Oh there it goes again, I have not written on this blog in ages. This always happens, blablabla... Well it just does. Life happens, moved home and currently working from my spare room in my house. That is a big change, and I need to get used to it.
Last night I went to an event organised by Be Smart About Art, who really offer some fantastic resources for artists. I am thinking of becoming a member, as it would feel like being part of something throughout the year, which I could really use! Working alone from a studio is really lonely business, and sometimes I can just use that little push. It's also about being part of a community I guess. One of the things which inspired me most was the hand made brushes brought by the "Modern Eccentrics", they were running a small workshop using natural inks they made, and invited people to create marks using brushes they made themselves. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to participate, my mind was telling me to do "useful" stuff last night and so I didn't attend. But the picture on the flyer is just stunning, it made me want to dive into sculptures again and also highlighted something I am deeply interested in, which is the idea of the transient, and also making your own materials as an artist. Thinking about what we put into the world is a deep concern of mine, and there's a lot I don't love about the manufacturing of art materials as well as myself making so many sculptures and paintings that at times I have to throw away...
On Saturday I went to a artist "crit" organised by Turf projects, and someone suggested that I "unpick" my sculptures and reuse them to create new work: light bulb moment. My sculptures have NEVER been fixed, in fact, most of them fall apart rather easily, as they are mostly pinned or stitched badly... When I created them, I loved putting them into different places, making them look different every time they changed context. As they're made of soft fabrics, they don't have "one way" of being exhibited, they move, change, transform themselves.
I also thought about using very basic techniques such as papier maché or Salt dough, both childhood loves of mine which are just fantastic, using recycled materials or non-toxic ones. I want to create "proper" sculptures again, and these could inform my drawings and paintings. I feel that January thing of making some very new and exciting works... And this morning fell upon this Artsy article about "non-serious" art and materials... It's all there! Happy new year.