http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 The Snail and the Artist's Trail Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:15:48 +0100 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 So why the Snail?.... I like Snails, I like painting them and I feel I need to concentrate on at least one or two themes to have something coherent to show. I have recently been getting some images of my work collated to put on the web sight I have been building and a lot of the work looks very disjointed. The themes that are interesting me and I want to continue are the Snails, and the Oldfruit paintings I have done. Other work has been more about exercises in colour, and just getting back the feel for the paint. I also gave myself the task about a year ago of keeping a regular sketch book again. Trying to do a quick sketch most nights before bed and some how there is a snail on each page. I am currently turning some of these quick sketches into lino block prints. So Snails for the trail it is……... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 I started another snail lino cut the other night the other night. I had already drawn the image onto the block so just settled down to cut it, glass of wine at my side. Working on small prints like this seems to suite my fragmented time for making art work at the moment. I can pick it up and put it down a bit like my mum used to with her knitting. I definitely think whittling away on a bit of lino after the kids have gone to bed at night could be my equivalent.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 It seems like a long time till the open studio but I have so little time between my job and the kids I really have to get going now. I have not yet said much about the Artist Open Studio Trail 1st meeting so here is a bit about…..I must ask next meeting if individuals mind me mentioning names as I go on. Some things discussed at the last meeting:- About the trail it’s self - some concerns were voiced about studios/houses not in a central position not getting many visitors. I feel a bit out of it where I live I think that unless someone is really interested they will not be just popping in. This may be helped greatly by the suggestion of having a pre festival fundraising exhibition at Bollington Arts Centre. Also the inclusion of images of peoples work and a picture of their house/studio on the trail map. I have taken a few snaps but my house (a 1960 semi) isn’t very attractive to be drawn on a map not like a lot of the village’s stone cottages! Still the map and the exhibition should enable people to select studios to visit form an interest in particular work. Buddying up was also discussed and some artists may show at the same place. Emma King who is organising the Trail for the Festival says there are abut 22 artists interested at the moment, and it will be nice to see some more people at the next meeting which is in mid April.Other things discussed were, if we wanted to open our studios for two festival weekends or just one. If it should be open during the main carnival procession. With a lot of people on the streets for the procession if laminates publicising and directing people were put on lampposts along the rout people may drop in while they are out.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875  Wow a couple of weeks slip by so quickly and what have I done….well I have just been concentrating on the snail theme, with as I have said before getting a coherent body of work together to present. I was looking forward to getting a lot done this week as the kids were at their grandparents for some of the Easter hols…but alas I was struck with a tummy bug and spent time in bed instead and now back at work we have a deadline and they are asking for extra hrs…oh time!Well I can’t moan about time in every blog so one brush stroke, one lino cut at a time and I will make some art. I did make a start on a new painting and print this week and tried to finish a failing sketch I started last week (now turned to the wall). I finished a new lino print last week and did some experiments with my printer and the last lino cut which gave me some interesting results. I use Photoshop a lot in my job (computer games art) and it’s very natural for me to take work tow and fro, from photo to Photoshop, to photo of painting, and back again. I am interested in making these transitions more obvious in my work and have found Aine Scannell’s  blog very interesting.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Well more time passes and I think I am making some progress. I can’t beat myself up about how much I am doing. I am doing what I can, when I can.  I have a new snail lino print that is looking promising I took some prints off, but need to cut away a little more to balance things up a bit. I also have a new snail painting on the go that touch wood is going quite well. I did a similar one last year that didn’t really come out how I wanted but this one is looking much more like it……whatever it is? I think it’s about direction they have to look like they are going somewhere it’s what interested me. I collected some empty shells the other week and tried to paint them it didn’t work I need the snail in there I think…..I was quite worried my little muses had gone. I couldn’t find any in the garden for a while …must have been hiding from the bad weather. I saw some the other day and was much relived. What sort of gardener have I become! The next Artist’s open studio trail meeting is next Tuesday and I am looking forward to seeing what the next step in the planning is, and meeting some more of the Artists. I will report back next week.