DIY residency

Today the weather has changed, and a storm has set in. Not a violent storm, but a lot of rain. This means I’m stuck indoors, which probably is a good thing, and forces me to concentrate on what Im supposed to be doing here! I did this quick sketch before, using felt pens on recycled paper. What was my intention? I want to draw the world around me, and in turn try to stimulate my ideas. I think by making work, it will help me do more work, there’s a sort of inertia going on, and I am so easily distracted.

Ideas
At the moment I’m think of making a “grid comic” – which is how I describe the grid layout drawings I used to make last year. I made many many of these. I’d like to make a big one of these, as I often considered, and is something I haven’t tried yet. I assume they will work big, but maybe not? Small drawings are easier – can away with a lot more!

Grid Comics – what are they?
They are basically snapshots of the world around me and within me at a particular moment in time. They are a way of assembling my thoughts, feelings, concerns, opinions, news, politics, learning, stories, invented characters, writing … into one place. They are a sort of release or catharsis.

They look like a comic – squares and drawings and often text, but are usually one panel subjects – they lack a sequential narrative. They are usually very small, often A5 size, split into a grid with 20 panels, which was a format that generally worked.

So – in terms of making work for the “Clutter show” (the AltMFA Clutter exhibition at the Hypha gallery in March) I’m thinking this format is appropriate for the theme, as all this stuff in my head is effectively “clutter” and making artwork is my way of cleaning it out … a brain dump.

And instead of the tiny grids, I can make big ones, maybe with each panel at A5 size, and again 20-25 grids, eg 5 X 4. Each panel could all be pasted on a board and hung on the wall. The combined artwork could be A0 size? The format needs thinking through … I dont think a frame would work?

Pasting each individual A5 sheets onto a large board? How will this look? Or would it work better if I painted –  in one go perhaps – on a big sheet?

And I could make 2 of these? Displayed side by side, and they could be connected or related somehow … ? How?

Maybe they are the opposites of each other? Or reactions to each other? A conversation?

Or a slightly different time slot?

To work well, I think the grids need to be produced quickly and be of a particular moment in time. So that they reflect that moment. I think it’s more precise that way.

Process?
I could make small grids, then work on making bigger versions.. and maybe experiment with colour palettes.
Make lists of what goes in each grid …

I want to play with the experimental story side of this too. In some way the grids and the stories contained within are interconnected.

Have spent a lot of time wandering around town, and trying to get myself established for living here. Mainly have been trying to arrange exercise classes, as I know it’s a good way for me to meet people. Total isolation doesn’t work for me!

But during all this, I’ve been making notes and collecting ideas and thoughts, listening to podcasts, making sketches.

I went for a long run yesterday, up into the mountains, covered in snow. So beautiful! On the run I turned a bend in the hills, and came across a factory, way up high in the mountains, with lots of big chimneys, pumping out acrid and probably toxic smoke. How they could be allowed to do that is beyond me …

Later that day I read about the financial jitters in the UK over the size off the debt and rising interest rates. I thought of Rachel Reeves, the shocked woman, chancellor of the exchequer until the banks insist that she goes, then insist the government taxes the poor even more to solve the problem.

I went for a walk this morning with the intention of taking photos using my phone. I was thinking of exploring textures, and I started off doing that, taking lots of photos of walls and floors. Then I found myself taking photos of other things that attracted my attention, and I made this drawing based on a photo of a shop window. Pencil, felt pens, ink marker:

I arrived here 2 days ago, and am starting to feel more settled in my Airbnb. Mainly at first I’ve needed to sort out shopping etc, where to shop, and finding my way around.

I’ve reorganised the rooms slightly. It’s a small apartment, 2 rooms, and maybe too small, but time will tell. I’ve got an outside space as well, which I can use while the weather is still good.

I’m still struggling with getting focused on work, and also I feel pretty isolated. I’ve been using social media to hook up with people I can meet and do things with, especially running and gym classes, which are part of my usual routine, and also a good way to meet people. I’m here for over a month, so I need company during that time.

I started sketching yesterday, not of anything in particular, but just to get myself doing things, to get motivated.

This was yesterday’s drawing – the view from my Airbnb