Disappointment, and it's Christmas!

So, although I have had no notification from ACE, I have learned from Yvette, our Creative Economies Officer at Ryedale District Council, that my application for a Grants for the Arts has not been successful.  Yesterday, I was extremely upset; part of it due to the utter exhaustion of trying to sort the house out post-builders, in time for Christmas, but the rest just deep disappointment.

However, I will continue to make my work, have my solo show in April, (without, sadly, an accompanying catalogue) and carry on with my plans for next year but on a non existant budget!  I am beginning to bounce back, as Stef Mitchell said: it's the work that's important. 

So, watch this space, and my facebook page for more info and pics about my work and its development.

Happy Christmas to everyone who is interested enough to follow this blog.  I promise to provide great stuff in the coming weeks!


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'Tis the Season

To mildly panic!

However, thinking of my upcoming show, I have made myself feel a bit better by listing things achieved toward my solo show so far:

• Taken some initial studio shots for discussion /planning with photographer.
• Had some chats with Andy Dalton about the essay for my catalogue that will accompany the exhibition. (If I am successful with my ACE application).  Andy has come across a really interesting article that relates to my work and I am looking forward to reading it.
• Had 2 initial quotes from printer for catalogue, same size, different number of pages.
• Spoken to the designer about the publication, I need to arrange a meeting with him to set some dates so we are ready, should the ACE application come through.
• Made some new small drawings, as part of the works that will be available for sale in a browser.
• Planned the next stage of development for the prints I began 2 months ago.
• Planned to set up a small space for working on small pieces at home during this month, which will be very busy getting the house straight for Christmas.  I shall snatch as many hours in the warm as I can.  I will also use this time to make some preparatory sketches for the new paintings I'll start in January.
• organised the space for storing all the stuff I am going to retrieve from paid storage.  I can't wait to get at my art catalogues and books again, as well as my other plan chest and art equipment.

All in all, along with organising the house post builders, not a bad start really.  Tomorrow, I shall find the Christmas CD's!

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It is sent!

It is with relief that I am able to announce the pressing of the "submit" button for the Grants for the Arts application that I have been working on for two weeks.

The end.

But actually, it is

 

The Beginning . . .

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A Relief in More Ways Than One

So, Obama is re-elected President of the United States, I was up all night watching developments with unease to begin with and relief by the end.  Congratulations to him and good luck - he will need it.

I worked on what should be the final draft of my Grants for the Arts application yesterday, finished all the attachments, did the  final word count and read through.  It's a bit over the word count, but I think it will be ok.  It reads well, and all in all, I am hopeful for a positive response so that I can get on with what I am best at: making work.  It will go off to Yvette for the final scrutiny this morning, and all being well, I press "send" tomorrow. 

I shall be so glad to have the application out of the way as I desperately need to get back in to the studio.  I never did get those experimental relief prints finished in time for the open submission in Hull, so I am keen to keep on with those.  I have one of a series of four collagraphs based on the seasons started, so it will be good to develop them.  I have a few ideas buzzing around in my head for some drawings too . . .

 

Some of the drawings I have done in my Chinese notebooks would make great etchings, and I plan to start work on some next year, when I have more time to concentrate and brush up on my printmaking skills.  It is a long time since I have made etchings, but I had a great teacher in Paul Ryan at Basingstoke College of Technology, where I did my Foundation course, so I am sure it won't take me too long before I am making some interesting prints.

Meanwhile there is a massive clean up going on at home after the plastering was completed upstairs and I need to get the rest of my studio equipment and library of art books and catalogues out of storage because I really need access to them now.  So, lots to do and exciting times ahead.

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Keeping at it.

I have been working really hard on my Grants for the Arts application, re-writing and honing it with the support of Yvette Turnbull, Creative Economies Officer at Ryedale District Council.  I have a few more days unitl I press "send" and then the waiting and hoping begins. 

During the waiting period, I shall be starting work on the publication I am producing, in support of my solo exhibition in April.  Obviously, I can't do a great deal until I know I have been awarded the grant, but I can work with the photographer to get some great images ready and talk to my author about the essay in preparation, so that we can go ahead with the designer as soon as we hear.  All very hard work, all very exciting.

Found dust "paintings" about the place

Meanwhile, it is freezing at home and filthy with dust from the building work, but we are getting to a finished stage on the new landing area.  All we need are some floor boards and to get the guys in to sand existing boards in our bedroom, doors put back on, some paint on the new plaster and we can move our bed back to a newly insulated, toasty room!  After that we will call a halt while we save up to finish the new bathrooms, new sitting room and porch.  Want to buy any paintings anyone?

Found wall "painting" on upstairs landing

 



 

The images in this post are photographs I have taken around the house during the building work, images created by the dust falling on objects that I have then removed, and the wall "painting" is the shape of a mirror removed, and damp running down the wall; the colour revealed is when the lining paper was scraped back.  It is so similar to the process of painting itself!

 



All in all, a pretty hectic year:

• visit to Hong Kong and China
• continuing the house renovations (it seems endless)
• continuing with making lots of new work
• selection to some open submission exhibitions, including The Great North Art Show and East Coast Open
• move to new studio
• continuing voluntary work for Ryedale Artworks
• securing solo exhibition at The Gallery, Ryedale Folk Museum

Oh, and Christmas is coming! 


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Preparation, Preparation, Preparation - Mantra for the Month!

Spent the weekend writing the second draft of my Grants for the Arts application.  I am still sitting amongst dusty chaos at home, which didn't help and I got rather overwrought during the process on Saturday.  However, I turned a bit of a corner towards the end and it went better on Sunday and I hope that this draft covers all the necessary elements. 

The form itself is very well designed, with the tick list on the right showing what has been completed, half completed and what is still to do.  The help boxes for each section are also very useful.  What is not so helpful is the Arts Council web site itself; the search facility was not working and it took me ages to find anything relating to public engagement with the arts, some of the documents in their lists were not available either.  Not particularly helpful, but I have done my best.  To be honest, I am so fed up with it at the moment, I am not willing to make any more adjustments to the draft, but I am sure in a couple of days I'll be feeling more positive about it again and less exhausted!

I have next year's work planned out!  The first half of the year is going to be very hectic, with preparation for the solo show in April, the accompanying publication and new contacts to be made.  I am really looking forward to the challenges and to exhibiting work in new venues.  Most of all, I am looking forward to getting back in the studio and making work. 



Albums of my work and development can be viewed on my facebook page:

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