It’s really good having a space at University for the summer. Although I have a studio at home, going to a distant place is more motivating somehow.
First I started to work in oil-paint as have been told I should…conforming to others expectations again – Bad. But I really don’t like oils so now I’m reverting to acrylics, my favourite and also, it occurred to me that I’m about line and mark-making rather than colour and form. So these are my latest offerings. Not finished work but tentative explorations and ideas. These might go somewhere on my next visit to the Summer Studio…..watch this space.
Whilst sorting through old work, I began to think that most of the stuff I did from 2010 till 2013 – my BA study years, was much better and more alive, than my current output on the MA course. Quite worrying. There was somehow more spark and enthusiasm in the older stuff, more of myself. Somewhere along the journey, I seem to have become institutionalised. As I’ve said before, I’m easily swayed by others opinions and too ready to fall into the mode of trying hard to fulfil criteria and to please other people’s expectations. Only last week I was accused of trying too hard. I know it’s far too easy to refer to patterns of behaviour laid down in our childhoods, but it does seem to me that the theory has some truth. I find it extremely difficult to truly follow my own convictions in Art as well as in Life.
Tomorrow I’m starting a life-drawing class. I really like observational drawing and so I’m looking forward to this. Maybe it will be the means to propel me into finding my true direction in Art.
The pictures I’ve added here are a sample of my old work. Any comments?Goodness knows why they’ve appeared twice???? I only added them once – honest. But daren’t delete the doubles or it’ll all go pear-shaped again ….technology?
