Kate Smith: Current Stuff

My blog has moved...

2010-07-10T19:54:00.003+01:00

I've finally got round to merging my 2 blogs into one new one - so from now on I shall be posting here Just got to sort networked blogs, link from website etc......

More small stuff...

2010-06-30T15:55:00.002+01:00

Today I have been really, really good and have continued scanning and framing smaller works as part of my aim to have all my work logged and documented by the end of the year.

Selections...

2010-06-03T17:19:00.002+01:00

Have spent all day sorting out a selection of 'activity' (Year One) and I.D's to print out for applications present and future. Have over a 100 of each and hoping at some point to do installation shots but my studio isn't suitable (and 'activity won't be finished for another 4 months) so decided I needed an interim solution.....

Small stuff

2010-05-31T13:27:00.002+01:00

That time of year again...

2010-05-21T18:29:00.002+01:00

Jerwood Drawing Prize time again. I've sorted out my drawings (marked and manipulated paper, shadow drawing and residual mark) early this year and kept it small because my sister is submitting and picking up my work in Edinburgh (Thanks Jenny). Normally it is a real chore because the nearest collection point is Liverpool which involves hours travelling to and fro (twice). As I've had an easy time of it this year I may hire a van next year and submit large drawings? Not sure because they return unwrapped and so will also need frames and packing case which makes it very expensive. I might see if other Derby/ Nottingham artists want me to submit their work at the same time (fill the van!) which would cut the cost down... something to think about.

A stitch in time - best laid plans !

2010-04-27T11:52:00.003+01:00

On October 15th 2009 I started tracking my daily activity on the computer (using a graphics tablet/ pen and paper and carbon). Every day I tape a new piece of A6 paper/ carbon to the tablet and the just use the computer to do whatever I need to do - the carbon transfers the marks to the paper and I have a 'drawing' of that days activity. Year one of the 'activity' series is now almost half way through and I needed to start thinking about presentation. They have been stored chronologically in cellophane packets a week at a time - and look great just pinned to the wall (maybe Year 2 using transparent/ translucent paper??). However, I really wanted to present them in a way which potentially showed all 365 drawings. The carbon paper reveals the negative mark but is clearer when held up to the light so I considered joining them (one set positive/ 1 set negative) so they could be hung/ folded in a variety of ways depending on the space they were shown in, allowing for a light source.... After much testing I decided to laminate them and join with stitches (24 stitches/ 60cm thread ) so they became like a giant concertina book which could be opened/ closed/ hung etc. in a variety of ways. I did my my tests with blank paper/ carbon and all seemed fine but when I started to laminate I realised the carbon paper doesn't like heat and the marks almost disappeared! So now I shall go ahead as planned with the transfer drawings but have to rethink what I'm going to do with the carbon.....

On my wish list!

2010-04-08T09:27:00.003+01:00

Although my own work tends to be low tech (pencil and paper) and I love writing by hand (preferably with a flex fountain pen) I'm also a bit of a gadget girl and have been searching for a long while for some way of keeping a digital sketch book. Since my original psion and through zodiacs, palms and currently smartphone nothing has done everything I want and in particular nothing has come close to replacing my paper notebooks/ sketchbooks. So I currently have lots of things on my computer (weblinks/ photos/ online stuff), a pile of notebooks and no way of effectively combining the two. Thought the i-pad might work but no stylus so no good! (you can get a third party stylus but as the i pad hasn't been designed with it in mind it has limited use) I need to be able to take handwritten notes, do quick sketches and insert anything I want from the web. Microsoft's courier above looks perfect. More info here. Not sure when it will be released (rumours of late 2010) or how much it will cost but it is definitely no. 1 on my wish list. I want one!!

Il Lee - ballpoint drawings

2010-04-08T09:17:00.003+01:00

BL-092, 2007, ballpoint pen on paper, 65 x 51.5 inches. Courtesy of artist and Art Projects International, New York

Really interesting item from the Drawing Center here about some fascinating ballpoint drawings by Il Lee. Caught my eye because one of the things I've been thinking about a lot is the universal experience of drawing and the resulting audience understanding of the physical activity inherent in making a drawing (and because I love drawing with ballpoint pens!)

134 I.D.'S scanned

2010-03-24T14:47:00.003Z

Have finally scanned all 134 i.d. cards - now about the same number of activity drawings...From now on I'm going to try to do a bit more regularly so I don't have to spend hours slaving over the scanner!

Documentation, presentation and animation

2010-03-16T11:01:00.004Z

Had a really busy time lately - although I haven't actually made as much work as I would have liked. Have been doing all the other artist 'stuff'and spending far too much time on the computer (activity, 15.03.2010 above) but think I've cracked .pngs now!
A meeting with Derby Musem about my solo there at the end of 2011 last week(and looks as if I may be showing some work at deda at the same time?) has led to lots of research into presenting work - I want to show my manipulated papers in a perspex circle (similar to a very large petri dish) but looking unlikely as the cheapest quote so far is £500 each, so I think a bit of lateral thinking is needed! The exhibition also marks a decade of exclusivly drawing for me - so lots of ideas for events/ talks to coincide with Big Draw which takes place at the same time my exhibition is on.
The 6 week animation course I've been attending at Quad finished last week and I have so many ideas which need sorting/ exploring and lots of software learning still to do. Have an initial idea which is really simple but now achievable so that's going to be the first step.
Before I do that I need to work out how to use my new camera and do some documentation of my large drawings. This may take some time as I seem to have a mental block where cameras are concerned and unfortunately relying on Auto wont be good enough. I've decided I need to make this a priority though - so I am going to stop making excuses and get on with it over the next few weeks (months?)and make lots of notes as I go along.....

First month 2010, first drawing 2010

2010-02-03T11:57:00.002Z

Despite a lot of external factors which have prevented me getting into my studio during January - I have managed to finish my first drawing of 2010. Alongside my 'touch' drawings I am also exploring residual marks - unconcious/random, vs. conscious/ intentional. Lots to think about, lots to do....

Testing, testing, testing....

2010-02-03T10:38:00.002Z

test1
brought to you by Livescribe

drawing residues 2007 - 2009

2009-12-26T22:20:00.002Z

Negative Activity

2009-11-20T14:56:00.002Z

Busy day at the computer - 31.09.09

2009-11-03T09:26:00.001Z

Activity (Computer 31.09.09)

End of the line in Bristol - and Drawing Dialogue Debates?

