Blog 44

During October and November this year I had a good spell of practical work making new pieces and developing my ideas. This followed on with the task of documenting and photographing the finished art works and then these last few weeks have been about submitting for exhibitions and places to show my work. With two acceptances, one rejection, and three more answers pending, it's a good end to this year.

One of the shows is a postcard exhibition that includes an artwork exchange programme and the chance to swop artwork and connect with other artist's outside your area. To find out more about this show take a look at The International Postcard Show 2014

This is what I have submitted:

'Untitled' Embossed Paper 4 x 6 inches

'Untitled' Embossed Paper 4 x 6 inches

'Untitled' Pierced Paper 4 x 6 inches

I like working this size, and in series, and there is potential for this work to go on and on, forward and further. I like the way the paper is slightly distorted from my mark making. With the third image, the single line, the right hand side of the paper flaps. It's attached to the other side but fragile and might come away at any moment.

I have made more postcard artworks and am sifting through them at the moment along with the photographs I have taken of each. It's interesting how when I look at the work for real and then how I view it as a photograph. I'm actually liking them as a photograph. The more distorted the paper (pierced paper), the more distorted the structure and layout of the photograph is. The wonky lines and edges of the artwork in the straight edged picture frame play tricks with your eyes. 

The other acceptance is for a show that will present art and design that is made with cardboard and there will be a series of workshops and talks around the subject of cardboard during this week long exhibition. I am presenting some work which I completed in 2010. This time it will be in a new setting and I am keen to see how the work displays within a new space and context. 

Pierced Cardboard Detail

You can find out more about the show here: Discardboard

In my last Blog 43 I spoke about the need to change the process when I blacken my paper with pigment. I have had a very good chat with a technician at Atlantis Fine Arts Store in London who supply the pigment and the bottom line is there can be no change to my process unless I alter the aesthetic of my current artworks which would be a great shame for all their glorious deep dark black colour, powdery texture and velvety look. I mustn't change this and the debate goes on. Where can I blacken my work and secondly how can I take this work forward, in a new direction?

The technician and I did talk about using an air gun and experimenting with different mixes of powder and binder to get the finest and driest black spray onto the paper, but this is still messy work and involves an expensive piece of kit.

This year has been a mixed bag both personally and professionally. I was part of a group show in Amsterdam during the summer, my first international showing and I am part of two group shows for the beginning of 2014. I hope more will follow.

In March I went on a book making course on the very small island of Iona and in May I went on a research trip to Edinburgh and Dundee which was thoroughly enjoyable and very useful. I hope that I can get out to more places this next year.

I have focussed a lot on technology, mostly to improve my computer skills, my portfolio and communication. My photography does need improving and I would like to invest in some daylight bulbs both for the studio and when I take photographs of my work. This would help standardise my images and photographic process. I spend far too much time in our ever changing climate waiting for that illusive moment when the light is right to take a photograph and I would like to spend less time on Photoshop trying to rectify my mistakes. I do struggle with photography and accept my work is very hard to photograph. The skill is in taking the image correctly in the first place and I need to improve on that.

My art work itself has developed more slowly this year although there is the suggestion of something new occurring. I still keep returning to piercing paper and it seems more sculptural.

Now it is time for Christmas and as we start a new year I will keep at it, making, developing, applying, communicating. I love it. Lets see what happens.