http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Derby Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:56:09 +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/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 My final year seems to be dissapearing as fast as my finances. We are just approaching Easter and I have a ludicrous amount of work to do.I had a draft proposal tutorial last week and the lecturer seemed a bit concerned with how much I had still to complete. I assured him I was on top of it and not to worry - I just have to convince myself now.I will be fine. I have completed 100 landscape paintings and I have 302 more to do.I go to Berlin for a week with the University tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing the art and also try to get some ideas for displaying the work. Once I am back then I will be straight back into it.Here are a few samples of my recent paintings... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 ANONYMOUS '08Student Postcard ShowI am currently curating a student postcard show exhibiting at Derby Museum and Art Gallery in conjunction with the University of Derby and the Art Gallery.There will be original postcard sized artworks and 3d works on sale in the main Gallery at the Museum and Art gallery from the 29th March - 30th March. All the artworks priced at £15 each.There are artworks created by leading international and Uk artists alongside works created by students at the University of Derby. All works will be displayed anonymously so you could get yourselves a real bargain.There is a Private View on the 28th March at the gallery from 5pm - 7pm. Free Wine and good company.If you would like to produce some artwork for this exhibition then please send the artwork (must be A5 in size, any medium, any subject) to Paul Hirst, 4 Spinners Way, Belper, Derbyshire. DE56 0HRDeadline for submission 21st March 2008... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Sorry I haven't posted anything since my initial posts. I have had trouble logging on but it is all sorted now.Things have been going rather slowly on the degree show front in the last few weeks. I spent a week in Berlin on a cultural visit with my University (Derby) It's something they do every year and in my time I have gone to New York, Barcelona and Berlin.Berlin was really great, it wasn't what I expected as a city, much more spread out and less busy than I had thought. The art was fantastic and there is more to see than you could possibly fit in a week.One painter's work I came across in Berlin was Herbert Egl. This was amazing work, since coming back I have failed to find much info about him, so if anyone has heard of him and has any suggestions I would be really gratefulSince coming back it's been the Easter break. I have still been in the Uni as I am painfully aware of the clock ticking away. I have prepared the canvas for some large paintings that I will be starting next week and I have been producing the early layers on a hundred of my smaller paintings. I have attached a couple of pictures to give you an idea. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Today was an interesting day and was a great experience. As part of fundraising for our final degree show catalogue the University of Derby has an agreement with Derby Museum and Art Gallery to allow us 3rd year students to have a 3 day show to raise money. We have been organising a postcard show called Anonymous 08 for the last few months approaching established artists as well as students to produce postcards in any medium for sale in the show. All the proceeds go towards our catalogue.Today we put the show up, we were kindly given the largest space in the Gallery and were left to our own ideas for the hanging without any interference. Thanks to all the people at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery for allowing us the opportuninty!We put up in excess of 300 postcards and the show looks really great and has some fantastic work.The Preview show is tomorrow (Friday 28th) 5pm - 7pm so if anyone is passing this neck of the woods please call in. There's FREE WINEWe also putting up a Postcard show at an Arts centre in Burton Upon Trent in May. The venue is the Brewhouse Arts Centre... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 As part of the degree we have a module called "Career in Practice" This module consists of us creating a file about professional practice taken from research and notes from lectures and talks from visiting artists. Another major part of this module is creating a portfolio that we can use when we have finished the degree. We are asked to either pretend to, or actually make an application for some funding or exhibition, residency, job opportunity, proposals, in fact anything that we feel would benefit our own professional practice.The Portfolio includes a covering letter, CV, proposal, Artist statement, images and fact sheet. This is assessed in May. We hand it in 2 days before our degree show starts.For my part I haven't decided what my application is for yet. I keep looking around for the ideal opportunity. I am working on the CV, statement and images at the moment.We are also required as part of the degree to hand in proposals for our final degree show by the end of this Month. These have to be quite detailed with technical drawings with the exact measurements. We have to considered all requirements