2009-10-22T14:39:00.003+01:00

Just back from Bristol - visiting 'The End Of The Line: Attitudes in Drawing' exhibition at the City Museum and Art Gallery. (Image above by Mark Brandenburg) - stayed on for the Drawing Debate last night. Particularly wanted to stay for the debate because it's something I am considering initiating as an extension of my Drawing Dialogues idea - but in a public arena. Occasional discussions - where a small panel of artists give a short presentation of their drawing practice and then a discussion/ debate is provoked. Each session would have artists who employ drawing in a different way - from exclusively drawing-based practice to sketching ideas in preparation for executing in a different media and everything in between. I particularly want to aim it at other artists and it will have no references at all to business models, self-promotion, creative engagement, accessibility or money - it will just be about discussing ideas around drawing. Not sure what, when, how or who yet - but part of my current 'if you want something and it doesn't exist, stop moaning and sort it out yourself' frame of mind. Watch this space - but don't hold your breath, could be a long term thing...

Dimensions Variable

2009-10-11T14:51:00.004+01:00

Started to run out of wall space for my i.d. cards - at least if I wanted to hang chronologically - so I've transferred to a drawing board. In the studio I'm going to display ('uncut') to match size/ proportions of my current large drawings but the aim is for them to be really flexible and this has led refocused my thoughts about display/ presentation, selection/ curation and audience/ encounter and how one can affect the others.

Perspex plinths

2009-09-13T13:08:00.003+01:00

Perspex plinths finally arrived. Want to use them for residues of drawings - test tubes/ bottles and pencil shavings (above) but also going to leave ongoing marks from handling the plinth itself on the surface. Might enhance with finger print powder and/ or etch on the surface too?

Deliveries, delays and drawing dialogues

2009-08-27T10:43:00.004+01:00

Very excited today as my silverpoint supplies were delivered. Not sure how large I'm going to go - still have a lot of experimenting to do - but think the subtlety of mark will be really interesting. All the research I've done so far says how long drawings take using silverpoint - but can't believe it takes any longer than drawing with ballpoint pen!
I realised last week that I had completely underestimated the time it would take to finish my two aliminium panel pieces and have revised to end of October at the earliest. Actually not that suprising when I checked back - I expect them each to take at least 350 hours each and I didn't start them until April. Still on target for 4 large drawings this year so all good. Feeling very chilled and positive after a bit of a wobble.

Looks as if 'Drawing Dialogues' (see previous post) is all set for first meeting at end of September. I'm setting first text and have decided on 'Museum of Touch' by Susan Stewart - have Lesley Bricknell to thank for this (link to her blog 'Surfacing Art Journal' on right). Came across it on one of her posts - and title fitted perfectly into my thoughts on presentation, encounter and other issues of 'to frame or not to frame'. Still haven't read properly but that is the whole point of 'Drawing Dialogues' isn't it?

The Reading Room revisited

2009-08-20T10:09:00.003+01:00

I've been trying for a while to organise my reading - without much success!! Have a stack of books I want to read, but never seem to find the time to actually read them. If I do start reading, I then get distracted by my own thoughts and go off on a tangent. Still haven't got past the title of Deleuze's 'Difference and Repetition'! One of the things I found really useful about my M.A. was that deadlines etc. were imposed for reading/ writing and dialogue. Have been talking with a few people about organising some sort of regular meetings to discuss our work, particularly in relation to drawing but it hasn't really got anywhere yet. Recently came across a website about Hinterland, a group in Nottingham and part of their programme is The Reading Room which seemed such a simple, but brilliant idea - a text is selected and each member of the group receives a copy to read before meeting to discuss. Of course, reading groups have been around for a while - but for some reason I had always related to literature rather than art. Seems to me it would be really good to set up a small group, where each member takes it in turn to select a text or writing which has some relevance to their current work and use this as the basis for discussion about the text and the work? It would mean access to a variety of reading material and provide a structured basis for dialogue about the work itself?

In progress...

2009-08-14T11:01:00.002+01:00

A fairly useless but interesting fact...

2009-08-11T10:54:00.003+01:00

I have been working on three drawings using a space pen on aliminium panel for about a year now (they are nearly finished) and have just started my 4th refill.

'The product literature states that the pen will write exactly 30.7 miles (approximately 48.15 kilometers) - that means I have drawn at least 92 miles/ 144 km so far!

Etched glass

2009-08-07T11:22:00.002+01:00

I've been playing around with glass etching - not sure how it will progress or what I'm going to use it for but the ultimate aim is to do some images which are 'barely there' or become more/ less visible depending on the position of the viewer. Fits in with the idea of shadow drawings too. Early days....

Exhibition at Angel Row gallery

2009-07-29T20:49:00.004+01:00

I've been very busy this week going over to Nottingham to do 'exhibition stuff' but looking forward now to the Private View tomorrow night. Had some time for reflection today and ready for a few days serious drawing over the weekend. Lots of ideas at the moment - but really need to finish aliminum panel drawings before I can get my head around anything else. Have to get some info cards sorted before bed - so another late night!

Reading Room

2009-07-12T11:59:00.003+01:00

I've been thinking recently about how to get furniture into my basement studio. Wanted somewhere comfortable to sit and read but no way an ordinary chair or sofa would go down the (narrow) stairs. Then I came across a daybed in the Ikea catalogue - problem solved. Just got to make sure I do use it for reading and don't fall asleep:D

...nearly forgot

2009-06-25T16:08:00.003+01:00

Identity card drawings (small credit card sized).

Drawing To Do List -

2009-06-25T14:20:00.004+01:00

Current work in progress (5 large drawings)

Erase drawing(s) (tryptichs)

Wash drawing(s)

Fade drawing(s)

Concertina drawing(s)

Layer drawings (diptychs)

Shadow drawing(s)

plus assorted sample (i.e. small) pieces experimenting with glazes, mixed media and other temptations - and I also want to experiment more with sound/ dance/ movement stuff - so that's me sorted for the next decade or so then!

(Image: Edvard Munch's The Scream)

Erase

2009-06-22T12:29:00.003+01:00

Feeling strong today so I managed to lift my big roll of Heritage paper onto the table to layer with carbon paper and tissue paper for my erase drawing (it is seriously heavy). Hoping that as I draw on the top layer (tissue) and rub out, the carbon (middle layer) will transfer onto the Heritage (bottom layer). Marks removed fom the top drawing should become visible on the lower layer- that's the idea anyway! Also hoping that the carbon paper itself will also become a drawing in its own right. Shouldn't really be starting a new drawing yet as I need to finish the four I'm currently working on - but I think this is going to be a line drawing rather than tonal so it will give me an alternative if I'm flagging...

