University of the West of England

Every time I write this blog I realise how quickly time is slipping by, and how much I still have to do by the end of the course!

I am currently concentrating on writing my dissertation. However, I recently had my work professionally photographed. I decided that it was worth the money to do this, especially as I know very little about photography and I am usually unhappy with the photos I take of my paintings.

The session was held at Motorcade/FlashParade gallery in Bristol, and lasted for half an hour. It was certainly worth the £30 fee as I now have high quality images of my work to put into my dissertation, catalogue and onto my website.

In the next few days our MA group plan to meet to discuss more practical matters about our MA show.

The fundraising event is now less then three weeks away! I have received about 100 postcards for the event, but hope to receive a lot more before the event itself. Fingers crossed it will be a good event!

I have had my last session at uni for the Spring term. I’ve suddenly realised that after the Easter break, there are only three weeks until the hand in of our dissertation and catalogue. This is nerve wracking stuff!

In terms of the dissertation – I think that is on track. Apart from one thing. My tutor has stated at the bottom of the draft I gave him – “are you a faux naive painter, a naive painter a ‘bad’ painter, a ‘good bad’ painter or a ‘bad bad’ painter?” I thought I was a ‘good bad’ painter who painted in a ‘faux naive’ style, but since looking at the likes of Philip Guston, who definately was a good bad painter, I really don’t think I can place myself anywhere near his level. The more I look at it, the more it appears that I am simply an artist with naive painting style. Oh dear.

We have all began planning in earnest for the MA show. It has all become a bit manic, as there is apparently some debate as to whether we are able to have a small space at Spike as well as at Motorcade/FlashParade.

A good thing, however, is that the fundraising secret postcard event is coming on really well. So far we have received over 80 postcards, and that is still with almost a month left to go! http://sixbyfourexhibition.blogspot.co.uk/

This term is now flying by!

I have now made a website for myself. I decided that the blog that I use to post my artwork did not look professional enough. I made the website with MrSite – and can definitely recommend it. I created the bulk of it in two nights. I still have work to put up on it, but here it is so far:

http://www.elizabethdismorr.com/

The fund-raising for the MA show is going really well. It is a lot more work than I anticipated, largely because of the admin involved contacting artists. However, I believe it will be worth it. We now have over 100 artists on board, including Brian Griffiths, Roxy Walsh and Dave Beech among others. http://sixbyfourexhibition.blogspot.co.uk/ I will take this opportunity to publicise Lincoln Uni’s fundraiser which I am taking part on. There is less than a week to go, and still many bargains to be had! http://lovefromlincoln.wordpress.com/

In terms of my own work – I have handed in the second draft of my dissertation, which is a relief, and had a tutor meeting last week, which was too short, but none the less left me feeling inspired. I went home and painted.

Things are looking up.

After our worry about not finding a space for our MA show – several options have now emerged. ‘Motorcade/Flashparade’ has now become available, as has ‘The Diving School’ So we have gone from having no space at all – to having the luxury of being able to choose from two! The general consensus from the group seems to be to have ‘Motorcade’ as our venue. I for one really like the space at M/FP.

We are also going to have a small space at Spike Island, so that when the hoards go to the BA show, they see our mini show there, and then (hopefully) come along to our main exhibition!

Apart from the organisation for the fundraiser is going really well! So far fifty artists have confirmed their participation, which is great! People are being extremely generous. http://sixbyfourexhibition.blogspot.com/

In terms of my own work I have begun a new series of paintings. I am beginning to realise how close the end of my course is now. I’m finding the prospect of finishing quite scary. I’m scared I’ll feel a bit lost after the course ends, and will loose my momentum in producing art. Hopefully, though, this will not happen, and i’ll have a lot of projects to get on with!