Reflecting on the change...

The other day at the Bristol studio I was thinking about how things are changing for me. And then I was reminded that my word for this year is change. I suppose I haven't thought about the word too much, and I certainly haven't blogged much about it, but my sudden realisation was that it was perhaps a HIGHLY appropriate word to sum up what is happening for me, and what has been happpening for me this year.

In places, this year has been quite difficult. Nothing bad has happened, its just that our plans for a massive life changing event have gone off the boil somewhat. Our original plan at the beginning of the year was to sell up and move to New Zealand, with not much more of a plan that "see what life throws at us". So in earnest, we set about completely doing up the flat. This was quite a difficult process in so many ways. And then once it was done? Well, a housing market crash has ensured that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING has happened with the flat, and it looks pretty likely that nothing will! The year has been difficult in places, because we had such a clear plan, and then the fact that we couldn't follow through with it left me restless and felt difficult. Like we were standing on the spot. Add to that the biggest creative block I have EVER experienced, and its not been easy.

But now, I'm beginning to think things have worked out exactly as they should have. At times, I began to doubt our plans. I kind of felt like we were moving away to find a better life, but all the signs here were pointing at how good we have it. My studio space in Weston has taken off, I am much more involved in exhibiting, I am COMPLETELY over my creative block and have more ideas than ever, Dave working from home means we have a good work life balance, and my job is going really well too. The kind of job an artist needs to support them is one that does not demand too much, pays reasonably well and is not too consuming. And that is what i have, and my art fits round it well. Also, we have so many friends and family here. I kept asking myself what we were going away to gain, and I couldn't always answer.

But back to the Bristol Studio. I reached a decision which has been brewing for a while. I have decided to leave the studio. It will be a huge wrench, its been a massive part of my life for over three years, but it is time to move on. It feels right to dedicate more of my time to my exploration in my own studio at the Quarry. I have loved volunteering and the studio will always be part of me, but its time to focus my energies on myself.

So big change is happening, despite our original plan for big change not happening! I feel I am on the brink of a new creative era in lots of different ways. I guess I have gained lots of confidence from being part of Studio Upstairs, and now I feel ready to go it alone, confident in the knowledge I can do it.

There are other undercurrents of change that are perculating, it feels like a creative time in many ways, and my mind is turned towards the future.

I know the changes that are coming may be painful, potentially difficult and probably challenging, but the change feels important.

The worst thing I could ever feel creatively is stale.

CHANGE ensures things stay fresh!

And on that note, its quite a busy month for me!

This weekend coming I am taking part in the Windmill Hill Arts Trail in a group exhibition with Studio Upstairs, and then the weekend after that is is the Studio Upstairs Open Exhibition weekend!

















Its all go!!

New Work

Not sure if this work will be going into the art market, its a little "out there" and maybe not too commercial! But I like them! They have come out of my experiments with collecting words and phrases from magazines and newspapers, and then creating paintings, collages and drawings based around them. There are two others, but I can't post photos of them yet as they have been submitted for the Windmill Hill Arts Trail.

They are a bit of a departure for me, a bit of a change..... and speaking of change , I think its time to reflect on my "word of the year"...

Paintworks Autumn Market

I'm spending a lot of my creative time and energy on getting ready for the Paintworks Art Market. Today was mounting some prints of my paintings.

I'm excited! There is lots I need to do, but its coming together.....

Homemade

Today I received my last birthday present from my husband. You know how sometimes men get it really wrong when buying presents? Dave has an uncanny knack of getting it really right.

He noticed I had commented on Facebook on a photo of a bag made by my American friend Laura, who I met many moons ago whilst being a summer camp counsellor in my year out from Uni. There then ensued a flurry of emails secretly back and forth between the two of them. She designed and made a bag especially for me, and I had no idea!! I absolutely ADORE it! The thing with my new bag is that it is not perfect, but the slight imperfections in the sewing just add to it in my opinion. It was made with love, there is not another one exactly like it in the world, and this makes it really, really special!

And it set me thinking about all things homemade. After checking Laura's stuff out on Etsy , I began to browse through lots of other things, like clothes, jewellery, art...... And it set me thinking about how I really would like to do more in terms of buying things from crafts people, things that are homemade, one offs, quirky, but most of all, NOT mass produced. There are lots of reasons this feels important, but a main one is my increasing dissatisfaction with the consumer culture we live in, where we are constantly being coerced into buying more and more and more stuff. I am aware I will always be affected by this mentality ( and I can't help but LOVE shopping for all things pretty!) but I am going to make a concious effort and decision to buy more things second hand or handmade. After all, I am an artist, so I should be doing whatever I can to support the cause of those who share my passion!

Oh! And did I mention The Murder Mystery?

More Pictures from the ball

Back to reality

Wow, I haven't done a post in AGES! How neglectful of me!

Well, I'm writing this the day after my 31st birthday. (Feels like yesterday I was writing that post for my 30th!) It was a great day, I went to a masked ball for the Weston Operatics Centenery celebrations last night. Always fab to put on a pretty dress, georgeous heels and then dance to live music while quffing vast quantities of free wine on ones birthday! I actually made the mask I am wearing, I don't think the pic here does it justice so will take some more photos of it, but I was really pleased with it and really enjoyed making it.




















It was a cracking night!

As for the exhibition which the previous post mentioned? Well, I could say lots, but lets just say that I learnt A LOT. I believed before I did this that any chance of getting my paintings on a wall was a good opportunity. Now I have learnt that in future I need to be much more selective, and only take on exhibitions if they are going to be good for me. This one left me with a lot of pieces to pick up!

Its been a busy few weeks, and I have been taking a breather today before launching back into it all tomorrow. I don't know what the year ahead holds, but I know I need to focus it on creativity and studio time, which is going to mean less time spent on the internet I think. I have a few opportunites coming up, including the Paintworks Autumn Art Market, which I am really looking forward to, but will require lots of work over the coming month to prepare for it. So, my aim is to hit that full pelt, and then spend the rest of the year "chilling out" a bit in creative terms, reading, walking, only doing things that interest me, exploring and being experimental. And probably a bit hermit like, as the winter months draw in. I also now have my EBay shop thanks to my wonderful husband, who works as hard at my art career as he does at his own!

Its amazing how quickly the year has gone.

I don't know what next year holds, but I think I want to focus much more energy on exhibiting. It feels important. But, like I said, only on my terms this time, and definately not with strange, aggressive, drunken dada-ists!!