Shadow Drawings

2009-06-04T12:25:00.002+01:00

Back in 2004 I did a number of 'shadow drawings' (see top image) which were hand-etched images on acrylic sheet - the idea being that when a light shone the shadow of the etched image became visible. As the light changed so the image became less or more visible. As part of my fade/erase/wash series I wanted to do a similar thing with finger marks. Had a bit of a play today with a small piece of test acrylic and I think it will work - although of course it's absolutely impossible to get a decent photo. One dilema is scale - the old ones are about 90 x 120 cm so much easier to draw, see and document - these test are only about 6 x 10 cm and really tricky to draw. However I do quite like the idea of the scale being similar to actual size as when there is no direct light they look almost invisible - similar to finger marks on windows/ mirrors..... Will need to give this more thought - as I've still got a few months work to finish current large drawings there's no rush. Organising a group show at the Crompton in July where all customers/ staff can submit work - so may try to finish this small one for that - can get some idea of how it works and some feedback :)

Jerwood - to do or not to do?

2009-05-24T14:38:00.003+01:00

Usual dilema at this time of the year - whether to submit work for the Jerwood Drawing exhibition. I have actually decided to submit again - must be a sucker for punishment :). Problem is that there are thousands of entries but only 40 - 50 selected. Living in Derby the nearest submission point is Liverpool which means at least 2 half days kept clear for taking work and picking up (and those days are fixed so I have to make sure I'm not doing anything else). In the past I've submitted large drawings which has meant making packing cases, and finding transport large enough to fit them into. This year I've decided to submit 3 smaller works which are representative of my current larger drawings - a pencil on paper, a wax/ pencil drawing and a drawing on translucent japanese paper. The latter is a single drawing (but I'll be doing some large scale layered drawings in the near future) and I've framed it so that it's sandwiched between 2 sheets of perspex to emphasise the translucent quality. Should all fit easily in my car which will keep the costs down and I shall use the opportunity for a bit of culture in Liverpool if time permits.

Pencil stuff

2009-05-23T11:57:00.003+01:00

I've been having problems lately with drawing - after a few hours or so my fingers are aching more than normal. I think part of the problem is that the pencil gets smaller and smaller and although I have a pencil extender, the ridges actually make my fingers hurt even more. I'm hoping the answer lies in using a cluch pencil - should mean the pencil is exactly the same length/ weight all the time. Shall test over the next few months. As a result I needed to find a way to collect the residues - so I ordered some test tubes (will collect as individual drawings rather than the years of combined shavings from traditional pencils.)

I have been contemplating doing an animation for some time - still way off actually executing but found a promising piece of software - pencil - which I'm going to try to find the time to experiment with.

Finally, recently came across a pencil of the month club, which I'm really tempted to subscribe to - problem is single pencils aren't much use to me work-wise, but then I'd probably just keep them to look at anyway!

New moo cards have arrived

2009-03-20T12:41:00.002Z

New moo cards have just arrived - needed some cards with international phone details! One day I'll get round to a set with 100 different images......

Going to Paris!

2009-03-16T15:46:00.003Z

Really excited - just booked a few days in Paris at the end of the month. There's a Contemporary Drawing Fair on at the Carreau Du Temple from the 26th - 29th March and I couldn't miss that could I? We were intending to go anyway this year as part of our silver wedding anniversary celebrations (we kind of got together in Paris 29 years ago!) so have just bought it forward by a few months We're also hoping to fit in a short visit to some very good friends in Mansle.

engraveyourbook.com - how cool is this?

2009-03-14T11:31:00.005Z

Just received my order from engraveyourbook.com and I'm so pleased with it! Had a detail of one of my drawings engraved onto a leather cover for my large moleskine sketchbook. Photos above don't really do it justice but if you go to their website you can see some great (and clearer) examples of other covers. I really want another one now - but I can only use one sketchbook at a time and I don't like moleskines for my diary etc. (I use fountain pens and the lined/ grid paper isn't good enough) so I need to put my thinking cap on. Maybe I should make my own book to fit........ could make a travel journal, or 'exhibitions I've visited' book ......

Light sheets

2009-03-05T11:44:00.003Z

For ages I've been searching for a 10 inch square light box. Instead of going straight to a large scale I'm experimenting with some ideas on a smaller scale - 10" square to be precise (so I can show them as a group) - and one of these ideas is to do with layering drawings on translucent/ transparent papers e.g. japanese paper, tracng paper and showing them on a light box. It's pretty easy to find large light boxes at a reasonable price but impossible to find small square ones which don't cost hundreds of pounds!

Finally I came across the above light sheets which are really thin and flexible and can be cut to any size with a craft knife. The top photo shows the sheet as it comes out of the box - pink with the cord visible top right corner. The middles photo shows the sheet turned on and the bottom one is the sheet behind a card mount with a couple of sheets of paper with test scribbles. I shall cut the sheet to fit into a 10" square frame (with a hole cut in the bottom of the frame to feed the cord through) and I'll have a 10" square light box.

More snow and more sketchbook stuff

2009-02-05T09:51:00.004Z

Saw this online (26 years, 86 notebooks) and thought it was really interesting . Although I don't use the same size sketchbooks or number them, I have kept most of mine since about 1995. Finding the ideal sketchbook is a bit of a quest - and I find I regularly change the goalposts about what I need/ want.

'turning the page'

2009-02-04T10:45:00.005Z

I've had a really productive few days - haven't produced much physically but have had some much needed thinking time.....Whilst sorting through my sketchbooks I found some pocket sized hand-cut japanese accordian books which I made in 2005/ 2006 as part of my Surface/ Space series. Reminded me how much I love accordian books as they 'read' as a normal book but then transform/ expand into something else. Thinking of producing some larger scale drawings along these lines based around the premise of 'turning a page'. Shan't start properly for at least 6 months as I need to finish current drawings - but in the meantime will plan/ test and maybe make a 'pocket' version?

Lots of lovely snow!

2009-02-03T09:29:00.003Z

Got up this morning to lots of snow!! I've had an intensive couple of weeks drawing - mainly work for my solo show in 2011 at Derby Museum. Seems a long way off but I've got a lot to do! However, after looking out the window I decided to have my own version of a duvet day (or week) which means I'm going to put my pencil down for a few days and spend some time with my sketch book (current and previous), tidy up a bit and generally take some 'head' time.....

Dancing delay

2008-12-01T14:09:00.002Z

Bit of a set back with dance drawings - dancers down with colds - probably caught from me so can't say much! I was hoping to get all 5 drawings done by the end of December - but may have to accept that's not going to happen. Have lots to be getting on with in the meantime. Plasterer is just finishing off today - the dust has been a real pain but set me thinking about marks in dust which then become dusty marks......a kind of negative/ positive transition from one set of movements.....Too many ideas, too little time!

