ARTISTS TALKING

# 11 [27 March 2009]

It has been a week of many parts: attempts at reconciliation, crisis of confidence, reshooting, editing, interviewing, calming the stressed and trying not to rise to the bait, and just learning to let go. This is not all just about me, btw, but us collectively....ok so most of them are me... anyway....

I have reviewed all the images and tried to decide what to show, reckon I will only have space for 3 images of around 16 x 20, so what best to show the series?

Canvased opinion of tutors, fellow students and the man on the street (ok actually the man in th kitchen, but you get the idea). Still undecided, one likes the portraits, one the stuff, one a combo. anyway its down to me in the end and I have a week to decide.

In the meantime I have been back to the archive today and reshot some of the possibles, to see if I can get them a bit better. One of my previous victims/researcher was there so I was able to give him the photo I took of him (i had a set of small prints with me to use as a guide) which pleased him. Now have to wait til I can pick up the negs on monday, hopefully scan on tuesday, make a decision, do dust removal etc ready for going to print meeting on 6th April. So by mid april mounting should be done and work ready for show. Phew!

I built plenty of contingency into the plan (learned something useful from my earlier career then). There will still be lots to do for show, but its stuff I can do myself at home.

I hate to release any kind of responsibility for my work to somone else, but needs must, I cannot print and mount to the required standard so just gotta trust the professionals!!!

# 12 [3 April 2009]

blimey, its enough to make you turn to chocolate... eating it I mean, not actually turning into chocolate, that would just be messy.

I have finished the final edit, ready to take the final three to print on monday. I hate editing, spotting, photoshop generally and trying to get the colour right when I can't see that its wrong; getting niggled about the little things that you can't fix and hope no one else notices.

Of course someone will notice, but it would be nice if they just don't mention it, I know my work isn't perfect, and neither am I, I can see my own faults, I am not stupid, and yes I would like to do better, and one day, I am sure I will.  I am quite capable of beating myself up, I don't need help.

I feel better now I have got that off my chest.

On the whole I am happy with the set of images I have, its a shame I cannot show them all, but I will put the set in a book, and maybe do a copy for the archive too, since they have been so helpful.

# 13 [7 April 2009]

went to the printers yesterday, so committed now to final 3.

looking forward to seeing them full size on thursday, and checking them before they go to be mounted. hope I have judged the final preparations correctly.

got a quote for the work.

eek!

still, you only do a final show once!

trying to get a grip on the myriad of other minor tasks of my own and those that I have taken on for the show.

feel absolutely shattered. need a holiday, or just a good nights sleep!

# 14 [9 April 2009]

hey, I feel like I am getting there! prints gone for mounting, postcards ordered, book prepared!

Still have show tasks to work on, artists statement, and prep for the meeting at Departure, oh yes and the research books, but panic is subsiding a bit.....until I remember how much it's all going to cost!

# 15 [16 April 2009]

I went to my mum's today.

 she says that when I finish my degree, I could get a job as a swimming instructor.

ever feel like you're not being taken seriously?

# 16 [17 April 2009]

Yesterday I came across these images of the archive in its heyday.

How crowded it is now in comparison, but still very atmospheric and totally recognisable.

I wish I had seen these earlier, I might have been able to use them somehow.

Although I may still be able to, because I have secured a show in Limehouse in August, where I should be able to show all this project. I will have to see what I can do once the Degree show is out of the way.

# 17 [27 April 2009]

suffering from "passive stress"

like passive smoking, but you start absorbing other people's stress.

I am beginning to think I should have explained the word "contingency" to my fellow students, as the opportunity to factor this into their plans, seems to have been bypassed, and now panic is rife.

 If I hear anyone else say their computer has died..... maybe I should have explained the term "back-up" also!

Now I probably sound like a proper clever dick, but age and business experience does count for something, please learn something from this.

I want to go and lie down in a quiet room, with no phone or computer

 our show goes up in 8 days (hopefully)

# 18 [1 May 2009]

Its all gone a bit quiet.

The panic has subsided, or seems to have. Hopefully its not the calm before the storm.

I think people have their final work now, at least I hope so , seeing as the show goes up on Tuesday.

Plans have been made for putting up and the Private View,

In retrospect there are things which we could have done better but working in a group can be tricky when the group is small. Less people to spread the tasks among, so everyone trying hard to juggle their personal projects and committments to group tasks. Fund raising is particularly difficult when there are only 11 of you, so everyone ends up paying more for the extras we'd like to have.

I think the final collection will work well. As  some students work addresses similar subjects, these will look especially good  together in the gallery.

We may not have all the expensive frills and freebies at our little show, but the work is good and everyone has done their best, and that's what its all about. 

# 19 [5 May 2009]

Well, another milestone reached, our graduate show went up today. once we got into a bit of a system, it all went up smoothly.

Although we had planned who would go where in the gallery some of the places changed, but I think everyone was happy with their positions in the end. our concerns about the space were pretty much unfounded, and no ones work looks constricted or squashed.

Now we can look forward to the Private View on Thursday.

Enjoyed walking back through the city suits with my big spirit level and electric screwdriver, just glad I am no longer one of them.

# 20 [7 May 2009]

Just got home fro the Private View, it went really well, thanks in part to it being on a First Thursday, and there being other shows on in the vicinity

lots of people dropping in, lots of interest, enough drinks, and approval from the tutors .. what more could we ask for......!

if anyone is in the London area, please drop by and review One more than Ten at Studio 1.1 in Redchurch street, full details in Degree show section. thanks.