Through my previous studies with the Open College for the Arts (OCA) I’m used to doing an annual review that includes drawing together twelve images from across the year. As we move into a new decade it seemed a particularly pertinent point to reflect on 2019 and think about where I might be headed in 2020.
It has been a full, eclectic and eventful year for my creative practice. I started 2019 with the OCA doing the Digital Image and Culture module. I finished it in the MFA studios at UCA Farnham with eighteen other students and an amazing array of facilities.
This year also included the completion of the 52 week online collage workshop with Randel Plowman, an online abstract art course with Louise Fletcher, various projects prompted by #Kick in the Creatives, attendance at the Thames Valley Group of artists connected through the OCA, a group exhibition at The Lightbox Woking, inclusion in The Edge online magazine, joining a mail art project, exhibiting at the Social Research Association pop up research gallery, and being featured in the just released ‘Women’ book. I picked up a paintbrush for the first time in years and found I enjoyed it. I made more three-dimensional pieces than I have ever done before and produced a series of handmade books.
The images I have selected reflect these different activities and as such appear quite diverse but for me, they all have a connection through my interest in new aesthetics, digital art, digital afterlife and materiality. They are not necessarily my ‘best’ images so much as those that I think mark a particular moment – either a tipping point or a consolidation.
My learning points for this year have been:
- Put yourself out there – as they say, shy bairns get nowt!
- Owning being an artist, naming my practice has been very important
- Letting go of ‘compare and despair’ has helped grow my confidence in my own work
- Being open to critique, there is nothing more fascinating than hearing how others respond to your work
- I enjoy people interacting with my work physically. It was really satisfying to see everyone handle the vessels for Open Cut
- Experimenting, testing and letting ideas take shape without forcing them
- I get a lot from collaborating. It was great to work with Catherine at the end of DI&C, Jennifer and her mail art initiative, and Dana & Wasim on Missing Link.
- Research, research and more research
It feels like I have had a year of experimental play, I suspect in 2020 I will be focusing more on my core theme. I need to keep making connections and am thinking about how to develop my digital work further, possibly exploring GANs.
If it was good enough for Lee Krasner to change media in order to get inspiration, I’m sure it’s OK for me!
Here’s to an adventurous 2020.