Last week I was starting to worry. After losing a day in the studio to the drive back down from Derbyshire, by this point I should be pulling hair out. However… I’m not. I’m behind, but I’m not worrying. I’m concerned, of course, but I know I’ll do something about it. In the meantime I’ve at least considered doing something like paperwork. I’ve been preparing a document for the Professional Practice unit, so I assure you that there has been some work going on as well as playing dress-up. I could always say that the dressing-up was part of an investigation into cultural heritage, the post-colonial, feminism and the role of the creole in Antillean history. Right now I’m more disposed to say I just had fun. Although whilst doing some research (by now you should know that I would be one to research my fancy dress costume for authenticity) that in Louisiana after 1786, black and creole women were forced to wear their hair bound in a ‘tignon’ or kerchief as a sign of subjugation… and naturally, the restriction was fought by wearing more and more colourful and elaborate tignons. Seeing illustrations of women in Barbados and the Antilles wearing these headwraps gave me the initial idea, but I’m not sure how this custom related to the American law. I’m sure I’ll find out eventually.
Actually I have a feeling that this new, more laissez-faire attitude is a good thing for me, as long as I can manage it. Coming back from a weekend full of belly-laughs, silliness and old fashioned fun I feel prepared for all manner of calamitous eventualities. The fact that the casting process has taken over my life in the studio still bothers me, but now I trust in one of our tutors’s words last week – “You’ll be fine.”
In fact, that’s what I took away from today’s brief conversation with my art history tutor in the refectory; I mentioned not knowing exactly how to re-frame my essay in the light of her feedback, but she said to sit on it for a week and carry on as I saw fit. Then she said, “I trust you.”
She trusts me! I could have squeaked inappropriately at this statement, but I didn’t, fortunately. It means a heck of a lot – just knowing that you have the confidence of experienced lecturers. So tomorrow I’ll go in to pour the last part of the vinamold, and the week to come will be full of wondrous events which will hopefully have something to do with paint and nothing to do with sculpture.
So while the new boyfriend is undoubtedly a distraction, I’m softening him up to the idea of sitting still for long periods of time while I draw him, so ultimately I shall benefit from this… and it seems that the suggestion of an increase in beardage and the addition of a handlebar moustache has met with approval! Watch out for a visual pogonology – now this is my idea of even more fun!
