Ideas prompt bag and beech tiles
In the coming couple of months I have two shows with the Sussex Guild (of which I am a member, more on these as they occur) and an exhibition with 3 other artists locally; my first ever art show as far as I can remember. I have also found another couple of exhibitions that I would like to submit some work to to see if it gets accepted, a slightly different direction from most of the work that I currently do.
I do often have a hard time concentrating as I am easily distracted, I have a good flow of ideas and they have the ability to pull me away from what I am working on to ‘just try it to see if it works’. So I spend quite a bit of my time trying to focus in on what I’m doing. I have learned to write my ideas down and maybe do a little working on paper, but more than that I try not to do. I do, however, find it quite difficult.
The awkwardness comes when I then need to produce work for a show or exhibition as I just don’t know which idea to pick first – I know not a bad situation to be in, I’m not complaining honest! Thing is I can then spend ages weighing up the pros and cons of each without actually getting anything done, not helpful when you have deadlines approaching.
So the other day I came up with a bit of an idea which may or may not work (once I’ve used it for a while I’ll know, if I don’t use it I guess that will speak volumes too!). I had some very fine offcuts from a few beech frames I made the other day, usually when the offcuts are that thin they just end up in the burning box as they make excellent kindling for our fire. Something told me to put these to one side, I had no inkling why at the time.
For some reason I decided that I need the decision taking out of my hands – I can be incredibly indecisive and that is one of my biggest time wasters – and then the idea popped into my head to have small pieces of something with words on that could prompt the direction I would take with the work. Immediately I thought of those pieces of beech.
I got them home then realised I had nothing there to cut them with – a pair of pruners later and I had a little pile of small pieces of beech waiting for their words. To start with I put on words that popped straight into my head, things that are inspiring me at the moment but I also included things that I could possibly make. I have left these words as open as I can giving myself ultimate room to move. I then went through my current two sketch books and wrote down words that correspond with the ideas contained within, hopefully if I take one of those tiles out of the bag I’ll relate back to the sketch books, but nothing is a certainty!
My first thought was that the container the tiles are in should be something that I already have (trying to save time here – making progress I think), I tried a sock ( I have socks on the brain at the moment as will be seen in the future in some work I have planned) but I couldn’t get to the tiles very easily. Then I found a bag I had crocheted many moons ago and they fit in there very well as can be seen in the photo above. I can also carry this bag with me very easily so that I can constantly add to the tiles when I think of a new inspiration.
All I have to do now is start using it.
Luckily tonight I’ve been getting on with some designs for a few new Art Nouveau frames. I have some that I am happy with, the hard part will be deciding which one to try first.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
What methods do you use to help you focus?
I spent most of today recovering from the weekend spent at the Sussex Guild show at Hurstpierpoint College. Early mornings really aren’t my thing, although I did manage to wake before the alarm both days! It was just quite a long drive each way (just under 2 hours when all the traffic was missed) and I really felt the effects of it yesterday. Forgetting to take any chocolate or sugar based food was a mistake that I won’t make again. I know that quick sugar rushes are not the ideal but they do make you feel better!
Over the two days of the show I spoke to lots of people who stopped by to look at my work and chat to me, I even got a few small pieces of carving done while demonstrating. The Guild members are such a friendly bunch and always willing to help and answer my questions.
I made a few changes on my stand since the last show at Pashley Manor. I replaced the fabric backing that didn’t work from the last show, but didn’t buy enough – something that I will look at before the next show. In fact I need to look at various aspects of my stand in order to make it quicker and more efficient to put up and down (preferably without using a drill as mine managed to run out of battery on Friday set up causing no end of problems) and to ensure that it presents my work in the best possible way. Suggestions from other Guild members included introducing more colour into the fabric and making the fabric taut across the backing boards. All things that I will look into.
I also need to look at how the work is being hung, I currently use chains and I’m not sure that its the right method but I also don’t know of any other method that would be better – some of my work is on the heavy side. Eventually when I build my stock of work further I will have to work out how to hang more work in a way that does not overcrowd the stand and cause the viewer to skim over the work rather than look at it.
Luckily my next show with the Guild is not until next year so I have a bit of time to get all this done, and yes I have made myself a list and I’ll put it somewhere prominent in the workshop so that I don’t forget to work on it!
Lots more ideas for work in the pipeline, its funny how disconnecting from the making process for a few days can set your brain going along slightly different ideas paths, I can’t wait to get started on them.
Got a few things to get out of the way this week – all systems go next week!
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