It's been quiet again. I think I am getting
quieter and quieter, going deeper and deeper underground. I am bored by social
media and more entranced by the things outside my door. I suppose this isn't a
bad thing.
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| Currently, what I find when I step outside of my door are platoons of corn stubs, shimmering Poplar trees and long, long shadows. |
So I have been getting
on with a commission of a wreath made up of Salvia
officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Marjorana
officinale, Veronica officinalis and Rosmarinus
officinalis plants for a new website.
Preparations are also
underway for my upcoming show. I have worked out the time I need to build a
collection of work together. I was aiming for February 2017, but with the RHS
also in contention, I might have to wait until 2018. Lets see... So I have been
very carefully selecting specimens for the job. I feel like one of those judges
at a summer fete judging flowers, fruits and vegetables, except my criteria are
slightly different in that I am looking for the perfection in
imperfection.
As for the RHS... well this has all gone awry in my heart. I still don't feel 100% happy doing what I wanted to do and all other ideas still aren't really fitting the bill. They are either too whacky, too difficult or not very me. I am finding it difficult trying to find something that I want to do that isn't going to be seen by the judges as madness. With this difficulty, I have decided to just step back from the whole thing and let the plant/theme/subject find me.
After drawing after
drawing, and fantasy session after fantasy session I have had a complete
rethink on what I am doing. I often find that this is how I come to most of my
pieces of work - there are those that come from dreams and fantasy and those
that come from reality. Dreams come first and I tend to stick with them. Darth
was a dream, as was the Coffee and Cos. They are usually softer paintings that
come with an aura of uncontrollable darkness. Sometimes I dream so much I end
up falling out on the other side and finding a simple solution in reality. I
wonder how it will be with the RHS? So no blogging about this for a while now.
Not sure what I will be writing about instead but I want to carrying on going
deeper within in order to create something incredible and I feel I can't do
that when I am spreading myself out on the web.
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| A spontaneous burst of pigeons - fabulous movement. |
Came across this the
other day... a diary entry before I went to the UK
"Drawing it out and
its the wrong size, only slightly wrong. Could go forward as is, but
not happy with the size and that will ruin everything. I know it will. I
got away with it on the pineapple, but not with this. I need Gertrude to be
big. Bugger. Totally pissed off I have wasted 3 whole days on
this, sitting in a boiling hot room for nothing. Part of the process. The
planning is so important and remember what Steven Moffat says -
'it is all the ideas that you didn't go ahead with that makes
good writing'. It's all the silly doodles and ideas that lead
to something ground breaking. I must remember this".
Hi Jess
ReplyDeleteWhile the RHS has some expectations/restraints, you have, been invited to exhibit. While whacky may be pushing the boundaries a bit for your first exhibits, never the less, be true to yourself and produce what 'is very you'. After all, it produces your best works so far & you know there are lots of us rooting for you.
I think stepping back at present, is a wise move with this focus and I have no doubt that the plants/subject/theme will find you. It also then puts this work on a different plane from your commissions and other 'work 'works.
I also think you are right to keep Steven Moffat in mind. Strong foundations can be created in a variety of ways but in my mind are essential for the creation and development of successful 'works'
Thanks Chris - I think you are right in getting the balance right between boundaries, as in having a healthy respect for the RHS's but also how I need to build my own. I think this is fundamentally what I am actually grappling with - my own. I have never really had to look at this professionally before. I usually act before thinking. Anyway, once I have a clear vision of how wide I can make my boundary, if at all I need one, then I will be able to go forward. I hope you are well in Sussex. I find myself missing the sea and the gulls.
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