Moving to a project sketchbook format as part of my digital afterlife project was surprisingly liberating. I am intrigued this was provided by a format that I had not necessarily found easy before now. I have also noticed from the bookmaking workshop at the Thames Valley Group last year, and some of the artists I have been researching that I am increasingly drawn to alternative modes of presentation.
Having worked through a stack of books on bookbinding and looking at different artists I found two forms that gained my attention. The first, a maze book, seemed to work so beautifully with the subject matter I have been exploring. The fading petals of a Hydrangea are meshed together by strands of silver and gold, in a material network. Such is the design of the book that it can only be folded and opened in a particular direction. The last few frames show if you try and open it from the cover the treads are tangled and unyielding. It has to be turned and un-wrapped so the contents are unveiled a little at a time.
The second format that appealed was that of the Flexagon. I was struck by how such a simple format could turn into something that offered so many possibilities. This example was prompted by #kickinthecreatives #abstractapril and I wanted to work with paint for a change. The title is “Elements” and each of the elements were painted initially as small squares (x16) then as the larger groupings (x4). I enjoyed working away from the camera and trying different styles even though it was not always comfortable. Moving into another medium helps me to think further about layers, colours and composition. It also slows me down.
These are both prototypes, and there is definitely potential for them to be improved, but I can also see them offering new ways to think about the themes I want to explore.
On a practical note I have once again wrestled with video making and editing. This was far from straightforward, not least because I discovered Premiere Pro wouldn’t accept the original .MOV files. I know the lighting is a bit uneven, and I did get some improvement, but felt I was facing diminishing returns after a while. I even managed to add a title and soundtrack for “Impermanence.” I think mastering the basics of moving image will continue to be of value and I am glad I have persisted even if the results are still a bit basic.