ARTISTS TALKING

# 48 [7 August 2007]

The work and planning for the storytrail is mainly in place now. All it depends on now is good weather and people wanting to take part! Which isn't certain at all. However, onward! I am looking forward to seeing some of the work on a bigger scale across the woods and that will be happening whatever the weather. Over the last few days I have been looking at other types of landscape as I have been visiting family. So it will also be good to return to working in the lush Surrey woodland.

# 47 [24 July 2007]

I'm in the middle of making and planning work for a story trail in August and I am conscious that I am not reporting back as often as I might. Right now I feel that I need to look at things and read things and just be open to things before I do any more creative work for a few days. So there might be a pause before my next blog entry. But it doesn't mean that nothing is happening!

# 46 [23 July 2007]

On Sunday we went to Kettle's Yard to catch the Edmund de Waal exhibition. It was the last day. I've just been so busy I haven't managed to get along before. I really like his work. I have one of his pots although to have just one is to miss the point a little as he deals with accumulations of objects. Repetition and modulation are materials just as much as the clay. In the middle of a period of so many competing demands / voices it was wonderful to see something which was so calm and pared down.

# 45 [14 July 2007]

Today was a good day. It was billed as a 'Help make art day' open to the local community. There were very few who actually wanted to join in but a number of interested people. In fact the largest group turned up as we packed away having used everything up. It was beautiful light and no rain for a change and it was one of those times when you feel that the work is almost making itself. Although that ignores all the preparation and thinking and planning in favour of a kind of serendipity which isn't the whole truth.

# 44 [12 July 2007]

This afternoon I have been walking in Littleworth Common sorting out where the work on Saturday is going to take place exactly. It is supposed to be dry then but today the mosquitoes were out in force and I worry that we will get eaten alive at the weekend. However it helped to sort out in my mind where we will be and to a certain extent what we will be doing. I've got to put up some more notices before Saturday directing people to a meeting place. I want to concentrate on directly forming paper by casting it onto the ground but I am also aiming to carry out some of my original proposals; weather permitting.

# 43 [9 July 2007]

Of course glorious sunshine follows my decision to make work responding to the ghastly weather, rain and mud! Too late now, my work has taken on a decidedly earthbound approach. I have been pouring paper pulp on the ground to form sheets marked and patinated by the soil. At the weekend I am working on some large 'drawings' on Littleworth Common making temporary marks on the landscape using either torn paper strips or paper pulp. It will largely be decided by the weather which one gets carried out. its publicisised as a 'Help make art day' and anyone can join in. I predict that there will either be so few people involved that nothing happens or so many that we run out of materials straight away!

# 42 [6 July 2007]

I am working at St George's Chuch today. After all the educational / outreach stuff I am really looking forward to just carrying out some of my work which after all is what it is supposed to be about! The weather is making me have to reconsider some of the work I had proposed. Rather than thinking that there will be a time when I can trace lacy, meandering, hovering marks across the landscape I am going to have to face up to the fact that mud and water and damage / change will have to be part of the work. Which luckily enough I am excited by. However I have a feeling of responsibility to my local funders who probably still have an image of the work that doesn't encompass mud pies!

# 41 [2 July 2007]

What an interesting weekend! I have been at West Dean with 'The Making' shadowing artists running workshops at the Garden and Art event. There was also a series of seminars and talks by artists and makers inspired by nature. I managed to attend Junko Mori's talk and also later to assist on her workshop. It was good to meet Cas Holmes and I was able to help on a few of her workshops too. The event was very well run and in such a beautiful setting that even the constant rain failed to dampen people's enthusiasm. 'The Making' are an interesting organization initiating and delivering good quality art and craft educational workshops and projects. It was very interesting for me to compare what they do with what I have been doing. I have to say that I was heartened by the experience as it confirmed that I am on the right lines. In addition to the professional development side of things it was good to meet everyone involved and work alongside them.

# 40 [29 June 2007]

This was supposd to be a studio day but turned into an 'installing artwork at a school' day instead. It's amazing how long things like that can take. Still, looks good. I hope the children feel proud of their work. Tomorrow I am doing something at a slight tanget to the project. Ages ago I got in touch with 'The Making' who do educational projects with schools etc (nice website; www.themaking.org.uk) to ask if there were any opportunities to shadow artists running workshops. This was before I started spending my whole existence running workshops! However they got back in touch recently to say "yes", so this weekend I'm going to be doing whatever they want and having a look at how a bigger organisation takes on the kind of thing I have been doing a lot of recently. Which should be very interesting. Back to the ivory tower on Monday.

# 39 [28 June 2007]

OK, back to the rest of the project. Right now I am working on a couple of things. On the Saturday 14th July I am working in the woodlands with I hope help from local people. Given the foul weather that we are all enjoying there may be limited numbers, but those brave enough to come along will be helping to make work along the length of a path. If the weather is good we may be casting paper onto the ground to take back to the studio. The other thing I am preparing for is a story trail in August. I am working with storyteller Kevin Graal who will walk through the woods and tell one of the stories which has formed the basis of my 'Story Tree' work. It seems a long time off but isn't! www.papertrails.org.uk