01/06/19
Almost a disaster. Too hung up on certain elements and it is holding the piece back. So the notion of blurring the background and having the foreground sharply in focus works. Execution at the moment is lacking sadly. Need to figure out how to fix the mesh fence but will need to redo all the good work from today. Lesson Learnt.
02/06/19
Essentially yesterday was a pure slug fest in the studio.
Action is better than inaction. Working out grid for fence work.
THE MAC VISIT:
Engine Room Gallery visit:
Solo show by John McMacken
Belfast School of Art Degree Shows were great. Some outstanding work. Nina Johnston’s tree installation on level 6 is amazing. Regardless of levels/grades that many of the graduates are embarking on that’s the really exciting part.
Looking back, I adored my time in university but detested my degree show. All but one piece has been destroyed and it was the start of a huge, and still ongoing learning curve that’s led my practice to where it is.
Meeting in the evening went really well. Some good feedback and ideas for an upcoming project.
08/06/19
Little break from the studio today to recharge from the overload of art from yesterday.
11/06/19
“Frank Bowling - What do Artists Do All Day?”
12/06/19
The beginnings of planning an exhibition layout.
“Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a strength”
“Dana Shutz: How Do You Depict A Feeling?”
15/06/19
Detail of the removal process.
Bit of start and stop in the studio but fixative giveth and fixative taketh away!
Just spied Grace McMurray’s piece in the Royal Academy documentary.
16/06/19
“Paula Rego: Secrets and Stories” - Great way to start the day!
“Depression is like a crown of thorns”
Dander down to the river with the dogs.
More pushing back on “Sack Race” although I could have easily got sucked into working on tiny details and not looked at the whole picture.
Treat every painting as a study.
17/06/19
Glazing, Hatching, Cross Hatching, Direct, Sfumato, Painterly, Impasto, Staining, Dripping, Gestural, Broken Strokes, Dotting, A La Prima, Patches, Feathers, Scumbling, Washes, Bravara, Directional.
Sketchbook work.
19/06/19
Knowledge / Creativity / Inspiration
Beginnings / Liberation
21/06/19
Summer Solstice. Pleased with how mesh fence is coming.
22/06/19
Need to let go of aiming to get the little things perfect in the work. Ultimately its holding up the process. Obviously not saying to go full ‘Sloppy Joe’ on it but recognising when things get knit picky - take a step back and reassess time spent on something inconsequential.
Perfection is an illusion.
23/06/19
Little break day. Sophia Campbell on “Sky’s PAOTY 2019”.
24/06/19
There’s no sugar coating it. Intrusive thoughts bombarding for practically 8 straight hours.
Embarrassing, frustrating but mainly just terrifying. I don’t want them anymore.
25/06/19
It will take time to get to grips with what is going on.
27/06/19
Currently going through potential imagery. I think its good to scan through images from time to time to build up ideas.
30/06/19
Getting to grips with terms and conditions and sorting out a plan of action together.