A day of results.
My application to Axis has been accepted, excellent.
I also got in to the Margaret Harvey Open, good.
Also, I've started testing my phototransfers on linen, and reminded how I love working with physical things, unlike computers, where everything seems unreal. I feel like I'm Doing, however, there are two bad habits that have tended to surface.
The first is that by simply doing, I am making good work because the toil is there. DANGER!
The second is that being surrounded by artists materials is that I start buying into the persona of the Artist, and get carried away imagining my virtual smock and beret….'look at me I'm an ARTIST!' oooh look at all my lovely paints and brushes. This is similar to a feeling I sometimes get when doing practical work….'look at me….I'm DRILLING!' etc. Not good, ego derived.
Both these things disrupt and can hijack the creative process in a bad way.
December certainly seems to be already a month of contrasts. I've visited Christina Bryant at her studio whom I first met doing a very inspirational talk at Wysing. I'm looking forward to keeping in contact with her.
I've finally been sent the (somewhat rudimentary) score for the Headfuck piece that I'm performing with the Wrong Ensemble on Friday. Very excited to be doing an oboe performance so unlike what I am used to, without conventional notation or playing/improvising with 'feeling'. And with a composer and performers I've never met.
Three pieces have gone off to the Margaret Harvey Open, which was a bit of a trial with parking and traffic. Mounting the pieces was a shambles so I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Not the way to operate really.
At last I've a chance to do some process testing with my latest project (shamelessly motivated by cash, while awaiting funding outcomes for other projects). Good to get my hands dirty again!
I've had a brainwave about making an ergonomic china mug, just need to locate a pottery drop in now.
Then what do you know, I have to drop it all to earn a crust copywriting for my main client.
What a fertile few days… I've had lots of ideas and have started sketching in pen again. Very simple stuff but nourishing in a strange way. Having to think about what to put in for a new open exhibition and remembered yes, I actually have done some painting this year.
Really been inspired by a few of the artists on the Creative 30 competition. It's okay to have loads of clutter – they do too! And thank god, because I can go back to using some of it. I knew it was there for a reason…
Picking up my trestles tomorrow so I've nearly got a proper place to work.
Another one of those sleepless mornings, my brain's ready for action at 5.30am. I was thinking what a great tool this blog is, helping my solidify my work that exists both in and out of my head. It's a good way to record otherwise transient thought processes. It makes working in isolation seem not so bad, having an imaginary audience.
I'm constantly having a dilemma about whether to make new Stuff, because there is already so much Stuff in the world. I am compelled to do it, so I wonder whether it is the process or the end result that is important. Some things are bugging me because they still only exist as an idea, so maybe this is the way to edit out the duff stuff.
So, a month has gone by since my first post and I've actually done a fair bit. My website (www.nicolakearey.com) is up and running and almost finished. It's really helped crystallize my work in my own mind, but I've had to keep it concise otherwise I will find myself just feeding the monster all the time.
I had a letter from the PRS but it was only to say they hadn't decided who was getting funding, but at least mentioned when the decision is going to be happening (17 Dec – the date now etched in my mind).
I've met with Mike Hawkins in Cambridge who is putting on a live art event in December and I hope to be contributing with some live Shadow drawings, as long as there is adequate lighting that is!
Also was happy to supply Gbenga with some sleigh bell recordings as I've got my new soundcard and can make beautiful noise with my laptop. Went and saw Jack's Wolf People and plans have been hatched for a new project with him and Ian, just got to get my Folk head on now.
Hopefully I will have my studio area finished soon so I can start painting again, it's well overdue. Just waiting to hear from Theatre Resource if I can use their rooms to mark out my canvases with the data projector too.
So not too quiet… only thing is as the dribbles of writing work appear I do have to drop everything as it's money in the bank. But I couldn't have a nicer client.