from helpers to materials and lighting to budgets.All this written work as well as producing the art for the final show is keeping me really busy. I'm having to be really organised and I'm trying to manage my time more productively.Outside of the University arena I am also looking to prepare myself for once I have left the institution, sorting out groups and networking, enquiring about studios and applying for exhibitions and competitions, creating a web-site and promotional material, looking for opportunities to allow me to make a living when the student loan has dried up and the university safety net has been pulled away.I was reading other degree blogs and I was surprised to read that some students are having to do their dissertation alongside everything else that is needed to be done in this last semester. I feel really lucky that at Derby we have to complete our Dissertation by Mid January. (although I didn't at the time) I really don't know how I would cope if I had to do it now.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 No work done today for my degree show. I sorted out the final details with my Friend Vitor for the Postcard show at Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The Preview was this evening 5-7pm and was an absolute success. We raised about  £1,000 for our degree show catalogue and expect it to increase as the show continues over the week-end.Thanks to everyone involved in putting the show up - Vitor Azevedo, Jason Soloman, Stephen Ross and our helper Adam. Also thanks to everyone who helped on the night and a big thank you to Andrea, Louise and Maggie at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery for giving us the opportunity and being very accomodating.Monday I will concentrate all my attention to my paintings and should have more to show throughout the week.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 After spending the last few weeks doing work for fundraising it was such a relief to get back to painting this Monday. I have been eagerly awaiting this week as it is the week that I had pencilled in to start a large painting. I have previously made the frames, stretched and sized the canvas so it was with great excitement and trepidation that I set to work.The painting comprises of 4 panels, each panel is 175cm x 90cm and when put together creates a painting of 175cm x 360cm.It is early days with this painting and there is a lot still to do but I am very pleased with the progress so far. The frustrating thing is waiting for the paint to dry. I am working in diluted acrylic in large quantities and it takes several days for each application to dry. Luckily I have lots of smaller paintings to be getting on with. So I work on the large painting in the morning then leave it to dry and then continue with the smaller oil paintings.I am lucky enough to have 2 studio spaces so I can be working on more than 1 thing at a time.I have also got to finish my proposal for the final degree show this week and I am having trouble deciding what to exhibit. I am aware that I don't want to overcrowd the space with too many paintings but want to get as much as my work seen as possible. It's a conundrum!Exhibiting is a funny thing. I am really confident in my own practice and the work I am producing but when it comes to hanging the work I don't have the same confidence. Maybe this will come with time. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 A frustrating day today. I was all motivated to work some more on my large painting only to find that it was still soaking wet. Too wet to risk painting back into it. It looks as though it will probably take a few more days yet.It's a good job that I have plenty of other work still to do. I spent some time painting the smaller paintings, these are coming on quite well.I think I will use tomorrow morning to complete my proposal. I have finalised my Artist Statement and the technical details but I do have to complete my budget and a few other details.I applied for the Northern Design awards the other day. I uploaded 3 images online, it was the easiest application for a competition that I have ever done.I am having to think about the costs for selling my work at the moment and it is a very difficult thing to do.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I've been working from home yesterday and today, a combination of a lot of paperwork to do and childcare problems. I'm probably going have to work over the weekend painting as I am starting to get behind schedule.I finished my degree show proposal yesterday. It was more difficult than I thought. The artist statement is finalised, I have done technical drawings to show what my show should look like and I have costed the whole affair. This was a huge shock, adding up all the paint, brushes, canvas, paper, medium e.t.c plus the cost of preparing the exhibition, lighting, advertising e.t.c my costs since the start of the semester will have reached a staggering £975.00. I find it amazing that I have amassed that sort of cost and with the drip, drip effect have not noticed it. Some other students have figured out their costs and they seem to be considerably less than me, the cheapest having only spent £175.00I have the possibility for a solo show in Scotland at a small gallery, the show would be for the whole of July which is fantastic news. It takes the pressure off the degree show slightly in that I know there is something happening straight after leaving and gives me confidence for the future.I have designed myself a small brochure to send out to galleries and interested parties. It is in it's early stages but it will be great to have something tangible to give to people relating to my work.