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 I was going to report back about the meeting but it was postponed to the 6th of May so I have no new info on the event.On a personal level I am in love with spectra jell. I found an old tin, must have been from my collage days…..makes the tin 20 years old! And remarkably the contents were still ok. I like what it does to the paint and the way it handles. I will just have to watch I don’t over do it and ruin the paintings I am working on. I have also been looking at where to go next with the snail theme and how to develop things. It’s definitely about direction as I have said before, and about the trails, and the spirals of the shells. I have been playing with these elements in shells, photos and sketches but am at the moment a little unclear how to progress with the next paintings.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Well the postponed meeting that should have been on the 6th of May was eventually cancelled the rescheduled date clashed with another festival meeting. Emma rang around every one instead, confirming if we were doing one or two weekends over the festival and which ones. Also making sure we get our house/studio photos over to Dean who is illustrating a map for the trail with all our locations, pics of house, and later a small image of our work. That seems to be about it for now we will have our next meeting in September when things should hot up a bit. That means that until then this blog will concentrate solely on the development of my work, and as that is largely why I am doing the trail, and this blog for that matter, it seems apt.So what’s new on the snail front…..well it’s still going at a snails pace but the ideas aren’t drying up, just my time.I have taken some fab new snail photos over the last two weeks the best ones just the other night with some good trails. I haven't had time to sort them out yet and see how or what to do with them.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Well I have finally bought myself a scanner. I wanted one largely to get the images in my sketch book digital. So I can use photoshop to help me develop the sketches in there for prints and possibly paintings. This also means I can share some of my snail thoughts in this blog. There is as I have said before at least one snail on each page, one of which I then tag with my current thought/feeling and the date. I have spent the last week largely sorting out for the next pieces of work, ordering canvases and playing with photos. I think I am going to do a large horizontal split canvas piece on the travelling snails. I keep telling myself time is short and to work small but I don’t listen ;) I like the snails being small in a big space. That’s how snail thoughts should be.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 A bit lost…..I lost some time due to illness and now feel I am not making progress, bit of a crisis of confidence, and an oh what’s the point of it all. Ever feel like you are just trying to keep too many balls in the air. I will push on though. I sat down to a painting I had on the go yesterday and although I felt unsure of the image I just enjoyed the paint. I think that is enough to keep me going. Its half term next week and I may not get my painting time, but hopefully I will become bit more positive. The visual arts group for the festival have asked for small works for a fund raising art sale in October. I think I will give them some of my lino block prints…I just wonder if anyone would want to buy them!(is my lack of confidence showing….)... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Not very much has happened this week as far as my painting goes…well none, but I am not too frustrated because I expected it. The snails have been busy though they have now completely eaten the lupines I got for mothers day and are tucking in to the new summer bedding plants I bought. I have been trying to organise the next lot of work, I like to get every thing sorted out so when I do get time to sit and paint I can just get straight on. The result of this is I have about three or four works waiting to be started, and sometimes I change my mined before I get going…I might just jump into them all at once next week….gulp.I must get some more lino cuts on the go I have been working up some sketch book images (not snails!) and the “bit lost” photo that I think could make a good print. The lino cuts are useful as I have said before because once sorted I can sit and whittle in front of the telly with a glass of wine. I don’t know if my art has to slot in around my life or my life around my art, but its one or the other!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Well I didn’t quite get every thing started the will was there but the time not. I have however started the split canvas on the travelling snails which may take me a while, and I have 3 lino cuts drawn and ready to go…Very much looking forward to starting cutting tonight, oh a glass of wine, gardeners world and a good whittle.  