Current work

2008-11-28T18:08:00.003Z

I've just uploaded drawings currently in progress - shall try to update a bit more regularly in the future (seem to have heard that before...). I am also working on my dance drawings - 3 down, 2 more to go - but I'm not going to post them yet (details only) as I don't want to influence my dancers! Hopefully the next dance will take place tomorrow and I'll be on target to finish all five by Xmas. One more week and I'll be able to spend extra time in my studio which will be good. With no proper studio for 6 months and various other intrusions this has not been a good year for making work but hoping 2009 will be better.....

Natalies's Dance (detail)

2008-11-12T13:11:00.004Z

I've just completed my third dance drawing (detail above) - thanks Natalie!

At last I'm back...

2008-10-22T09:45:00.002+01:00

After months of builders, noise and dust I'm back in my studio and able to do some work. Have been busy booking exhibitions at the pub, working far too many shifts and trying to get the house into some sort of order. Hoping to put in some proper studio time now I have my beautiful new studio.......

The builders are back!

2008-07-22T15:14:00.004+01:00

Builders are here working in my studio - dust everywhere! Suppose it has to look worse before it looks better? Found another coal shoot in the cupboard to go along with the huge one we found when we did the garden. Have no idea why there were 2? Having a deja vu moment - same situation as a couple of years ago when I started this blog but this time the basement instead of the attic!

Really miss having my studio space and finding it difficult to concentrate properly in the upstairs bedroom. Feels as if I'm camping, but no alternative as every other room in the house is full of stuff from my studio - think I shall have to accept that I won't get much done over the next couple of months. Probably a good opportunity to organise all my paperwork, maybe work on some smaller drawings?

Trip to Liverpool on Friday as my drawing wasn't accepted for the Jerwood and I've just stepped on my glasses and completely smashed them so not a good day today !

Jerwood drawing delivered and studio update

2008-07-04T18:22:00.002+01:00

Took my drawing to Liverpool today for submission to the Jerwood - so now the waiting game begins.

Looks as if work will begin on my studio on the 21st July. Dry rot has been treated - luckily I store my work elsewhere and it wasn't too bad so I suppose I was lucky. However, the rooms are now plaster-less and the damp is much more noticeable so I'm having it waterproofed properly. I can use another room until late July, but then I'll be studio-less for a while. No studio and frugal living for years to pay for the work needed to make it useable - great!!

Washing - and dancing!

2008-06-28T14:57:00.005+01:00

Writing about cleaning made me think about washing (?) - and has encouraged me to document some of the other ideas I'm currently contemplating.

A while ago a did a number of stencil/ ink on canvas which I washed off to leave an echo of the original drawing. Didn't really get very far and I stored it away for the future. Then, recently when my parents were clearing out they found some old re-touching inks. I was really interested in them because the water had long evaporated leaving the residual pigments. I decided to do a series of drawings which I would document, then wash off and collect the water in a bottle. Today I decided I should get on with them - having limited space at the moment has meant I need to work on smaller stuff. So I have just ordered some clear bottles/ corks and I'm going to make a start...

The other series I want to do is one based on sound/ movement. Ages ago I tried to draw from a recording I made of me drawing - but it didn't work as there was a gap between me hearing the sound and then making the mark. Thinking about this I decided that the only way to draw in reponse to sound without any kind of delay was by dancing. I have done one piece for this series - myself dancing to a song, capturing the marks made by my feet in response to the sound with wax and then drawing over the marks with pencil to reveal them. I have a number of people lined up to do a dance for me (you know who you are!) but can't actually do this until I have my studio back. May try to find an alternative space for this if my studio situation isn't resolved soon?

Two Previews

2008-06-28T12:22:00.005+01:00

The first preview is a proper one. Last night I went to the opening of Skimming the Surface - Natalie has been living in Derby for the last year as the Vickers artist and her show was fantastic. If you get the chance make sure you go and see it.

The second preview is a glimps of some of the ideas I'm currently mulling over. Until recently I've been concentrating on marks made by the direct touch of hands/ feet through touch and movement - but lately have been thinking about other marks - specifically those made by repetitive actions. Above are some examples of marks made when cleaning (scrub, scrape, scour) - this is still at the 'thinking through' stage. As cleaning is one of those things I seem to think about a lot (but avoid doing if at all possible) this may be an incentive to participate as well as contemplate?

New packing case!

2008-06-25T14:58:00.002+01:00

At last I've sorted out a case for the Jerwood drawing. Because the surface is quite delicate and the corners vunerable I don't want to transport it in just card/ bubblewrap - so a friend made me a mdf/ wood case (thanks Rob). I could have reused the New York one but it is pretty substantial (and therefore heavier!) so I am much happier with this new streamlined version. As it is travelling within the UK, I don't need worry about any import regulations so it has been relatively straightforward and quite a bit cheaper. My hallway is now officially designated as 'packing case storage area' (until I can find somewhere else to keep them).

Wordle and moocards

2008-06-24T20:18:00.003+01:00

I have just been playing around with wordle - you type/ paste in text and it generates a word cloud. I used my last statement (the one I wrote for the Drawing Center exhibition). The more you use a particular word the larger it appears - 'drawing' I can understand but I didn't realise I used 'rather' quite so much! I was going to turn the above into cards myself but as I need to buy about 4 new printer inks, and would need to design/ print/ cut and laminate I decided to order some moocards instead. I like the idea of little business cards and I've also ordered a moocard holder which comes with a ring to attach to my keyring so I'll have no excuse not to carry some around with me at all times!

Jerwood Drawing and dry rot!

2008-06-19T17:21:00.004+01:00

I've just spent the last two months doing a drawing for submission to the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2008. I've been using ballpoint pen on a fantastic aliminium panel from John Jones. I've been working night and day to get it finished and I'm very nearly there. Bad news has been that my studio is suffering from an outbreak of dry rot which has meant I've been drawing wherever I can lay my panel/ pen - currently my daughters bedroom. Not ideal but hopefully it won't be for too long.....

Update

2008-03-10T10:15:00.002Z

Things have been really hectic lately - New York was great and immediately on return I put up my show at The Crompton, so I hadn't done much work for almost a fortnight. Over the last week I've spent lots of time in my studio and it has been good to just concentrate on drawing and have some space to think.

Bespoke Recycled Paper from old shirts!

