Little and not Often!

This seems to be the way my blogging goes, for my followers i am sorry i dont post often, but hopefully that im now a free person i will post more often. I have recently finished my degree, had my final show as a DMU student.

A few photos below.

Me and my framed pieces

Sails.

Times (close up)

 Final Main piece.
 75 indervidual sails. all threaded up. and attatched one by one with fishing wire.

 looking up.

Artsist statement for above project.

Everything in life affects the outcome of my work; it could be a walk in the sun, bad news in the family or even a pile of offcuts in the studio. The world surrounding me and my experiences are what motivates and influences my work.

My current body of work is greatly influenced by a person so close to my heart, a father figure, a best friend and an amazing role model, my Nannan (my grandmother). In May 2011 just before my final show as a second year student the family found out my Nannan was suffering from terminal lung cancer, with only a short time of 3-6 months left. Hitting me hard I struggled through and my Nannan came to see the show, I was so proud she had travelled the 89miles to come the show after such bad news; she hadn’t and wasn’t giving up. I hadn’t yet found the strength to be quite so normal all I could think is this is the last show of mine she will see. I became withdrawn, until the 10^th of August 2011, when I rang my Nannan as I do every night, I recorded the time I called, 8.32 pm and the call lasted 8.32 minutes. I’m still unsure as to why I did this but I carried on till I felt I no longer had too. These numbers are the basis to my work, the glue that holds it all together, just as my Nannan holds my life together.

Capturing the positive attitude of my Nannan carrying on as normal, showing no weakness, I wanted my work to show strength and structure but look fragile at the same time. This was to resemble life, how the strength can be weakened, the structure can change and it can all fall apart from one element changing. These elements are shown in my choice of materials, the fragile handmade paper, thin yarns and invisible thread. All so delicate, but hold together strong.

It is also a big part of all my work that it’s not self-explanatory, that people don’t know what it’s influenced by, so they can make their own story or just appreciate its beauty. I don’t wish for people viewing my work to feel sad because it is based on bad news, but to know that it has benefited me in many ways. Kept me busy through the hard days, and given me and my Nannan something to talk about during our nightly phone calls. 

Thats it for now bloggers. keep a look out, and check out my website too. www.ajsmixedmediatextiles.com

The beginning of the End

Bloging again, hi strangers, i know its been a lil while since i last typed up.

below is a photo of a sample of what im creating atm, its handmade felt paper, then shaped by punching holes along the sides and threading cottton through. small detail shows just how thin my paper can be.

Well its all coming to an end now. time sure is going quick, myself and my friends are feeling the presure, producing totally different work for my degree show, compared to my exhibition of 2011.

I like to keep things fresh and always try new things, although i had lernt the skills i have used in this project from as far back as college, i have addapeted them and pushed them further, creating some exciting things. happy with what i am currently doing, I will be more than please to be relieved from this pressure, i cant wait to be an independent maker, and make things in my own time create my own deadlines, and most of all not have to have so much legwork behind such simple beautiful ideas.

Art in my eyes is something to relax me, creating new things is what makes me, me. What makes me happy. It relaxes me, i dont mind having a story behind my work, but a story thats easy to tell thats simple and doesnt give you a headache, displayed in a simple picture book. Or even better id love my viewers to look at my work and create there own story, give my work meaning to them.

All welcome to my final exhibitiom at DeMontfort uni in leicester. private view 15th june,5pm till late. the show is open to the public then for the week. will be much quieter after the private view, enjoy the work just a little bit more then.


(appoligies for spelling mistakes its been a long day) :)