Painting in Half-Term Week – Have I gone Barking mad?
Well a week has gone by and the sun has shone on my project – all my paintings have pale blue skies as a result! Some of you may argue that this looks contrived, I would argue that it is just truth to nature. My "one in four" painting success rate, or handicap, has been reduced to "one in three". The good one goes in the portfolio and the other two are re-primed and ready for another day's work.
The goal I am working towards is my final year degree show, however I am painfully aware that this is probably the longest spell I will ever have to devote solely to the research and development of my work. This has sent me into a flurry of activity and I begin to panic if I do not keep producing finished pieces, though I am sure that this is a major concern for all artists, so I'm not alone.
As part of a the Lunchtime Lecture Student Committee at Aberystwyth School of Art, I was called upon to introduce a lecture at our University where each week a visiting artist is asked to talk about their work. Programmed by lecturer Miranda Whall, this is a great opportunity for both the students and public, who benefit from the knowledge and insight of practicing artists, and a good showcase for the visiting artist who gains experience in public speaking and also feedback from their work. The lecture in question, featuring Karen Pearce from Aberystwyth, was a great success, with a large turnout of both students and miscellaneous public – however the end was cut short unfortunately when a lady in the second row fainted! Giddy with exhilaration, no doubt.
Back to the project. Wandering around in Penglais wood the other day I tried unsuccessfully to re-create the texture of the bark on the surrounding trees – having just settled myself cosily beneath a tree in the sunshine, the peace was shattered by a flurry of small boys running amok in the half-term week. Muttering irritably I packed up early, my karma in tatters…
