New work for 2011

I haven't been getting as much work done as I would like, and feel suitably guilty about it.  Christmas shopping, parties and mulled wine have all contributed to lack of time spent in my studio.  I can't even pretend that it's too cold in there; it's actually pretty cosy

However, come January I have new work to make, first for Visual Arts Scotland who are showing artist books at their open exhibition 5th Feb -3rd March at the mound. Then I want to put work in to the Society of Scotland Artists open exhibition which I didn't get into last year.  Fingers crossed for this year, it would do my confidence the world of good.

book with envelope pockets for Andrew

drawings from the zoo

The Artist Book Group that I'm part of put in an exhibition proposal to Patriothall Gallery at WASPS in Stockbridge that was accepted for late next year, dates still to be confirmed.







My drawing class at the Dick Vet School (below) finished last week, I want to realise one of my (hundreds) of ideas for the SSA open exhibition. 

Histology room, beautiful cabinets filled with microscope slides.

The Dick Vet School

Watch this space...and in the meantime have an enjoyable Christmas x

Art and Veterinary Science-Sketchbook

Today is week 6 of Art and Vet Science at the Vet School.  We have been experimenting with different approaches to drawing using quick sketches, monoprinting and layering.  Here are some collages from my sketchbook.

Hidden Door Festival

On the 22nd-24th October Fiona, Susie and I collaborated with two poets for Impossible Journeys at the Hidden Door Festival. 

It was so much fun and so much hard work, lots of late nights and early mornings which I'm definitely not good at!   We only really had about two weeks to get organised, but in a way it worked well as there was no time for procrastination. 

We were given two poems to respond to, Rob MacKenzie's The Organist and Kona McPhee's Prodigal.  Both were full of fantastic imagery and we weren't short of ideas for how we could illustrate them.  Our space in the Roxy was the basement bar, for which we made hanging flower-like book structures, (I'm still dreaming of cutting paper circles...) collages for lightboxes and the wall, and altered books. 

Susie hard at work

Me working on my altered book

Fiona on installation night

hanging books and lightboxes

Prodigal collage

'Altared Books'

'Feel'

The Hidden Door was inspirational and demonstrated what can be achieved with a small budget and a hell of a lot of hard work. 

First day of art and vet science class

We met at the Royal Dick Vet School which is at the end of the meadows.  I've walked past it so many times and not realised what it was. 

Inside there are some beautiful old features, like the pathology room that is high ceilinged and round in shape, now being taken over by dust and foliage, and the lecture theatre with seating curving round the blackboard and made of beautiful wood.

I'm thinking of ways to record all the information;  there is so much there, and next year the school will move to new buildings out in Easter Bush and the old building will be sold.  The work I make could echo the processes that go on such as dissection, obviously using paper rather than animals, or creating sequences of drawings to reflect the sequences of bones and teeth in display cabinets.  Here are a few photos.

horse skeleton

skulls in cabinets!

WASPS Open Studios

I really enjoyed the open weekend at WASPS West Park Place studios.  As I've only had the studio for a few months it was all new to me, and I was nervous about showing my work and also my messy space.  Ellen and I cleaned for ages the night before but the place has so many layers of dust!

It was pretty busy, especially yesterday, and plenty of people joined in the workshops and just came in to have a look and chat.  I sold two books and some cards, thank you to everyone who came along.

my book display

There was a lot of interest in classes, so watch this space....in the new year I would like to start teaching book binding and drawing.

By Leaves We Live

pamphlet binding

Last Saturday I exhibited with the Artist Book Group at the poetry library and did a workshop on pamphlet binding and japanese binding.  I had Fintan and Stephen on hand in case no-one came, but all the workshops were fully booked with waiting lists, yay!

 It was a really busy day and we got lots of interest and some sales as well.

For me it was a good learning experience, I saw what people were drawn to and also got an idea of what sold and how much people were willing to spend.

And of course lots of inspiration looking at what everyone else has been making.

I really enjoyed the workshop and will be doing  

pamphlet and japanese binding

 the same structures next Saturday and Sunday at WASPS Open Studios on a drop in basis.

Ellen who shares the same studio will be offering a heart-shaped lavender bag workshop too so come along to our lovely studio and get creative!

Body book, Small exhibition, poetry library Sept-Nov 2010

Artist's book group tables

Confidence

With the Scottish Poetry Library artist's book fair coming up soon (next Saturday) I have been considering how I feel about showing my work, something I've not done for a long time.

It's scary to show something you've created, what if people don't like it?  What if you don't sell anything and everyone else does?

And if someone does like your work, it can give you confidence to continue, but if I secretly think it's not good enough it doesn't really matter what they think.

I guess its self-confidence that's most important, something that no-one else can really give you.