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I'd started to drop behind in my self imposed schedule so I ventured into Uni today (Saturday). I half expected to see other fine art students working seeing as we only have about 6 weeks left. No, the studios were empty. It was quite good actually to have the place to myself without any distractions. I had a very productive day.I finished the first stage of my latest large painting, printed out my proposal, sorted out my career in practice file and completed a sizeable number of small paintings.Although I am still slightly behind schedule I feel a whole lot better after today.I started worrying about my proposal for the degree show today, although I have finished it and need to hand it in in Monday morning I am not confident that I have got it right. we didn't really have any consultation on this, we were given guidelines to follow. We have exhibition critiques on Monday too. Our personal tutors go through the exhibition plan and critique our work at this stage. Critiques always make me nervous. I am confident in the work I am doing but I do not really like other people telling me what my work should or should not be. I know I should take criticism better but I'm just not made that way.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Not a very productive day at all today!Today's timetable - Had to hand in our degree show proposals 10amA few coffees11.30am Lecture/Discussion on approaching galleries - quite informative and interesting to hear different peoples views and goals.Lunch2.00pm Exhibition proposal tutorial - It went quite well I thought, they seemed pleased with my proposed exhibition, just a few minor points to address but I came out feeling quite happy. Just got to do the work now!More coffee3.00pm - prizing my large paintings off the floor without breaking the frames. What a nightmare, the paint had run right under them and fixed them to the floor surer than superglue - Successful operation - All safe and well.4.00 - Leave uni without having done a scrap of productive work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Nothing went right todayI t all started this morning when Jewson decided to charge me £62 for some wood for my stretcher frames. I was half asleep and didn't realise until a bit later that this was daylight robbery. I had to go back and get a refund. The real price was £26. When I got into uni 1 and a half hours later than planned I was informed that I couldn't use the woodwork workshop as the Art level zero group were having workshops all day.I decided to fall back onto plan B which was bolting the panels together on my larger painting. But I had bought the wrong sized brackets.I then discovered that the work on the wall of my studio space was still wet. I have nowhere else to put it and need to put the larger paintings up so I can paint onto them.I then spent about 2 hours trying to find the woman who can sign over the stepladders to me so I could make the walls more stable. Ridiculous, surely the stepladders should always be available. Anyway I couldn't find her in the end and used chairs, tables and window sills instead.Hopefully I should be able to get some new bolts and brackets tomorrow and join the panels together. I am hoping to do a long day and get the painting up on the wall so that I can paint it tomorrow night. So it wasn't that great a day but it was all forgotten when Liverpool beat Arsenal in the Champions League making everything seem good.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Had a really good day today!I didn't start until around midday. I had a few things to do early on and had to buy some bolts to bolt the large painting panels together.Got into uni and bolted the panels together and then got down to some serious painting. I had a fantastic session and came out of it feeling really good about my painting. I'm extremely pleased at the moment but will probably start picking faults with it straight away and by the time we reach Friday I will probably want to destroy it. (that's the way it usually goes anyway)I enjoyed the physical act of painting today. This was by far the largest painting I have ever done and I really had a good time putting the paint on with large brushes and even with sweeping brushes.The painting is 3.6m long and 1.75m tall.I am really looking forward to doing the next large painting... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 After the elation of painting on a large scale the last 2 days have seemed rather mundane. I have been making 4 new stretcher frames, each one 1.75m x 90cm. I find the whole process of making these very tedious and only hope that in the future I can afford for someone else to make them for me.All the exhibition tutorials seemed to go well this week and the work that is going to be displayed is so diverse and interesting. I can hardly wait until the opening night on 30th May. It will be a fantastic event with some really strong work.We get to know what space we have been given next week.