This post is a record of a one-to-one tutorial with Jonathan Kearney on 2nd November 2022.
We discussed how things were going so far, now we are on week 5 of the course.
It was useful to really think about what work I wanted to make and what challenges I want to set myself. I am conscious that I have different branches of ideas that shoot off from one another and the process of distilling and scaffolding this, whilst maintaining a sense of exploration and freedom will be something to stay aware of and keep balanced. The balance may shift more one way than the other at times, but we agreed that writing the study statement should help with this, particularly as I naturally like to organise things. I envisage that forming some form of ‘order of events’ will help – even if I digress from this at times.
I considered how important the literature links are to me and I think the resolution on that is that they are pretty central, although I don't yet know to what extent they'll be resolved. I'm interested in the experience of women through history, as depicted in literature, and in relation to their expected roles - but also how this links with the experience of women today. I think this feels pertinent because of the particular life stage I'm at and how I'm sharing that with my female friends.
Jonathan identified that there is an overarching theme of ‘mixing’ in my practice. I like to (literally) mix and layer materials and processes, to work on many pieces concurrently – mixing up and connecting their outcomes - but I also like to mix themes and ideas (literature, ancient symbols) – as well as my own roles outside of my art practice. I have a job and I’m also a parent. I’m in a constant state of switching around between all these things!
I had been aware that I ‘change lanes’ quite a lot and this can sometimes mean my focus is split or distracted. However, I recalled my former tutor from my BA many years ago saying he admired my tenacity. We resolved that I should use this tenacity to push away a bit in terms of boldening my approach (I mentioned I’d like to do this in the form of experimenting working on a larger scale and using sketchbooks more creatively, among other things) but know that I can take a few steps back if it feels like the net is casting too wide.
In terms of next steps, we discussed:
Revisiting life drawing to improve technical skills in figurative drawing. I want to then see how these can be pushed into more abstract territory capturing movement. Jonathan mentioned Richard Smithamen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpH8T2CRlLI
Starting some experiments with the large roll of paper I have now bought and documenting this. . Using the processes and thinking of William Kentridge to inform me.
Retaining an understanding that the work I do has one job – that of to teach me how to create the next piece of work.