Recent Art Adventures

It kind of makes sense that as an Art teacher I enjoy Artmaking. This is true, although I don't often spend as much time creating as I would like. It takes a while to get all my materials out and set up, so I have to plan to spend a whole day making if I'm doing this at home and I take up A. Lot. Of. Space. when I'm working. My sewing, on the other hand, is usually confined to a much smaller area, unless I'm cutting out and therefore is easier to pick up and do a bit at a time. so I always take opportunities to attend workshops when I can.

Last week I have been fortunate to attend some CPD at The Northern School of Art at Hartlepool (formerly known as Cleveland College of Art & Design). It was a bit of a trek from school, but well worth it and it was inspiring to see the degree shows at the same time.

The CPD was focussed on printmaking with found objects. The instructor was Helen from Northern Print and she went over a range of different printing processes and how we could achieve effective results in the classroom, with or without a press.

As often happens I found myself drawn to the monotype processes. I don't know if it more to do with the painterly aspects of this type of printing or the immediacy and unpredictability of the technique that I like. I played with the layering of textures and shapes, using both hand printing and the press to achieve different results.

What was new to me was using a printing medium for using with acrylic paint. I was pleasantly surprised how long the paint stayed open with the medium added. I think I will buy some to use with my Gelli plate at home as I have found the fast acrylic drying time limiting when working with the Gelli plate. When I make monoprints at home I usually use oil-based ink, which I have grown to love but it can take a long time for the inks to dry and then there is the cleaning up!

I am constantly drawn to printmaking and would love to pursue this further, especially textile printing methods.

On Saturday we also had our monthly crafternoon and I decided to start a painting. So I took along some paints and some design ideas I've been working on and began to create the underpainting. I go from excited to bored very quickly and I'm starting to realise that I like my paintings to have textural qualities and at the moment this work is far too flat and the colours and layout are not quite right. Over the coming weeks, I will be adding to this to start to bring it to life. I really do like to work with mixed media and would love to bring some stitch into this work at some point. Watch this space!

It's always amazing to see how my preferences and ways of working change and develop over time. I wonder where this will go next?

5 ways to boost creativity... my guide to a creative new year.

A rare opportunity to have a full day printmaking at home

 I'm well aware that as a blogger I'm inconsistent. It takes time to write good posts and when time is short I don't write so many, I really enjoy reading blog posts of those who have something to say so I stay engaged with the creative blogosphere even when I'm not writing my own.

This used to worry me a bit. How would people know what I'd made? Would they be interested in what I had to say? where would I get a response to the creative things I do? Is blogging stuff more important than making stuff? Hence my guide to boost creativity - this is sort of a new year resolution, but also a letter to myself and to you if you find this as challenging as I do.

Quick studies - A few minutes a day experimenting with hand embroidery

1. Little and often
Whatever you do, make it part of your daily routine, or something you can do in short bursts. It's really tempting to just want to spend a whole day being creative - I love doing this, but in the reality of life it just doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Can you find 5 or 10 or 15 minutes to do something creative. Carry a pen/ pencil and sketch on your bus/ train commute. Knit or Crochet while waiting for the kettle to boil or the spuds to cook. 10 minutes at the sewing machine as soon as you get in? A few photographs taken on a walk during lunch break or while walking the dog?

Experiments in texture - the bag the oranges came in and a bit of ink

 2. Stop caring what other people think about your art/ makes.
I used to worry that my art was not commercial enough. In fact I changed my style a lot to try to make it appeal to others. While I Like doing a bit of observational painting/ drawing now and again - I get bored of it very quickly. When I make art to please others, when I blog to please others, when I try to fit in the things I make with those things that are 'on trend' on other blogs, websites I find I lose myself a little. In honesty I'm always happiest with my work when I don't care what others think. when it doesn't need to be good, when it's just me trying something out, when I mix and match ideas to suit my own tastes - in other words when I stop trying to be something I'm not!

Gelli Plate prints - first attempt - not quite sure what was going to happen

3. Play and have fun
Always be willing to try something new. Learn a new skill, read a book or watch a video about a technique that you've never used. Try a new idea. This could be as simple as changing the surface you draw on, or what you draw with. It could be a whole new medium or technique. It could be drafting your own sewing patterns, trying to write a poem in a different form, using a different sized needle to hand stitch a design. If you feel the need go on a course it could open up a whole new world!

Learning how to make 3D wet felted forms

Crafternoon - Craft & Chat - a great way to make friends

4. Collaborate
Work with other people. Making things together is often one of the most creative outlets. Sometimes just seeing how someone else tackles a technique or skill and open up a whole new way of doing something. Its a way of learning and sharing. Join a craft group or art class. Could you teach someone how to do something? Could you make something together for a community group, school, church etc.

Demonstrating a skill to others

A selection of prints from my full day printing day a few weeks ago.

5. Value your craft/ art
I'm not talking about money here. Value the time it gives you. Personally time creating functions in many ways for me. I know that it helps me unwind from the work day and helps my well being. It gives me a sense of purpose and self esteem. I am more confident than I was before. My creativity is an expression of my faith and world view. some people use it as a meditative practice, for me it helps me pray and reflect on God's provision for my life.

So as we start 2018 I won't be creating a Resewlution list, or a #Makenine2018. Hey I hope I'll make more than 9. I won't promise to blog often but i will continue to create - It might not be very regular, I might not create any finished works or items of clothing worthy of recognition. but I will make and I will be creative - it's a part of who I am, who God has made me and that's the way I like it!
If you'd like to keep more up to date with what I do, join me on instagram.