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I ache all over today and I really need a good nights sleep to get some energy back. It's all the result of yesterday. A group of us from Derby Fine Art 3rd year (along with a few other supporters) did a sponsored walk to raise more funds for our Degree show catalogue. We walked about 7 miles down Dovedale until we cut across into Biggin dale. The weather was quite kind to us really, apart from a few hail showers we got off quite lightly.An interesting thing I have discovered at University is that it is the same people who are involved in every event and fundraiser. The same people who work so hard and put so much in whilst the same people just can't be bothered or are not in the slightest bit interested. These people will reap the benefit of the small hardworking group's efforts without even having to raise a finger. Is this right? is it fair? probably not. It's just the way it is.It would be interesting to find out if this scenario is common to other universities or wether it is a curse affecting my year at my university only.Anyway the walkers did brilliantly and many thanks to James who put on a wonderful spread at his hotel. Biggin Hall afterwards. As always I am astounded by his genorosity. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Another week closer to the show and still falling behind schedule.We had an Exhibition meeting today to discuss the timetable and important stuff concerning the show. Funny, only half of us turned up. We got the dates that we are given our spaces - May 6th - They are all ours and we can start putting up the show ready for the 30th which is preview night.We have helpers from the first year Fine Art course who are assigned to help us with putting up the show, painting walls, floors e.t.c - It all seems too close for comfort. I stiill have loads to do yet.I finished stretching canvas over my new frames then I bolted them together to make a large panel, ready for sizing tomorrow.My problem at the moment is finding the time to work into my journals, hopefully once this large painting is finished I will be in a better position to work on the journals. I have lots of information, drawings, ideas etc to put into them but it just needs to be collated and inserted.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I'm best part through yet another week albeit a productive week so far. I've been working into my next large painting and reached the figure of 150 of my small paintings. I now only have to finish this large painting and 50 more of the small paintings and then i'm ready for the show.I've got to start photographing my work properly starting tomorrow. I've borrowed a tripod for my camera so I will spend the whole of tomorrow taking shots.Good news on the fundraising front. The Hilton hotel have agreed to supply us with red wine, white wine and sparkling for our degree show. All thanks to Jo Roper from the Fine Art 3rd year!We are exhibiting the postcard show again (with new cards) at the Brewhouse Art centre in Burton upon Trent on the 10th May if anyone is passing that way - £15 per card and all proceeds go to our final degree show.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 All the photography that I did the other day is just rubbish. I set up a tripod in a well, naturally area and took around 100 photos of my work. When I uploaded them onto the computer they were dreadful. They were all in focus with great detail but the natural light was a bit too strong and light reflected off of everything and looked just horrible. I guess I'll have to do it again but in a well naturally lit (but not in direct light) spot. I don't know if this spot exsists but I'll see what I can do. I'm getting really fed up of documenting my work, I'm just not very good at it. They come out either blurred, distorted, washed out with light or just plain dull. Has anyone out there got any tips for photographing paintings? please!On the plus side I reached the end of the first stage of my second large painting. I'm really happy with it and can't wait to start painting into it with oil paint.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I discovered today that I have been given the exact amount of space that I had asked for. Brilliant! and I've also been given the space I wanted, my own studio space which is great as I don't have to worry about moving the work eleswhere and I can concentrate on continuing the work in my space.I had a minor disaster with one of the panels of my latest large paintings. The panels had stuck together because of the acrylic paint between the joins, it is what I had expected and has happened before but I got a little clumsy with the knife when seperating them and sliced a 6 inch gash on one edge! Oops, I've glued it back down and hopefully this will do the trick. Luckily it is in a part of the painting that I had planned to overpaint so not too much damage done.I'm still having problems photographing my work. I don't know which is the lesser of two evils - A reflective glare over areas of each painting or a duller image. I have sought advice from some photography people so hopefully they can help me out. