Christmas went by very quickly indeed and now it's time to celebrate the New Year. I wonder what the forthcoming year has to offer, lets hope that the economic climate improves and peoples confidence in investing in art returns.
I have 2 exhibitions planned in April and one in May at the moment but I am hoping to have more throughout the year. I am working on some new paintings and trying hard to get my name out there
I have just had confirmation of a solo show in 2010. It still amazes me that a lot of art galleries plan 2 years ahead of themselves.
Buxton have asked me to have a solo show at the Art gallery from October 2010 through to Decber 2010. I have the freedom to take my work in whatever direction I want. They have ot chosen a body of work as they would prefer to see new work.
Happy New Year to anyone that reads my blog. I hope the year to come is very good to you
This week has been full of my son's christmas parties and concert's and Christmas.
We had some bad news at our studios this week. It seems that someone had the nerve to sneak into the studios whilst artists were working and steal a wallet and electrical goods. I can't believe it, really I can't.
I'm in the studio tomorrow with the prospect of lots of brush cleaning and getting ready for starting some new paintings (that's if I ever get my materials budget)
I have a meeting with an art consultant tomorrow which I am looking forward to. I am also looking forward to hopefully meeting up with a friend that I went to university with.
I'm expecting a really quiet week on the art front. I won't be into the studio until Friday as I have a packed week full of my son's Christmas parties and concert and Christmas shopping.
I am currently awaiting the results of some recent applications but I have a feeling that I won't hear anything until after Christmas.
I have a meeting on Friday with an Art consultant/project management who is looking to represent artists in the area so that is quite constructive.
I plan to be in the studio all day Friday and I think that will probably be the last time this side of Christmas.
All my current paintings have been brought to ,finally. I had to get them done as I had to submit images for selection for a group show at Derby Museum and Art Gallery in 2009.
I am still awaiting my material budget for the residency before I can start any more paintings. I need so many materials, acrylic paint, oil paint, medium, stretcher frames…the list goes on. It is really frustrating having to wait for the money.
I am looking forwrd to the new year when I can turn my attention to some different paintings
I've been into the studio twice this week, albeit for relatively short periods. I have however managed to get some painting done.
I have also spent some time this week shadowing an artist workshop in the local primary schools. As part of my residency I am required to run some art workshops in schools or the community. I have chosen primary schools for the initial workshops, but having no experience of dealing with children in a school environment I thought it would be best to see how the professionals did it.
I shadowed a group called the Babbling Vagabonds. This particular workshop was run by just one of their members, Tara. She ran a workshop on creating shadow puppets. It was a really fantastic experience to see the workshops running. Tara was exceptional and it was obvious that she was really used to doing it and that she could do it standing on her head. The workshop captured the childrens imagination and the children tackled it with real gusto and enthusiasm. It was really useful for me to see things like behaviour management, including children and also to witness the limited attention spans of young children.
It frightens me that I have put myself up for running workshops. There is no way that I could be as natural and driven with the children as Tara was so I realise that I need to look at what my strengths are and build an interesting workshop that will hopefully hold their attention and allow their imagination to run wild.
It was a really useful thing to watch these workshops. Although I know I am not quite ready yet I do feel it is a slightly less daunting prospect than it was last week.
Thank you Tara!
