Collaboration
I’ve been asked to collaborate with someone, it’s strange because I never thought that I would take part in another collaboration ever again (I’ve done more collaborations than solo projects) but being asked by this certain person I can’t say no. Actually when she first asked I couldn’t say much, I was honestly flattered and since then my brain has been on nonstop overdrive.
The certain person is called Val and she’s a tremendous artist who specialises in painting. We talked quite briefly about working together and what it would mean. To give you the basics Val wants to make her work more emotive, something of which (she feels) my work has. She was touched by my blog posts especially my last posts on bullying and she wants to portray this feeling in her work. I’m very open with my own work and I was surprised that she wanted to draw/paint me so I excitedly accepted. What we’re aiming to do is to have me sit for a portrait painted/drawn by her, whilst at the same time I’m documenting the process, though when I’m sitting for her I’m in my full get up. It’ll be interesting to see if I what I feel can translate into Val’s work and how it will look. From what we’ve talked about she understands my concepts and ideas so I really can’t wait to get started.
With a collaboration it’s exciting to wonder where it may go and the journey we’ll take to make the work. I’ve never worked with Val before though I have no qualms about doing so; I suddenly feel the rush of inspiration you get when you chance upon a new idea. In the meantime though we’re going to enjoy Christmas first then arrange a sitting (A mock first sitting hopefully!) before getting stuck into the real thing.
Before I leave the blog for Christmas though I want to post up a couple of ideas/concepts that I’ve had for the sitting. My first idea is sitting for the portrait in the black space using portable lights to lighten the room – this could produce a strange atmosphere and could also make the sitting a little more exciting as well as intimate. Though my second idea is using the white installation room with no lights which could be better for colour – I’ll discuss the room ideas with Val and get back to you all on that one!
My main concept for the sitting will be looking beautiful, so I will show up dressed in a completely beautiful getup. Hannah’s agreed to do my make-up for it so that’ll be really nice and exaggerated. (Note to self must buy fake eyelashes and other unnecessary beauty products) I’ve just got to think of what to wear, I’m feeling like I should completely remove myself from my comfort zone and don a dress/skirt combination – this’ll probably be whatever I can get my hands on in the January sale. And if I do this it’ll mean heels too, I’ve still got my wig too but I might get a brown one to see what that would look like (more like my hair colour right now). I’m also considering a sitting of me normally and a sitting of me being beautiful but I’ll sketch this idea out over the holidays.
That’s it for now, I only wanted to post something brief – So for now watch this space and have an amazing Christmas! I’ll update you in the New Year!