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I've more or less finished my second large painting. There is still a bit to do in places as there is on the first one but I shall leave them to dry for a few weeks until I move into my show space then do the finishing touches in the space.I feel a lot more confortable now that I have broken the back of the large paintings. I am on schedule and have enough work to show. I have two large paintings and 150 smaller paintings. The target is 200 so I've just 50 more to do in the next 4 weeks. I will only actually display about 100 in my show but I want to be able to be selective.I still have lots of work to do in my journals and my career in practice as well making more work for a solo show that is coming up in July at the Chamber Art Gallery in Moffat, Scotland. I am also taking part in the Wirksworth Festival, Derbyshire so I will need to continue making paintings for the time being.Our photographer is with us on Monday to shoot the work for the catalogue. I really don't know what painting or image to use. I don't know what is best, to have a shot of a whole painting or a detail shot of part of a painting. Decisions, decisions.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 I feel in quite a comfortable position at the moment. I have enough work for the degre show but I will continue to make more work to allow me to be more selective.I painted 12 small paintings on Friday and had more success photographing my work. My one concern is my journals. i am seriously behind in these and I am finding it hard to manage them. How can you explore and research when you already have done the work and have a clear idea of what your show is going to be like. I find it difficult to be creative in them atthe moment... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 It's a really strange week so far. We all got together Monday morning at a meeting, the major happenings were outlined. We get our spaces on the 6th. we get student helpers to assist in sorting out our spaces. We all meet on the morning of the 6th and we are told everything will be fine.Maybe I am a fatalist but I can't help feeling something is going to go horribly wrong....It can't be this straightforward can it?We are struggling to come up with a name for our show. We had a list up on the notice board with suggestions but a lecturer took it down as the suggestions were too abysmal.I have been trying to find find fixing for my paintings. We have a few issues with the exhibition boards that we are using. They are really poor quality, lightweight monstrosities. They have a thin board front and back and the gap between is filled with a corrugated cardboard so it is very difficult indeed to get anything to stay fixed for longer than a day. Ideally everything should be double skinned to allow fixings to go all the way through but unfortunately they are only single boads.We are putting up the next postcard show event on Thursday at the Brewhouse Arts centre in Burton upon Trent. The exhibition starts on the 6th May and an opening event takes place at 12.15pm on Saturday 10th May. All proceeds go towards the Derby University Fine Art Degree show.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 The last week was not very productive at all. I got a few paintings done early week but that was all.The postcard show took more time than I expected it to do. 2 full days in total setting up. To be truthfull I was extremely dissapointed with the majority of my fellow students. We asked for help in putting the show up and we only had the three of us. Vitor, Patrick (Husband of one of our students) and myself. To be quite frank I am fed up of doing all this hard work so the rest of the group will benefit.Anyway, enough of the moaning, the show got put up and it looks really good. We start on the 6th May and we have a get together on the 10th May 12.15pm at the Brewhouse Arts centre, Burton upon Trent. I will post some photos up later.I had a small setback on Saturday morning. I received a letter back from the New Contemporaries competition informing me that I hadn;t made it through to the next stage. To be honest I wasn't too surprised (just dissapointed) I had a problem with the work that I submitted. I found it very difficult because of the timings that the work needed to be available in putting my current work forward. They clashed with my degree show so I submitted images from last semesters work. The onlyproblem was that this work is not fully resolved. Oh well, you live and learn. In retrospect I should have submitted my strongest work and if it got through then I would have had to deal with the problem.It does seem odd though that a graduate student competition requires submission during degree show times. Surely it would be more sensible to give us time to finish our degrees before we apply.We all meet as a group on Tuesday with our first year helpers, whose help I will be so grateful of. To discuss the matter of setting up our shows and timetables. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Today we were actually given our spaces, well correction. If they existed we would have been givent them. We had a meeting this morning with our 1st year helpers to find that only half the people had bothered to turn up..and incredibly that includes the third years.The space we are exhibiting in has to be totally canged around and we made a start on it today but unfortunately we only got a few spaces done. We have to work around the fact that other courses in the area won't move out until next week and some who should have been out today just didn't bother. It all seems a little political. Anyway, the goog news is that my space is virtually built. I hope to tweak a few things over the next two days and then paint the walls on Friday...all being well. I'm finding it quite difficult in this run in to the degree show. It's all a bit too sedate and slow paced. I must admit I am used to getting on with things as quickly as possible by putting in some good hard work but this affair seems almost static. It's really frustrating as I just want to get in my space, finish my paintings and then hang them. I suppose patience is not my strongest point so i'm just going to have to keep biting my tongue and groaning inwardly.