ARTISTS TALKING

# 1 [2 October 2009]

In early September I submitted three penguin designs for a public art programme 'Go penguins'. I've been lucky enough to have two designs chosen and am extremley excited about the projects.

One of the designs 'Splashy' was  selected by Artinliverpool http://www.artinliverpool.com/ and is to be based on a design that I entered into a competition I saw on their website.

They asked for a penguin that reflected the art in Liverpool. Splashy is going to be made up of different coloured paint splashes. The plan is to draw the splashes out, marking the different colours as I go so I don't get confused and then to paint a colour at a time.

The time scale is a month, which is scary, especailly as I've got two penguins. I know I can do it, but it's going to be tough and I'm going to be shattered. Slashy is going to be somewhere by the installation 'A Case History' created by John King or as I knew the installation until I looked it up 'the suitcases' on Hope Street.

I'm nervous about meeting the 'Wild In Art' team and am venturing over to Liverpool tomorrow to introduce myself, see the painting studio and meet my penguins. I can't wait!

# 2 [3 October 2009]

I've just got back from Liverpool. I met Maisy, who showed me around, she's lovely. I met my penguins and have now got a space to work on them in. I need to buy some acrylic paint and then tomorrow I can start working on them.

# 3 [4 October 2009]

Last night I got home at 2.30 am. I got Splahy drawn out and all the background painted with the help of my husband. I started the red splashes but they're not right. The shapes are right but the colour isn't. The first coat looked fine but it went so dark when I applied another coat. I didn't sleep well worryiing about it, so I'm going to sand the paint down and start again. I'll only be disapointed at the end if I don't get the colour right. 

# 4 [5 October 2009]

Yesterday was a long day, but worth it. I didn't stay as late as the day before though because I was shattered. There's only so much you can do before you make mistakes isn't there? So when I started finding it hard to concentrate I called it a day.

I sanded Splashy down and have changed the red splodges, I am much happier with him.

I've been in work today but I'm going over again tonight when the kids are home from school.

# 5 [7 October 2009]

Just got home and I feel like I've actually got somewhere today. Splashy's red splodges are done and I'm ready to start the next colour now. I was tempted to stay longer and start on the new colour but I'm tired and didn't want to mess it up. So I'm going to have an early night and save it until tomorrow.

# 6 [9 October 2009]

Just got back from a long evening painting Splashy. I couldn't bear to come away though because he's starting to shape up and look good. I've almost completed the orange spalshes and can't wait to get onto the next colour.

# 7 [10 October 2009]

I arrived at the studio just after 12 an left at 9, but I got loads done. Splashy has now had all the blue applied and I've started the first coat of purple. It takes about 6 coats of each colour to cover it nicely but with the red blobs it was 8 and above. I thought it would be the same for the rest but I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm going to have to re-think how I'm going to apply the writing. I was going to use stickers like you get for cars or transfers but the penguin can't have any raised surface so I might stencil them on or I might have to hand paint each word. I'm worried about this but I can't think of any other ways of doing it at the moment.

# 8 [11 October 2009]

I met Ian & Minako Jackson today (They run artinLiverpool.com). They came to meet Splashy and me at the studio. They liked him so far, which is a big relief.

Splashy is coming on really well now. I arrived at the studio early today and got a lot done. I finished the purple, started and finshed the pink and started the yellow. He's getting close to being finished now, only the yellow and green splashes to do now and then little things like the eyes and text to finish the whole thing off.

# 9 [12 October 2009]

At one point today I thought this might be the final day for painting the splashes on Splashy. But no, the green needs finishing tomorrow morning. It's so exciting though, I'll be able to paint the eyes next. I've been wanting to for ages but have been saving it as a reward for completing the splashes.

My friend Carol Ramsay came over this afternoon to be my assistant, haha. I'm joking, she very kindly came over to help me. I left her finishing the yellow off whilst I started the green. The yellow proved to be a real pain as it was so transparent and needed so many coats to cover the pencil markings so I'm very grateful to her, as I was bored out of my mind painting the same splashes over and over again, never seeming to get anywhere.

I'll need to touch up the white before I finish. Then the writing next week, finally the varnish and then it's ready for the streets of Liverpool.

# 10 [13 October 2009]

I've just seen a blog about my penguin on artinliverpool and am really excited. http://www.artinliverpool.com/blog/2009/10/artist-starts-work-on-the-special-artinliverpool-penguin/

It's made up for what feels like an almost unprogressive day at the studio. I was disapointed when I got there to find that in natural light the yellow needed another coat, but it was soon done and I've completed the green too. I've started on his eyes but am still applying the white at the moment.