ARTISTS TALKING

# 25 [2 December 2010]

Yet again it has proved difficult to stick to our self imposed deadlines for keeping this blog going. However the pictures I have now gathered together are from the final envelopes sent out where everyone received identical collections of collage materials. The feed back has continued to be unanimously positive proving that it has been well worth the effort. It never fails to be interesting seeing how different artists react to the contents and what they make of them. The real assessment of the impact of making the collages will be the exhibition that brings it all together.

# 24 [15 October 2010]

Here I have loaded up the remaining pieces of work.

The new envelopes have been posted and the participants paired up to go on working in twos until the exhibition in February.

There is something very satisfying about cutting or tearing up old work. One idea I was working on was pinned up for weeks waiting for inspiration on how to take it forward. The inspiration never came. In destroying it - I am free of it and one of the random pieces has already led to new work. The moral here is obvious ...

I should have torn it up sooner.

# 23 [8 October 2010]

Angela & I had a long conversation yesterday about the project. Now we have an exhibition in sight we need to structure the final stage. We discussed what had come out of it so far and what had changed now that there were more artists involved.

First it made more work.

Second neither of us had been able to give the attention to it we felt it needed.

Third - one participant returned the last envelope unopened as it didn't spark any inspiration. 

So in all it seemed to have lost some of the momentum we had at the beginning when it was just the two of us.Our resolution now is to pair up the participants and see what results. We will ask them to each make two more collages before Christmas & then we will put together the exhibition.

# 22 [6 October 2010]

As I post more of the latest work I am reflecting on where next & a new exhibition. It seems to be arranging itself. A new Gallery organied by 'VAN' Shropshire & Telford Visual Art Network (A Charity) is now open. It is in  a corner of the Market Hall in Shrewsbury and will primarily showcase work by Shropshire artists.

The Gallery is run by artists & those interested in the visual arts. All of them are volunteers. We have been invited to put up the 2011 Art Allotments show there in the new year and run workshops in the adjoining space.

At the same time this projct feels as though either the exhibition will mark the end or, if it continues, it is time for a new approach. So in the next few days we will consider what that is likely to be.

# 21 [28 September 2010]

Oh dear the blog has lapsed again and that goes against the very nature of blogging as I understand it. I admire writers who can engage me repeatedly with accounts of their daily creative enthusiasm & struggles all wrapped in expressive language.

I have had a pile of Art allotment envelopes looking at me for several weeks but the spare time I wanted at a time that suited, with the will that I needed seemed to elude me..... until now!

Before I opened anyone else's envelope I finally opened my envelope, took photos of the contents & began to make my piece/s.  Amazingly it was easy. It proved so very easy & so very restorative. Why didn't I do it sooner I ask myself?  I am now creatively inspired, keen to make more collages and ready to open & photograph everyone else's envelopes.



# 20 [14 August 2010]

I am still posting pictures from July as the new envelopes from August are coming back in the post. Reading again the accompanying comments I am struck how it is the importance of  immediacy in the project that keeps everyone focused.

Estella related "I decided to go for the first idea that struck me and not get involved with adding to much - just a bit of pen - The temptation is to add paint and consquently make the collage into a more serious Work of Art by obliterating a lot of the elements. Better to be spontaneous in the spirit of the idea!"

Jude was more serious and in her work pasted some thought provoking speech bubbles from two people in conversation. 

"Thinking & talking" 

How is it affecting me?

Why? and What is it about?  and

What is it meaning?

She comments that she wasn't sure she liked the outcome ... Alas something common to us all occuring much too often.

Bev ... illustated here, found her idea flowed easily.

"Thanks again for a really great envelope of stuff - what a pure pleasure to do something uncomplicated, fun and stress free!!! My contribution was inspired by colour (again) - the purpley - pink colours immediately evoked lavender, cypresses, holiday in Umbria...

Tomorrow I will open the new batch!!

# 19 [6 August 2010]

If the cartoons didn't trigger a response then the text, or in this case the letter z seems to have been the key.  Overall the responses seem to fall into 3 categories. Narrative, text/word or letter inspired or abstract as a response to colour, tone, texture or shape.

The responses of the participating artists have been polarised. "It was really hard, I wasn't inspired & I took a while to make something. OR "It was great, I did if after a stressful day & it was fun and restorative"

Again the key to every response it not having to chose the materials.  Someone else has done that, it is fun, there are no value judgements and it does seem to  inspire other ideas and inform other work.

Today when struggling to shape an idea I tipped out a collection of relevant reference materials. There was no help where I needed it but instead something new has appeared. Lying among the scraps & cuttings, a random chance arrangement. I have left it as I write this and will return later & look again.  

# 18 [29 July 2010]

Far too much time has passed while I have procrastinated about continuing this blog.  All was going well then there was an unexpected exhibition opportunity, which took up a few weeks, work  and lots of other stuff that needed to be done until suddenly I had all the finished Art work and was going on holiday posting the third set of envelopes as I travelled on my way.

So, having made my excuses I will finally I will put up all the work from  last month before this months envelopes start arriving through my letterbox.

# 17 [15 May 2010]

Both pieces made by Jude Willerton are mounted on black. She says in her accompanying note "The first attempt was very random & spontaneous with no real plan... The second (The crow) came together easily & spontaneously."

Whenever I see the crow appear it is, for me, part of a story. .... He/she may be coming, going, comic, opportunist, onlooker, harbinger of doom, admired, feared, loved or despised. What next I don't yet know but crow has entered my own work and is waiting for the idea to take shape.

Now all the pictures from the first round are uploaded it suggests a time to reflect on how the art allotments are developing. It is really interesting to see how others interpret the same material in such individual ways.

If I consider what influence this project has upon my own work so far it is to make me to open my eyes wider & wider to the possibilities of collage techniques in both the visual & non-visual world.

I am determined to welcome images that appear. If things go wrong with what I am working on - I cut it up, rearrange & look again as many times as it takes. Cutting & pasting is a much more satisfying way of changing & making corrections. Reflection comes later...at least 24 hours. This process of taking a number of given materials and quickly choosing & combining a selected few in a playful manner continues to be inspirational.

# 16 [15 May 2010]

Sue Campbell's collage was full to bursting with pieces falling out of the envelope as I opened it & the glue still tacky.

In contrast Jacs Collins' work was  economical, unmounted and held together with delicate stitching. I photographed back as well as front as that struck me as an important aspect.