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 It is really slow going at the moment. All the spaces are being re-built for the exhibition, none of them are properly finished with loose boards, missing supports and panels etc. It's all a bit of a mess really. Some students decided to paint their spaces today even though they look far from finished.I went into the space this afternoon as I had to look after my little boy this morning. It took me about half an hour to locate some of my equipment and also to discover that most of it was missing. It has always been a problem at University. Certain students do not have any equipment and think that it is fine to use other peoples stuff. I wouldn't mind so much but it is never put back and often gets lost. I discovered that my drill and bits were all missing, I recovered my hammer and screwdriver but lost a quantity of wood that I had put aside for shoring up my walls. I also found one student happily painting her space with the remains of my emulsion paint that i use for priming my canvases. Sometimes it feels like I am funding more than just myself to be at Uni.I will be in the university tomorrow. I have a few panels to secure to make a doorway and then repair the walls before painting which should mean that I can get my large paintings up on the wall and start painting back into them early next week.I have a huge list of stuff to do that runs alongside the show. Career in practice, proposals, journals e.t.c I think that the only way to get it done would be to take a few days off. I'll have to see what the progress is next week. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 With this beautiful weather I'm finding it quite hard to get motivated. I was in Uni on Friday and the space moved on leaps and bounds. My helpers (and a few others who were at a lose end) helped me get the space sorted ready for us to paint on Monday. I am hoping that I will only need a couple of coats and fingers crossed I can start putting the paintings up so I can work back into them.We still haven't got the any wood or paint but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they arrive early monday.The mood in the studios is quite tense at the moment. Students are worried that there has been so little progress, hopefully this week will be better.We had the opening event for the 2nd Postcard show on Saturday at the Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent. It was really dissapointing, there was only a very small turnout, we sold some but not as well as we hoped for. I think the weather was probably mainly responsible for that. It was hot and sweaty and nobody wants to be indoors when it's beautiful outside.I had another dissappointment yesterday too. I received a rejection letter from the John Moores painting prize. This hurt more than the New Contemporaries rejection. I was more happier with the painting that I submitted and thought I might get through to the second round at least. Alas it wasn't to be. At least by the time I finish Uni I will be hardened to rejections. I'm still waiting to hear from the Northern Design prize. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 It really feels like I am making progress now. The last 2 weeks have been frustrating, it involved a lot of waiting but finally we got all the materials and equipment we needed. We all have our spaces and we can all get on with painting the walls, making alterations and displaying the work.I feel like I've got ahead of my schedule. My walls are secure, painted and ready. I have put my large paintings securely onto the walls and I will take the next few days painting back into them again.I had to drive over to Nottingham yesterday to pick up some hand made frames from a framer that had been recommended. The frames are great but the journey there and backk is a complete nightmare. This has to be the worst city to drive in. I have driven around London many times, Birmingham, Sheffield, lots of cities and never really have much of a problem. But every time I drive to Nottingham I get lost, get stuck on one way systems, stuck in traffic jams, get people with road rage. Oh it's such a horrendous place to drive. Although it is a beautiful city.I've still neglected my journals, I am just not finding the time to work in them much. I have lots of stuff to go in them but just need the time to put it all together.There just seems to be a million and one things to do before the show.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 Today I finished all my paintings for the show (Let's hope they dry in time)It is such a relief to have finally completed the work that I am using. That's not to say that I am ready to rock and roll. In fact I have an enormous amount of work still to do, but that is all about displaying the work.The big question now is where do I store all my materials and equipment? I have absolutely no room at home, no studio to move in to and in around 10 days time, no space at university!I havejust over 1 week until assessment so I think from now on it's going to be busy, busy every day.Good Luck to students who are having their shows in the next few days!