ARTISTS TALKING

# 21 [4 February 2012]

Journalist friends on the local paper tell me that a press release for my May exhibition needs to be in three months before the event if I am going to have any chance of getting publicity. Evidently they work that length of time into the future with their planning. So I sweated this "short' piece. Why is it so difficult to write about yourself?

Lorna Marrison on Osney Island

The Punter – Osney Island

May 4 to May 31

Eynsham artist Lorna Morrison brings together a series of small intimate studies in oils that highlight the various doors she encountered when visiting Osney Island, Oxford.

She says that on an individual basis doors are an expression of the boundary between private and personal space but there is far more to them than that as her insightful paintings suggest.

These are not simple illustrations. As Lorna studied each door and started to paint the doors began to take on a life of their own and become characters of distinction that continued to evolve and develop as she worked. The result is a superb collection of little paintings that depict the very essence of one of Oxford’s most atmospheric areas.

The exhibition also includes another collection in her popular Morris Dancers series – this time she has used their dance to take a rather irreverent look at the theme of sin.

The exhibition runs from May 4 to 31 May and is supported by Tim Rainey who hosts it in The Punter, Osney Island.

So what do you think

# 20 [31 January 2012]

I got down and dirty with sprread sheets for the offical end of first year of business. It is eye watering reviewing expenses all at once. My computer's optical drive was the biggest single expense and less then 6 months later it's gone again. I will go and see Mac Solutions and see if there was a guarantee. The second biggest cost were the ink carts for a amazing £450. Genearaly, adding together Tax Credits, Carers Allowance  and payments for paintings minus painting costs and house/domestic costs I have made a small profit. 

# 19 [16 December 2011]

Still drawing for one more painting for next year's exhibition. I am drawing with a Wacom tablet straight to the computer. I've been surprised that people some how think this is a form of "cheating", I explain that each medium has it pros and cons and you work accordingly. In my case I take a long time drawing with traditional materials but speed up when drawing with a computer ... correcting the line is easier. So I will use the drawings towards a poster that I can sell at the exhibition.

I have also been thinking about publicity for this exhibition. My exhibition is listed in the Art Weeks' brochure. There is the usual putting of posters up in the local shops, centres etc. Advertising in publications is out of my price range but with luck I will be interviewed by some of them. So I have decided to spring for some postcards with the exhibition's details and a painting on the other side. My thinking is give five cards to friends and they pass on the other four to their friends. A sedate form of spam?

# 18 [8 December 2011]

I am now operating as a freelance artist. My income is a combination of 'Carers Allowance' and 'Tax Creditis' with a discount of sorts for 'Council Tax Benefit'. The advice I have recieved is to earn only £5k or £25k as if I earn anything inbetween I will loose money.

I have been offered a month's exhibition space in Oxford as part of Oxfordshire's Artweeks' 2012.

http://www.artweeks.org/

So I have spent the year painting towards this end. I should have around 25 new works for this show. I am now musing over prices. I know what will sell in the local Art's Club exhibitions and what sort of prices ... low!

# 17 [7 July 2010]

Well the 'Eynsham Doors' installation has come down from exhibition. I have sold half of the individual pieces on it which is a plus; that means I have covered costs and made a profit. It was very popular and I had loads of nice words said about it. So my tail is wagging. I am surprised about needing the validation from people even those who explained that they could not buy the one they liked because it did not match the decor!!  Copies of my illustrated artist statement (complete with contact details) where taken away to send to friends and families.

I have three old paintings up for sale in another exhibition. Two are based on the local reservoir and have been up in the sailing club house for a year before being returned unsold to me. I was shocked to discover when removing the details card which had been stuck on the glass to discover that the mounts were not light proof. I have told the guy who frames my work but considering the discount he offers me his apology was all I got. Happily one of them has sold. 

The last piece 'The Ascension of the Malingerer' large size is a difficulty. The complaint is always about it's size. It was a commission but when the drawing was almost finished it was declared too big. So I re-drew the picture for the client and went on later to finish the original drawing. So fingers crossed that it sells on it's third outing.

# 16 [29 May 2010]

The 'Eynsham Doors' are in the last two days of exhibition. It's interesting that the people who purchased the paintings were divided into those who owned the actual doors and those who wanted to have my vision of the village.

Lots of nice things have been said about them but I feel some what confused. I have only sold a few of them. 

# 15 [4 May 2010]

The doors are all arranged and I think they look grand.

# 14 [25 April 2010]

Back to the Ashmolean for another life drawing session. I decided to expand the drawing this time and finish the next time. These gods are in the bottom of the atrium and I viewed them looking down from the ground floor. Whilst paying particular focus to Apollo's damaged godhood, a primary school teacher took up her position next to me and started teaching her class about Apollo being amongst  other things the god of the arts. I think I was about to be a 'teaching aid' but then she clocked what I was drawing and slid at speed away from me!!

Quelle horreur!

# 13 [10 April 2010]

Drawing is a strange process for me. One part recording, one part meditation time,  the eternal process of mark making and finally the deepening of memory.

# 12 [7 April 2010]

Colour of Music' still continues but at times I forget what I was planning here. I am looking for paint in full thickness and clear colour. I am finding this a challenge but need to explore other ways of using colour