2008-02-11T15:25:00.000Z

At the end of last week I received 10 sheets of SRA2 paper from Lez Paylor who makes it at a Creative Paper makers in Wales. They make paper from all sorts of stuff - one being sheep poo - and one customer had wedding invites of paper made from the jeans they were wearing when they met (ah!) I had a number of old shirts which I had worn until they were full of holes so I decided to have some paper made with them instead of just throwing them away. Not only did it appeal to my attempts to be as green as possible (flights to New York making this even more important!) but I also liked the idea of drawings relating to touch/ trace being done on paper which had once been worn. I spent months cutting up all of my old linen and cotton shirts. The fabric had to be cut into 1 x 5 cm strips, no seams/ fastenings etc. and I needed about 1.8 kg for 10 sheets. At one point last November I got very excited as I thought I had nearly got enough until I realised I had 1.8 lb not 1.8 kg - bit of a low point!! However, when the paper came it was worth every minute spent - it is absolutely beautiful. I was going to post a picture but I couldnt come even close to doing it justice. It is a cream/ off white with a deckle edge and a textured surface - similar to khadi paper but nicer. Can't even think about using it yet - still at the looking/ stroking stage - but I will use it for a series of drawing at some point.

2008-02-10T20:32:00.000Z

Work all packed and ready to be picked up tomorrow. Filled in all the forms after a few emails to The Drawing Center for tax no's etc. and then emailed it all to FedEx to check for me!! As I haven't heard anything I'm assuming it was all O.K. Fingers crossed then until it's due to be delivered in New York on Friday.

Shipping and Packing (part one) - light at the end of the tunnel!

2008-02-04T10:20:00.000Z

Well, at last I seem to have made sense of how to get my work to New York. I've emailed so many packing case manufacturers and shippers that it's ridiculous- and also really suprising how many have not bothered to answer!
I go my packing case from acorn packaging eventually - they were really helpful and also reasonable - although delivery from Essex cost as much as the case itself. I tried to buy locally but no Derby firm replied. One thing I learnt was that any wood needs to be ISPM15 compliant and to be stamped as such - otherwise it will be denied entry by US customs. Luckily I am useless at making stuff, otherwise I would probably have made my own case and promptly had it returned!
The Drawing Center recommended either FedEx or Bax Global and I have decided to use FedEx - as they seem to be the cheapest and FedEx Freight has a number which means you can ring and actually speak to someone. (I did got a quote from a Fine Art shipper which came to around £7,000 so that was the end of that idea!)
The first thing I did was set up an account (mainly because it makes it easier to get the work back at the end of the exhibition) which was really straightforward and is linked to my credit card. Deliveries can only be booked the day before pick-up which is a bit scary (in my case I shall book on the 11th Feb for delivery in New York on the 15th) - but they have assured me they won't run out of space on the plane! One thing I wasn't clear about was what documentation was needed - I am not selling the work, it is on loan and will be returned - so I rang FedEx today to find out what I need and they have emailed me the documentation so I can go through it in advance and check I have all the information. It appears I need:

FedEx Airway Bill
Pro Forma Invoice (which will indicate value of goods)
Temporary Export Form (which has a tick box for 'exhibition')
Work of Art Declaration (which specifies work is original)

I shall go through the documentation over the next few days (and probably have to make a few calls to FedEx for clarification) - see part 2 for details.

2008!

2008-01-11T19:16:00.001Z

I've been really slack recently with this blog - despite deciding one of my New Year Resolutions would be to post at least once a week. Christmas was pretty bad due to a family bereavement but I did move out of my studio at Bank's Mill and I'm now back in my basement!! I eventually managed 100 'squeezed' papers (see above) and still want to complete by doing a further 500 or so. (not sure when though). Shipping work to New York is currently my priority and taking a fair bit of time but hopefully it will all be booked by the end of next week. Then all I'll need to do is hold my breath between the 13th and 15th February whilst it's in transit.... I've just started the first of a two part drawing on the gampi paper roll I bought when last in New York and it is so fine I'm not sure whether it will work or not. Needs to be fine though as I want to layer 2 drawings so that both parts are visible.

Open Studios at Bank's Mill and other stuff.

2007-11-22T18:42:00.000Z

This weekend is open studios at Bank's Mill. From 11-5 (Saturday) and 11-4 (Sunday) the studios are open to the public and I'm also looking forward to going around and seeing what everyone else is doing. Once it's over I need to get on with my residues project! I've done much less work than I thought I would, but I've been sorting photos/ statements etc. for The Drawing Center and arranging for exhibitions to start again at our pub. (The Crompton Tavern in Derby). The first show - Open The Door - work by members of Green Door Printmaking Studio will be up by the 11th December and from February 2008, Jane Hardstaff has agreed to curate. I've also met a lot of other creative people over the last 6 weeks, been to meetings and taking advantage of opportunities (and advice) which I wouldn't necessarily have known about which has been great. I shall be back in my studio at home full time from January, but will continue as an Associate member at Bank's Mill.

Exhibition at Drawing Center

2007-10-21T21:42:00.000+01:00

I've been invited to show in the Spring Selection Show at The Drawing Center in New York next February. Very exciting!

Two weeks in...

2007-10-13T22:48:00.000+01:00

Can't believe I've been at Bank's Mill for 2 weeks already. I've managed to go most week days but I have to try to go more... I need to try to do as much manipulation/ residue work as possible before Christmas - although I have been doing a major declutter of my studio at home so I have more space after that. I've also decided to do second squeeze drawing at home - otherwise I might get distracted at BM. It's taking a while to get used to other people around - I make myself prop my door open for at least part of the time I'm there!

Moved into studio today

2007-10-02T18:45:00.001+01:00

Got the keys to my studio yesterday and moved stuff in today. Such joy - fantastic to have peace and quiet for a change. Going to sort some large drawing boards over the next week as I'm not really happy with 'squeeze' (middle drawing above) and need to do another. Started tissue paper drawings which I'll track on drawings blog. Really looking forward to the next few months

Residue Project set for October

2007-08-25T11:00:00.001+01:00

I will be working in a short term space at Bank's Mill from October. I am so looking forward to having a clean, uncluttered space to get to grips with ideas which have been nudging me for ages, I have no idea what the end result will be but I will be able to see things within an actual space as a whole, rather than fragmented sections. It's also going to be a real luxery to have some dialogue/ debate with other artists. I'm frantically trying to finish my current drawings (see drawings blog for progress) so that I can have a clear head - I also want to do some photos of the drawings within an installation setting. Not sure I'll finish all 3 as I've recently started a part-time job in pre-press/ print which is involving learning a lot of new software and I am going to Forres, Scotland for a week from the 1st of September but I'm going to try!

studio update and NDA publication

2007-07-07T17:04:00.000+01:00

I visited Jasmine Cottage and really admire what Richard and Seema are doing - they have great exhibition spaces some lovely studios for rent. I also visited Bank's Mill and will hopefully have a short term space there for three months at the end of the year. I decided to go with Bank's Mill as the spaces are more suitable for the residue project - which will involve piles of paper on the floor - particularly over what will no doubt be wet, cold and miserable winter months.

