On a day when I retreat from roofers tossing corrugated steel from the scaffold outside my flat to end up at a coffee shop outside of which are the noisiest roadworks, here’s something without sound and with the peace for which I was looking.
I feel I’ve little to say this week as I haven’t been making much. I have been keeping my hand in, however, making these and other drawings.
These small drawings, being small and ephemeral, give space for the unconscious to roam without (too much) judgement.
I also had reason to get all (or most) of my small paintings together on one wall. It was interesting seeing these works through someone else’s eyes. The conversions between the pieces, the shared colours, and the relationship with my work exhibited in New Old Forms.
To me, these works feel self-contained and independent, capable of existing in their own right without the support of each other — a development from the previous paintings.
Next steps? An increase in scale is one possible option, a refinement of the palette another. We’ll have to wait and see.
I have been keeping my art ticking over by making some small ink drawings. The light, throw away quality of working on small paper allows for strangeness and experimentation. The bottom left drawing struck me as particularly odd – a ring on a stick and arrows, marks. More exploration required.
I am continuing to work on the Business Model You, Personal Business Model Canvas – looking at who I help, the value I bring, who helps me, and more. I may need to develop several Canvases for different roles. All very useful and stimulating.
Also, a beneficial conversation with a friend not involved in the art world, talking about the importance of story, selling work, sensitivity, putting yourself into your practice, and more.
Ideas are beginning to coalesce.
I forgot to mention this last week; the Art Juice podcast featured my manifesto.
You can listen to the whole episode here – Finding Inspiration for Your Art [118] – or jump to where my manifesto gets a mention.
I found it very strange hearing my name and my writing read out by someone else, but, going by the Instagram comments I’ve received, it appears to have resonated.
A big thanks to @alicesheridanstudio and @louisefletcher_art of Art Juice for including my writing in their show.
Minor Changes – Works in progress
Slow progress this week with minor changes to both the works above, but progress nonetheless. Subsequent additions: Perhaps a mint green something or other to the “cloud” one on the left. This work feels like it may need to go through some significant changes before it all pulls together. We’ll have to see if the mint green something works. The blue work on the right feels like it’s almost there. A possible yellow dash and a few small touches will, I hope, bring it to completion.
I’m looking at the book Business Model You intending to build my own “Personal Business Model Canvas”. According to the cover, it’s “a one-page method for reinventing your career”.
That said, paraphrasing something, Steve, my coach, said, “If you’ve read these or other books before, what’s different now?”
A fair question. I’m not entirely sure what’s different, but something is – my mindset, perhaps. And maybe by doing these exercises, I am doing busy work and skirting around a belief or truth I’m not ready to face.
Hell, we’ve all done it – gone to the studio, made paintings when there is something we really should be facing, like paying the bills, finding work, dealing with unpleasant conversations.
Is this my version of doing that? Maybe it is. In which case, I hope to call bullshit on my behaviour sooner rather than later. And if it’s not, I’ll soon be able to articulate the value I provide through my work (whether it’s painting, designing, talking with people, or whatever else I do).