I have definitely spent too much time thinking this week….I was pondering the comment I made last week about art fitting into my life, and in the context of the Open Studio about how much I actually do in my studio space. As I have said I cut my lino plates in the front room on the sofa. I do most of my prep and planning on my computer, at work, or in the dinning room. I photograph any where mostly my garden, and my sketch book usually resides in my knicker draw next to my bed. I do the messy stuff in my studio space, and carry the whole bucket full of snails around in my head. This said when I come to present my work, and working practice for the Open Studio Trail. My studio space being in the loft, maybe to set a (snail) trail through the house to represent this, omitting the knicker draw of course!We have a meeting in September I think I need to talk to the other artists especially those that have done this event before about how they present them selves.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Work and by that I mean my gainful employment in computer game art, is getting in the way! I have paintings on the go, and oh to spend a whole day in my studio. I want to take a day holiday to paint but I need all my annual leave to cover school holidays and spend time with the kids…..cant help feeling something has got to give.Juggling snail…carry on…I can slow down when I paint take time to make the marks, make each one at a time and in time I will make paintings.  I have started cutting small lino snails I have an idea to print them stamper style across…well across anything that works these are fun and quick to do, and I can just keep adding until I have whatever will be enough! On a practical note I need to start to think about mounting and framing up some work, for the sale in October and the pre festival exhibition in February. Maybe if I get some work presentable maby it will give me more confidence in it……or not…..... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Not a lot to tell this week, I seem to be in the middle ground, I have done the prep I have got works started and I just need to get on with them. I have to resist the temptation to start anything else. Any ideas will just have to stay as notes in my sketch book or snaps on my camera.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Things are still moving on at a snails pace, cutting, and painting, and drawing spiral after spiral in my sketch book. I have also started to collate some of my many, many photographs with the view to get some of them up on my web site, and maybe present some framed up along with my other work when I open the house and my studio. The photos started just as a way of collecting reference, but I like some of the images as they are, and others after being manipulated in Photoshop to pull out what interests me. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 Nothing much, I ground to a halt wondered about carrying on then had a good experimental printing session. The studio is full of unfinished work and prints all over the place and funnily enough its starting to look like it might hang together ok. If I ever get anything finished that is! There always seems to be something stopping me getting a little time in the studio at the moment, but hey ho I spent years when I first got “a job” doing none of my own work at all. So this is soo much better than that!I had an interesting problem when printing the other night, I think it’s a problem with my brain, but considering much of the snail work is about direction I couldn’t get some of the snails to print the right way up!! Maybe I was just tired or maybe they just want to go their own way! Much of my sketch book is full of a kind of automatic drawing, a technical detachment to try to get to what I feel. ( ok scribble) so I quite like it when things seem to take a will of there own. ( happy accident).... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 They are crawling every where and eating everything my muses. It has been wet and I haven’t been out to collect them up and relocate for a while. They are also crawling all over my studio but unlike the outdoor ones these don’t move, eat, and multiply when I am not there! The paintings are going well but slow (at a snails pace hehe), but the prints I enjoyed doing on second look are not pleasing me. I am not quite getting to what I want. When I look at then lying around on mass they look promising but when I went to tidy them up and looked at them individually I was disappointed. That should tell me something……… Here are some of my experiments any way. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875 It’s been a while………I came to a halt, between being busy at work and the school holidays I have not been able to do much. Things are lying unfinished and my enthusiasm for finishing has been slipping away. I want to make new things now not finish the old. I however promised work for the art sale in October (help) what am I going to send? It’s getting closer and closer and we go to France on holiday soon. September is going to be a busy month! I found more shells, sea shells all broken, small spirals exposed and twisted, loops and holes…….more shells more spirals. I have started to draw them in my sketch book, not sure what I am going to do with them yet. Probably nothing for the artists trail event unless I find more time. The trail meetings will start again in September too, I think it may rekindle my enthusiasm. Things are a little quieter at work now so I can sketch a bit in Photoshop and explore some ideas from my sketch book, which is good but its not getting the work in my studio done!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/414875