog post today:

I'm really happy that I have found a dream that sustains my interest, that combines intellectual, business and manual labour, that combines criticality and community-outreach. Still excited!

Today, I'll be working on my business plan and writing a review of two pretty interesting, and very different, books for http://whitehotmagazine.com. It's the first time I've been sent a book to review that I get to keep. And it's a beauty. Top secret for now, but will update here when the article is published.

Yesterday, while I didn't make art, I spent my time on two activities that I consider to be creative and close to my artistic nerve. I sewed, sewed, sewed a charity shop dress into a beautiful summer music festival offering, and I baked three vegan cakes. Alongside *the dream* gallery plans, I'm slowing working on building up my creative confidence again so that I might be an exhibiting, practicing artist eventually too.

Ok, until tomorrow...

# 34 [28 May 2010]

Two great things today:

1. My interview with London-based sculptor Nick Hornby has been published at Dazed today.

2. The Philadelphia "Promoters Bill" has been cancelled thanks to a huge online petition and lots of concerned Philadelphians phoning up the council offices. People everywhere do care about the arts and it shows when things like live music are put under threat.

Also...

Other than fixing a typo in the interview, today has been completely restful. As I mentioned earlier, due to ill health I've taken some time out of my MA, which has been frustrating. But at the same time it's ben a great opportunity to develop new ideas and plans for the future. 

I've been reading today about business plans at the Young, Fabulous and Self Employed blog. Am going to start making some initial notes towards a complete gallery business plan, as well as contacting some enterprise agencies about advice and training courses and stuff. Do get in touch if you have any expertise to share... In return I will ply you with drinks and write an article on your work on my website, which happily has received over 4,000 visitors and 40,000 hits this month.

Also, I'm hoping to give a talk at the Philadelphia Pecha Kucha (for more on what this is, click here) on the abstract painter Agnes Martin. Will post a video if it works out. Philadelphia art community networking begins!

Still so excited!!

# 33 [27 May 2010]

I have decided to take a business studies course once my MA History of Art is over. Pretty excting stuff. Never imagined myself doing this!

Accounting, marketing, finance, management, ethics, etc... Perfect for practical gallery stuff.

If anyone has taken Open University: 'An Introduction to Business' I'd love to hear from you regarding whether it's worth doing.

Best wishes,

Becky

# 32 [26 May 2010]

Still reeling with excitement at the gallery project plan I announced yesterday. I've already had two offers of advice from fellow [a-n] bloggers Rosalind Davis and Jackie Berridge, recommended by Emily Speed on Twitter of all places. I'm so grateful for the spirit of sharing and community that [a-n] is fostering here, as I'm sure it will provide much support in the months and years to come. I hope I can encourage and support others too.

On top of that, I've arranged a meeting with a Philadelphia yoga studio arts co-ordinator, to discuss stuff like the legal side of things, health and safety, clientele, marketing and collaboration.

I'm also excited because I've finally hit on a project that will keep me enthused and prepared to put in the necessary hard work, as well as being something that will inspire me to write daily and to take baby steps each day until I reach my goal.

I've been wondering for such a long while how to combine my life-long passion for critical and ravishing contemporary art with a project that allows opportunities for community outreach and social action. THIS is it.

What has also been wonderful is that I've painted this week for the first time in years. Just some little play doodles, getting to used to what paint feels like again. Something of the enthusiasm of beginning a project I truly care about has rubbed off on my own art work. Perhaps at some point I will have an art practice again. Either way, I'm not giving up on being involved in the arts.

Goodness, how gushy of me! Well, I'm sure once I start my Introduction to Business course and get bogged down in accounting, finance, management and accounting, things won't be so simple.

Anyway, and finally, I wanted to signpost a couple of recent blog posts on my website: This first one is an appeal for signatures in an online petition to prevent a particularly nasty bill being passed in Philadelphia, which would make organisation and promotion of live music almost impossible. Do check it out and sign the petition! Secondly, I wrote an excitable post, complete with scribbly sketches, about my Philadelphia gallery dream... if anyone reading this has any expertise, skills or advice to offer, please message me and I will repay you with drinks/dinner/cake and an article about your work on my website.

Thanks! Becky X x