A year up north as a Resident Artist

Well, it turns out the sewing machine was bust. But lots of other things have been working out. My creativity has been showing itself in far too much cake-baking, but on my quest to find the best gluten free treats i’ve decided to bake something new each week for the near future. Its going rather well so far, and seems to be a popular decision.

I’ve also opened my sketchbook. And put pencil to page. Finally. And it felt good. Didnt look great but was highly satisfying. And inspiration is coming back to me.

I visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park with a guy from the RCA on sunday and iit was great, not only to be out in the countryside, looking at “art”, but also to have a chat about work and life after the college with someone a few years ahead of me. He gave me some much needed encouragement and a generally positive outlook. It gave me a push and i had decided that monday would be a productive day in the studio. WIth the morning sun shining through the window into my bedroom as i woke up, however, it was easy enought to blow the whole day off and head to Almscliff in the van. Spent the morning bouldering and being challenged to climb up the narrowest cracks up the rocks we could possibly find. Let off some steam and felt so free up on the cragg with the stunning views. After a picnic and flask of green tea, i pulled out my sketchbook and the magic happened. Hooray!

And i’ve been thinking about the potential a certain empty school building has for an exhibition… alongside a community theatre project i’m designing for… my head is getting busy again and it feels so good. I just need to start getting it all down on paper and refined. I knew it would happen – i just had to let it come naturally!

More news tomorrow…..

Well, i still havent started any work. Not really. I’m getting really quite restless now that ive started to settle in up here in York. However, this may be because i’ve had flu for a week…

I found an ancient sewing machine in the cupboard under the stairs and have dragged it out into the dining room, so think i will just have to start anything in order to get me moving again. While i was bed bound, i tried to find my knitting needles but they must be in that bag that went missing in the move… grrr. Also in the bag is the paper i need for the book i’ve been making, for which i now have the beautiful stamps.

I visited the local college yesterday and i was stunned by the facilities. A huge metal workshop, studios, jewellery benches, sonecarving, sandblasters, forges, hammers and so much more. I think whats happened is that i’ve realised im most copmfortable within a workshop environment. The studio at the school is great but i’m going to have to get into the DT department. Or maybe i’m just making excuses for my laziness.

Either way, time is ticking…