In the end, at the beginning of the week, I cut my roll of Chinese paper with a fine hacksaw blade; it worked, although the remainder of the roll is a little squashed by the pressure I had to apply to hold it while I hacksawed like mad at the other end. The edge is a little bit fluffy, but I think this will hardly notice once I have worked on the paper. At one stage I had to stop sawing because there was an ominous smell of smoldering paper; it had not occurred to me that the friction might set the whole lot alight! I tried it in the slot of the ballot box today. I had a measurement of 12.5 cm in my head. The roll of toilet paper I used as a mock up is actually 10 cm wide, so where did I get 12.5 cm from? I was horrified! Fortunately, my roll fits comfortably, so perhaps I had measured the slot width instead. Anyhow, it don’t matter cos it fits and it will work. Huzzah!
3c today. I have been skulking indoors for most of the week, emotionally worn down by the pressure caused by working for the anti fracking cause. I found I couldn’t concentrate on anything, apart from a crochet project I started just after Christmas, which will be presents for family at the next festivities! Hardly fine art, but it was soothing; something about repetitious action is deeply consoling.
In my worried and miserable state I gave myself a talking to yesterday and as a result, with lots of struggle, I was up early this morning and after talking to a few villagers about attending an important meeting tomorrow evening, I was ready for some work in the studio.
I lasted 2 hours. It is so cold and damp, nothing is drying and I cannot be still for too long before I become numb and seize up. However, I managed to add another layer to two studies on paper I have been working on. I also collected some things together to enable me to continue working at home, where it is warmer. I have some lino to work on, and a couple of sketch books. I found a small empty sketch book that I am going to use to jot down the ideas for this project as I progress. A kind of visual diary cum recipe book. I will need to start work in earnest next week.
I have made some designs to send to Thermofax Screens, I want to combine relief printmaking techniques with drawing and silk screen and create one very long narrow piece that will emerge from my ballot box and loop up and down from the ceiling.
I can feel my enthusiasm returning; just being in my studio for a short while gives me renewed strength and sense of purpose.