Also, just heard that the Manifest NDA 2006 publication should be in the post very soon. I have 2 drawings in it - so really looking forward to receiving it. My work is quite tricky to document successfully and I had these photos taken professionally so it will be interesting to see how they look.

Short term studio space?

2007-06-08T12:40:00.000+01:00

I an trying to sort out a short term studio space as I want to do some installation work and my home studio is not suitable - too much clutter and not enough floor space. I really want a space for 3 months but I have to be realistic about a budget. I have appointments to see studios for rent at Jasmine Studios in Derby tomorrow and also to meet with Filomena at Bank's Mill on Tuesday. I need a space to explore and experiment but it would also be useful to be able to document my work as it should be seen rather than as individual pieces and it would be really nice to have contact with other artists for a bit!!. I'm also going to start programming exhibitions at the pub (Crompton Tavern) again (after a bit of repainting/ plastering work in July/ August?) and ideally would have installation at Dance Centre, short term space for installation project and exhibition at the Crompton all running concurrently??

Sound and Space

2006-12-05T14:27:00.000Z

Sound prints and threaded spaces.

Ropewalk Gallery

2006-11-12T20:39:00.000Z

Went to pick up some work from the Ropewalk today, the exhibition Top Draw has just finished. Really lovely gallery space along with craft shop, coffee shop, framing, workshops, print facilities and sculpture garden.

implied touch?

2006-11-10T09:32:00.000Z

Thinking about how to represent sound visually - I love the plotted linear image, but maybe a bit too obvious? - I was thinking about piercing paper to represent the peaks and troughs and this reminded me of braille. It seems that the immediate mental connection to braille is touch - the sensation of running fingers over the surface. It also made me think about erosion - some form of tactile work which invites touch and then wears away as it is stroked over a period of time?

Gego

2006-11-07T14:26:00.000Z

How weird is this? After saying yesterday that I hadn't seen any of Gego's work, I received a book about Eva Hesse's sculpture today (ISBN 0-300-11418-4) and the first thing I saw on opening was above installation (Reticularea) by Gego!
What is also strange is that when I was in Italy, I was discussing colour spaces with a scientist friend and thinking about whether it would be possible to physically create one with wire or cord 'plotting' RGB co-ordinates (as you do?) and the image in my head was really similar to this.....

Exhibitions at Drawing center 2007

2006-11-06T14:35:00.000Z

I'm hoping to visit New York around May next year - apart from anything else to present my work to the Drawing Center viewing panel. (I've been trying to go for nearly 2 years). I was really pleased to see that whilst I'm there the following exhibitions will be on - particularly pleased about Anastasi !! I've never seen work by Gego - but found the 'mak[ing] visible the invisible' bit below really interesting, (see end of my last entry).

Gego, Between Transparency and the Invisible
April 21 – July 21, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday, April 20, 2007, 6-8 pm
MAIN GALLERY
Gego, Between Transparency and the Invisible explores the intriguing relationship between line and light in the work of the Venezuelan artist Gego (Gertrude Goldschmidt, 1912-1994). The exhibition will trace Gego's interest in “mak[ing] visible the invisible” from a rarely seen series of monotypes of the early 1950s to her delicate drawings without paper and tejeduras (woven paper pieces) of the late1970s-1980s. Juxtaposing important artworks produced from the mid-1950s to the late 1980s and bringing two bodies of Gego's work into dialogue for the first time, Gego, Between Transparency and
the Visible, will foreground the critical role that drawing and printmaking played in the artist's oeuvre.

William Anastasi: Out of Drawing
April 21 – July 21, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday, April 20, 2007, 6-8 pm
DRAWING ROOM
The artist William Anastasi will recreate site-specific works that date from and were first shown in the late 1960s. These early pieces are testaments to the artist's interest and pioneering efforts in site specific projects, as well as in the medium of drawing. The artworks incisively explore the nature and behavior of drawing in the gallery space through different strategies, bringing to the surface questions about site and medium specificity, materiality and the dematerialization of the art object. By focusing on the artist's expansive approach to the medium, the exhibition aims to contribute to a much
deserved critical reconsideration of his oeuvre.

Bruise

2006-10-31T18:04:00.000Z

I noticed this bruise on my leg this morning and realised I had absolutely no idea how I got it. I do get quite a few bruises - usually traceable back to sitting with my legs, arms, whatever pressed up against a table leg or similar. I was thinking about this in relation to my work - it obviously made me think about marks left behind by a touch - but also about how we hear/ feel/ see lots of things without ever registering them and that one of the things which interests me is drawing attention to these small things. Once something has registered it is very difficult to ignore again, for example every time I notice a bruise it will trigger this train of thought. I was thinking it would be really interesting to produce a series of sounds which were not normally noticed (e.g. pencil marks on a surface) and turn them into downloadable ring-tones or similar so that they went from invisible to visible?

Drawing Seminar in Dublin

2006-10-26T19:16:00.000+01:00

The Square Root of Drawing
Opening Tuesday 24th October 2006, 6-8pm.
Exhibition continues until 2nd December 2006

Also as part of this show DrawingLab at the Dublin Institute of Technology
(DIT) in association with Temple Bar Gallery and Studios is organising a
seminar entitled "Drawing Now? - Examining Issues in Contemporary Drawing
Practices" which will be held in G6, DIT Mountjoy Square on Saturday 25th of
November at 12.30 - 4.30.
The Keynote Address will be given by Catherine De Zegher, independent
curator and former Director of the Drawing Center New York and a
presentation by artist Tim Knowles. The Seminar will be chaired by Dr Siun
Hanrahan.

The search for a perfect sketchbook?

