My details for the show

Just finished writing my details for the show, which opens a week today, how exciting! I am happy with what they say, just hoping they get a good reception now.

Work Description

Paper, biro, coloured felt pen and wire

160cm x 80cm

Balancing act

An extract from an observation period of two months, the piece displays strong links between waking and dream life. The piece illustrates the delicate balance of conscious, controlled decisions made in waking life, and the untameable nature of our dreams.

Artist Statement

 My medium is in transition; I do not have a particular tool that I feel tethered too. During this project, I have experimented with handwritten text, a medium we are beginning to see less and less as we progress though the digital age. I constantly feel overwhelmed with high-tech devices, so the handwritten diary entries began when I wished to uncover how much technology was influencing my life. The work soon took on a life of its’ own, and was spurred on when I introduced my dream recollections, alongside the daily entries. I have always been influenced by the unpredictable nature of dreams and how they can influence our waking lives.  Dreams are mysterious and bewildering, they can bewilder yet instil ideas simultaneously, and they refuse to be controlled. I have found that whilst you can control waking life, as much as you desire, a dream cannot be tamed. My study has been influenced by sleep patterns, psychoanalysis and Freud’s writing ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’.  I believe a dream is just a different way to think, a channel to process thoughts, interaction and daily events, without interruption. We underestimate the importance of dreaming.

We start to put the show up on Monday, I can't wait to see my work hung up.

Frustrating wire!

I was having a few problems with fitting my work together, so it hangs how it should, it was very frustrating! I tried so many different mechanisms, all from wire. Unsurprisingly, it was the simplest idea that was the best...

 Matching the back and front was complicated too!

I can't wait to see it hung up!

A Right Fine Mess

Tomorrow, I'm going to be putting work together for a show in the Bargate Monument Gallery. The show is the outcome of the Solent second years 'professional development' unit, that we have been studying this term.
Are you in Southampton? why not stop by and have a look?

Images of this terms work

You may have noticed that I haven't actually shown my work for my uni project for this term. Don't worry, here are a few images to give you an idea of what I've been doing- allow me to explain...
 The idea behind the project came from getting a new phone at Christmas, a Blackberry, with internet access and instant messaging. I had never had a phone connected to the internet before, and was finding the email and Facebook notifications overwhelming and intrusive in my daily life. It was then I had the idea to write down every time my phone went off, to try and monitor exactly how much the technology was influencing my day to day life. The project snowballed from there, and soon I was writing down, and colour coding every part of my routine. It became and overview of my life, especially when I began involving my dreams, that started because I  was concious of the fact that my phone is always near me, including when I am asleep.
Have a look at the images, (they are photocopies from the diary I was keeping) and see what you think. The work may need some more explaining, but for now, here it is.

Conwy Morfa Beach

Untill I came to University in Southampton, I lived in North Wales. I don't think I appreciated how beautiful the area is, until I started going back for the holidays.
Theses photographs were taken this Easter, at the Conwy Morfa Beach, and I think they are stunning.

New sunset (unfinished)

I am pleased with how this one has progressed, but it still needs a little bit of work to get it up to standard. As I said in the previous post, any and all comments are welcomed, what do you think? The sunset is painted with acrylic, and is 3ft x 2ft (36' x 24') (92cm x 61cm)

New seascape (unfinished)

Here is the outcome of the first attempt for this seascape. I say first attempt because I am not completely happy with it, so will probably change some parts when I next paint. Any comments on how I can improve it are welcomed.  The work is acrylic, and measures 30'x40' (76cm x 102cm). 

A rainy day

It is a rainy Sunday afternoon and I am feeling held back, by something out of my control.
Just before Christmas I was told that I have anaemia, an iron deficiency which means not enough red blood cells are produced. It is a common thing to get, and the main symptom is tiredness and general lack of energy, which I'm feeling right now, despite have hours and hours of sleep last night. I was told that it wouldn't affect me too much and that I could get rid of it easily, that's not happened so I'm going back to the doctor on Wednesday to find out what I can do about it.
The problem with it, is when something is out of control, I get frustrated, because I have to sit back and let something else dictate my actions. I am completely frustrated right now, there are a lot of thing I want to do today, but can't because I simply don't have the energy. Thankfully, working on my computer seems to feel okay, so today I will set about updating on here, and as of now, stop complaining, and get on with it. 
More to follow :)