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 With all my paintings finished I can now concentrate on the display of them. I spent 3 hours cutting my small paintings to a common size. It was utterly tedious but was a necessity. In the timeframe I only managed to trim around 40 so I have another 60 to do for this show but another 100 for the future.I've been struggling to find some mounting board for my panoramic landscapes. I need a length of 130cm and noone seems to have anuthing larger tha 96cm. I may yet have to join two boards together.I have been amazed by the lack of activity in our exhibition area over the last few days. There has only been a small handfull of students working throughout Thursday and Friday. It scares me that i have so much to so, why don't the majority of my colleagues? maybe i'm just not as organised as them.I met with my wonderful friend Carol today who has a Gallery in Derby (THE PRIDE PARK GALLERY) It's a wonderful space and has a great atmosphere. She has recently set up this gallery and is starting to have solo shows over the summer period. These should be great events with opening nights on the last Friday of each Month (I will be showing my work in August so the opening night will be at the end of July) There is some really interesting work at the moment so if you are passing the area pop in and see Carol, she is a lovely woman who will give you a warm welcome. I'm sure she would be interested to look at your work for the future. If you are looking to purchase some contemporary art then Pride Park Gallery is certainly worth a visitThe address is Pride Park Gallery, 4 Brunel Parkway, Pride Park, Just off roundabout 3, Derby. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 This degree show lark is slow going. I put up work, then I take it down again as it isn't straight. I put it up and take it down again to put in another position. I continue doing work that may not even be included in the show. It's all good fun.Thanks to our Head of Art at Derby Uni - Scott Green. He pointed out that my paintings were too low which affected how they viewed. I must admit that I had a bit of skepticism, but moved them anyway. I hold my hand up and say. Scott, you were right, I didn't think it would make that much difference.The exhibition area is slowly starting to change, more people are in working, the spaces are all secure, work is going up on the walls and panic is starting to set in. We have to get our work completed this week-end. Our assessment starts on Tuesday morning until Thursday morning when we are allowed back in to tidy up and make last minute adjustments then Friday is the big day. It's strange, when I think of the degree show I must admit that it is with a mix of emotions, nervousness, excitement, sadness and a touch of fear. It is the end of an era, but the start of something new. Our walking reins will be cut free and we will be off into the big wide world. Whether it is with faltering steps or a mad gallop remains to be seen. What is certain is that I will miss the university, the group, the structure and the safety net that these provide, but I am ready to leave. I need to leave, to recharge my creative batteries, to wander free, unfettered and unrestricted, to make my own mistakes and not to have to worry about trivialities like grades, critiques or even conceptualising every damn thing I make.....for a little while anyway, until I grab the next safety net that comes along  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374 It's all over finally. The last 3 weeks have gone incredibly fast. The show was last FridayThe show seemed togo really well. There was an amazing amount of visitors and it was quite chaotic. To be honest I don't really know how it went really. Lots of people looked at my work and seemed to like it. I guess we'll have to see over the next few weeks if anything was generated from it.This week-end has been a real strange one. Luckily I have family visiting so managed to keep busy and it has kept my mind away from art. But after the hard work over the last semester to suddenly to come to a stop is a shock to say the least.I have lots to be getting on with anyway. I have a few shows already planned and some applications to write. I am also looking at setting up a group with some other artist from my degree course. This looks promising and I look forward to it all going forward.Uni is all over bar the shouting. We have to Invigilate over the next 10 days and we meet up with the external examiner on Thursday. We then have to take the show down on the 11th June.In the meantime I'm going to have to get a job to start paying the bills. I guess this will be my last post for the degree show blogs unless something important happens over the next few weeks. I'd like to thank A-N for giving me the opportunity to talk about my work and also the people who have left comments on my blogs. I'd also like to thank the staff and fellow students at Derby University it really is a good place to explore your art.Thank You... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/416374