2006-10-14T15:31:00.000+01:00

I've spent a lot of time over the last 25 years trying to find a way of organising all my ideas and thoughts. Because I can often spend years thinking about an idea before I make work, a normal sketch book is too 'chronological' - I usually remember that I have written/ sketched something before but can't remember when. The only option if I want to find it is to leaf through lots of separate books which can take ages (and I would usually give up fairly quickly as patience is not one of my strong points!). For a while I tried index cards - which were great to lie out on a table, shuffle, flick through and could be filed in card boxes under different areas of interest. However I didn't ever really find a way of carrying loose index cards around which was sustainable, kept changing my mind about which size cards to use and any other pieces of paper I picked up along the way (newspaper cuttings etc.) had to be stuck down onto cards before filing. I then tried a moleskine Japanese accordion-fold notebook which can be opened up to show a continuous length of paper that worked really well, but was too small for all the time. The breakthrough came when I found a rollabind punch whilst 'decluttering' and decided to try it out. I punch paper (any size or type up to A4) and bind together with rollabind rings. It works in a similar way to a ring binder system but has a couple of major advantages. I can remove any sheet of paper without 'opening' the rings and I can punch any piece of paper as long as it measures more than an inch and stick it straight in my book (so any scraps of paper I draw, notate, cut out can easily be included.) Levenger in America do a similar system called circa with beautiful leather covers/ holders and heavyweight papers - but it works out really expensive so I bought a £12.99 Collins elite diary from TK- Maxx (just over A5), took out the diary etc. and use this as a main notebook jacket. When it gets too full I can just remove pages and make up new notebooks or file away. I've been using this for about a month now and it seems to be working really well.

Sound Stuff

2006-10-09T11:32:00.000+01:00

Months ago I did some sound recordings of pencil marks on small crumpled papers (tissue, bond etc.). They've been at the back of my mind since but I hadn't done anything with them. The image above shows a printout of the 4 sounds. They vary in length from 50 seconds to about a minute and a half. I had thought I would like to do something to represent the sounds visually i.e. an image of the sound of a drawing - but had no idea how to go about it. Whilst at a friend's wedding in Italy earlier this month I was talking to a colour scientist who is doing work on (I think) tonal differences within digital images and we had some really interesting conversations which at one point touched on this whole sound thing. (Loads of other stuff which gave me plenty to think about and which I'll no doubt return to at some later point.) He has access to software which has enabled him to generate numbers for the sound and which allows it to be 'plotted'. The problem is that a one second sound generates approx. 11,500 numbers which means a 50 second recording would generate over half a million. This is not really a problem in terms of the number but rather scale - plotting that many numbers on a scale which was feasible would give a very long piece of work!! I thought I would try to cut down the numbers by only plotting the point which represent a change in direction - 100 numbers was reduced to 18 - which seems more manageable. I'm really interested in the idea of a small drawing alongside a sound recording and a visual representation of (the sound of) the drawing. Think I need to learn a bit more about sound first though….

open studios and printmaking access update

2006-06-19T14:30:00.000+01:00

First open studios finished - and for a first year not too bad. Got some good contacts, possible commission and sales and heard about Green Door - open access print studio which has just been set up by Anna Johnson. I'm going to exhibit in the gallery next month - I think the open studios and print studio will both be really good for Derby.

Exhibition Wishlist

2006-05-19T10:56:00.000+01:00

Eva Hesse - Drawings at the Drawing Center, New York
Eva Hesse - Sculptures at the Jewish Museum, New York
Drawing Inspirations, Abbot Hall, Kendal
Since 2000: Printing Now at MoMA, New York

Display

2006-05-17T13:57:00.000+01:00

I've been thinking about displaying work - really don't like the idea of framing drawings - somehow makes them seem too 'finished'. I think I need to tape or stick directly to wall or just pile on floor?. I'm also thinking about doing fold/ crumple/ twist without any marks - implicit gesture and touch?

Touch and trace

2006-04-14T11:51:00.000+01:00

I'm currently doing some drawings based on touch (pinch and punch above). Trying to get a sense of the mark left behind by a touch or gesture ( - a gesture which incorporates contact of some sort). I am aware that because I just love the whole activity of drawing - the making a mark on a surface - I have to be careful it doesn't tip into self indulgence. I was thinking about this yesterday and decided that, whatever else drawing is, it definately plays an important role for me in exploration and ordering of thought processes. In this series of drawings it also makes me aware of the physical nature of the 'touch' - the amount of pressure or intensity of the mark made is replicated (or even re-experienced?) through the pencil on paper.

British Art Show in Nottingham

2006-04-14T11:26:00.000+01:00

The British Art Show will be opening in Nottingham on the 21st April - I'm going to the symposium 'location, location, location' at the Bonnington lecture theatre, ending with the opening of the show. As well as it sounding really interesting it is definately part of my 'get out of the studio and mix with people' strategy. I've decided I really need to start meeting other artists - it can be very isolating working from a studio at home. Derby 'art scene' does seem to centre around Derby Uni graduates - although I'm not sure this is true or just my perception as a non-graduate of Derby who has been practising for a long while....I was hoping that the open studios would be a way of meeting other artists in the city but although it's a step in the right direction, it definately won't be the case this year! I think I need to take more responsibility for becoming involved - although I'm really not sure that I fit in...

2006-03-27T13:59:00.000+01:00

Darts - open studios in Derby

Darts - open studios in Derbyshire will be running for the first time over the bank holiday weekends during May and June. Only 70 odd artists participating - but it is the first year. Really suprised that only a couple of artists from Banks' Mill Studios are taking part. I would have thought that the whole space would have been opened. In fact only about 4 of us in total from the city centre! Hopefully it will become an annual event and more artists will get involved next year.

2006-03-26T21:59:00.000+01:00

testing u*blog software

I've just downloaded this software to see if it will help me to post more. Should be able to write on palm and upload. Saves cutting and pasting!

Bit of a rant!

2006-03-19T17:07:00.000Z

We have a new arts centre in progress in Derby which is really a combination of Metro cinema, Q gallery (concentrates on 'new' media/ technology/ lens based etc.) and Q community arts. (Q gallery is currently the only major gallery space in Derby outside of the Derby Museum and Art Gallery). Really disapointed to learn it's unlikely to contain a traditional print space and so spoke to someone in creative industries about potential spaces for setting one up. Although he tried to be helpful, I got the distinct impression that he felt there was no demand and that future funding was aimed at 'cutting edge' which incorporated only technology/ ICT based art etc. Why can't people see that in order for Derby to be taken seriously as a creative city, (and it has a very long way to go) they have to be prepared to represent all areas of creativity and not just those fashionable at the moment. Of course it's really important that film, video etc. are promoted and encouraged, but not to the exclusion of other, more traditional forms of expression - which are still being used in new and exciting ways!!. By segregating funding and opportunities, there is inevitably a narrowing of accessibility not expansion. It also sends a distinct message that media can and should be seperated and I do feel really strongly that this is a limited view - surely the point is that artists can, and do, use a wide range of media within any given work, and that it doesn't necessarily always involve 'new' media . Derby needs to embrace all types of creative expression before attempting to specialise in a selected few - there need to be more spaces that encourage proposals for exhibition that do not dictate what media should be used.

