April 15th
This is nerve wracking. Tomorrow I start the residency and who knows what will come out of it. I have never before worked in a public space and I know not what I will see, nor how I will use the information. I will try to begin humbly, just trying to look closely and listen carefully.
April 16th
Having produced a number of drawings from the porcelain collection I am exhausted. I decided to spend the day considering the profile of a number of pieces of porcelain, and ignoring all detail. I coupled the simple, linear profiles with comments overheard from the visiting public, and sounds overheard. To return to looking at form and proportion was very refreshing, and exacting. Half of me was screaming, colour, collage, tone, pattern, but in a self disciplined fashion I stuck to the task of focusing on profile, outline. The results are simple, direct and covered in handwritten notations, they will make an interesting series of etchings.
April 17th
It was completely different to make a start on a draft of a children's book, "Storm in a Teacup". I mentioned the concept to Henry Sandon and he said he and his dog had featured in the film of the same name. I was then allowed behind the scenes to see the archives, for example the Prince Regent's Service pattern book, unbelievably extensive and moving. Twenty uears ago 1500 were employed at Royal Worcester, now 50, so sad. It feels such a privilege to handle the old leather bound pattern books, and leaf through the age browned pages with their intricate and delicate designs. The skill and mathematics in each design is awesome. I like the idea of taking the circles and playing around with the space within it. The archival boxes contain typewritten sheets with additional copperplate handwritten notes, very beautiful in themselves. I like the crossings out and mistakes. Everything is stamped and dated, ticked off in pencil etc. These are working drawings, ongoing documentation. A true record.
