Reading and thinking: I am nearly half way through Errol Norris “Believing is Seeing”. Very interesting if slightly obsessive exploration of documentary photography, perceptions of truth and thruthfulnes, photographers intent and our willingness to read photography as evidence. For my work this subtext of “truthfulness” is important as I sometimes use photographic images as an aside that reveals a hidden reality.
I am also dropping in and out of Vitamin ph, and looking and thinking about how other contemporary fine-art photgraphers are making work and how their work is read, recieved and reviewed.
Thankfully all my art materials sailed through airport security. The weather has been mild but windy, and I have been doing lots of sleeping; catching up from a busy and hectic end of year. I have been taking a few photographs, more holiday shots than anything but I have always used the colour of the skies in my work so who knows how they will filter through. Not much sketching or drawing so far but much food for thought.
I have been getting small work done in my sketchbook. I have signed up for South East Open Studios next year (good for local marketing and networking as well as sales).
Today I will be getting together my “art-kit” for the holidays. These days, now that I’m using photography, drawing and painting, that kit is getting bigger and bigger and includes, camera and laptop as well as pencils, watercolours, etc. For these holidays it has to get through airport security so no craft blades or tubes bigger that 250 ml. Also new to me is that the kit must include prescription sunglasses for drawing outside.
I doubt I’ll be able to print any photos to draw onto, but I’ll be able to use the photo-studio in the laptop. The hotel may have a business suite for printing, we’ll see. It’ll be a working holiday that’s for sure.
Time is too elastic, and chores are taking ages, the list getting ever longer. Will I get into the studio this weekend? Only if I can squeeze and pinch time in the right places and leave an open pocket of space to myself/making.
Then sometimes with time on my hands I procrastinate and do not go to the studio. I like to think that that is when ideas are brewing and need more time to ferment. Or maybe I just enjoy maintaining a state of yearning to be elsewhere? Sometimes it is this feeling that pushes me to be productive.
I did not intend to write about this battle with time and creativity and procrastination, but at the moment, despite myself, it feels like the main thing. But sometimes, for me, the act of saying something out loud like this signifies a shift and change in pattern, or behaviour. maybe…
My submission is in for the drawing show that’s coming up. Its over to the selection comittee now, i’ve always wondered what happens behind those closed doors. This show is based on John Berger’s definition of drawing as “observation, expression or exorcism”. An interesting point of view itself.
I wonder where they will draw the line, what is drawing, print, painting etc. The gallery mentioned the requirement that the artist has made direct marks onto the surface, so my drawings on inkjet prints of manipulated photographs are included but would most print-making techniques are not included per-se.
Not my problem any more, now that the work is in. But an interesting dilemma nontheless and I’m really looking forward to seeing which work is chosen and how it is all hung together.