Underscan coming to Derby

2006-02-08T20:06:00.000Z

Underscan will be in Derby at the end of this month. I'll be going behind the scenes on the 25th - can't wait. Find out more at this website

temporary exhibition in Cambridge

2006-02-08T10:43:00.000Z

Pae White exhibition at Milton Keynes Gallery

2005-12-06T20:42:00.000Z

Pae White exhibition at Milton Keynes gallery until 22 January 2006 which I really want to see. Particularly interested in her hanging pieces (above) in relation to my own threaded space pieces (below right). May get some ideas for attaching/ hanging?.

Given up on Epson printers!

2005-12-01T10:00:00.000Z

I have finally decided to give up on Epson. I've always used their printers as (when working properly) the quality can be great. After yet again wasting ink trying to clear banding problems and unsuccesfully trying to get a nozzle check to print properly (despite the fact I installed new ink cartridges before the old ones ran out - again!) I have finally given up and ordered a Canon. I like the idea of a replaceable print head and individual ink cartridges should make the whole process much more economical.

Rome highlights

2005-11-18T10:23:00.000Z

Rome was very grand - saw the usual: trevi fountain, collasseum, spanish steps and sistine chapel - but highlights for me were papyrus room at the Vatican Museum and Burri exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale ( luckily it opened yesterday which meant we were able to visit before flying home). Still prefer Florence - Rome is monumental but Florence much more intimate, somehow look at Rome but feel a part of Florence. Off to Perpignan tomorrow for a week to meet friends who we would have seen getting married this weekend in Cancun, (cancelled because of hurricane).

Rome, here I come

2005-11-11T20:50:00.000Z

Finished #10 pencil print (4H) - detail above. Residues are, as usual, probably the most interesting and important part. Usually I keep all pencil sharpenings in a big jar together but this time I just kept the ones just from this drawing. 60+ hours of drawing = 2 small dishes of lead and shavings. Print from them when back from holidays......

Silence, sound and subway drawings (part two)

2005-11-06T13:38:00.000Z

Couldn't resist flicking through John Cage book (not on holiday for another week). Couple of quotes jumped out:
'Wherever we are, what we hear is mostly noise. When we ignore it, it disturbs us. When we listen to it, we find it fascinating.' (p.3) and 'There is no such thing as silence. Something is always happening that makes a sound.' (p.191)
I found this really interesting as much of the time I work in my studio with some sort of 'background noise' - t.v., radio, music but recently I have been working in silence. It really is fascinating how many small noises you hear when really listening - water gurgling through pipes, floorboards creaking, traffic swooshing along roads in the distance, footsteps - clicking, padding and pattering along roads and floors. There is a real sense of layering of noise - each distinct but also part of a whole. A couple of months ago I did a sound recording of the noise of pencil drawing on paper. I'd crumpled paper partially and had become aware of the different noises the pencil made on the smooth surface of the paper and the crumpled surface - ranging from a smooth, gentle, even rhythm to an almost violent stabbing sound. The noise varied depending on the type of surface e.g. tracing paper, bond paper, tissue paper and the grade of pencil. I'm still not sure whether it is noise or rhythm that interests me - or how this fits in with my main interest in gesture, mark,residue/echo but love this stage when really small thoughts begin to make you aware of huge areas of potential exploration.
Another quote from Cage: 'There are no answers. Then of course, there are answers but the final answer makes the questions seem absurd whereas the questions up until then seem more intelligent than the answers.' (p.177)

Silence, sound and subway drawings (part one)

2005-11-04T15:40:00.000Z

I've been making myself read for at least half an hour a day over the last week and have started with 'Drawing is another kind of language, Recent American Drawings from a New York Private Collection' ed. P.Lee....(ISBN 0-916724-96-4). It's a catalogue I had on my wish list for a long while until recently tracking a copy down. Looking through it, I came across a subway drawing by William Anastasi (above) - a series I had heard about but hadn't seen an example of before. Marks would be dictated by the rhythms of the subway train he was riding on - often on the way to visit John Cage. By coincidence my holiday reading arrived today - 'Silence: Lectures and Writings' by John Cage (ISBN 0-8195-6028-6).
Sound is something I have been thinking about lately in relation to my own work - or maybe rhythm - or time - or movement - or the relationship between all four, not really sure how it all fits together yet as I'm still contemplating possibilities and potential dead-ends. It started a couple of years ago whilst at Tate Modern; looking at Bill Viola's Five Angels from the Millenium I became aware that it was the sound accompanying the images which made the viewer turn towards each projection. I had also been thinking about the visual rhythm' of a video of the gesture of drawing I had made (no soundtrack) and how a pencil mark could whisper or shout (at it's simplest: a 9H will whisper - a 9B shout?). A few of the questions this has led to are: can a visual mark equate to a sound? do rhythmic marks give a sense of sound? how do sound, movement, mark and rhythm work together? when drawing from sound how does the delay between hearing and mark making fit and how can a sound and mark which relate be executed simultaneously? Absolutely no idea what the answers are.....

enough said!

2005-10-31T21:37:00.000Z

Drawing and Print

2005-10-22T21:49:00.000+01:00

Drawing and print have always been core in my work - find the relationship between the two really interesting - particularly the intimate, physical engagement between mark and surface.
Watched 'The Secret of Drawing' on BBC2 tonight. Good to see drawing becoming a focus of attention on mainstream t.v.

studio situation getting worse

2005-10-21T17:44:00.000+01:00

The decision has been made - my old studio is to become our new bedroom. (after new roof, electrics, plumbing ...) which probably means it will be Christmas before our old bedroom becomes my new studio. When I was thinking of a name for this blog it wasn't intended to be taken literally! Lack of a studio isn't so much of a problem in terms of making as I can work elsewhere temporarily - it's more to do with the fact that all my books, materials etc. are piled in the front room and I find it really difficult to organise my thoughts in the middle of so much chaos. Have finished cutting a stencil though and started a pencil print.
Also did a test - 'flamenco stamp' for some new drawings I'm thinking about doing relating to gesture and mark.

sketchblog?

2005-10-19T16:17:00.000+01:00

For a while now I've been trying to keep a sketchbook on line with limited success. Thought a sketchblog might be the answer? As my studio currently looks like this this and I'm working in the basement, I may not have much to share for a while.