New Designs

Starting Work

I was off to a good start, got the right lengths and tied the correct angle...

 I came back from the beach with some more pieces.  Then it turns out it doesn't want to let me tie the next piece in, as it pulls it flat.  So I either use nails.. which I was hoping not to.  Or I find a new medium already...

 Turns out scaffolding looks like a great prospect, as you can see, the angles work great, and the round bar is ideal...  Now to find some I can have lol.

Core V

Just thought I should write something about the group exhibition in college I have been slightly involved in.  We had the lights fixed also =).

The image above is by Cari, of a lamb.  Her artist statement is beside it.  

 Above is my piece.  My only painting, with pencilled in angles.  I wrote a short artist statement after reading through a draft of my statement of intent.  Could've done with printing out a blank comment sheet though.

The people who make up Core Five exhibited different pieces of works in various frames like this, in college.  An "evolving" exhibition meant that a gradual change or improvement would be noticed during the period of time the exhibition was running.

Copyright's

Something all artists must consider in some form or another are copyright issues.  This was an interesting read and explains a bit: http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag05/may_05/webspecs/grant.shtml

"Based on your experience, what are the top three things you think artists should know about copyright if they are new to this professional concern?"

"I'd advise they learn how copyright arises in respect to the work that they create. They should also know about how ownership of copyright works; for example, they should make sure that if they create a work on commission for someone else, or someone makes a work for them, that there is an initial agreement on who the copyright owner is, what the copyright owner can do with the work, and the specified payment of a fee—or no fee. The third area I'd advise is learning a bit about how to avoid getting sued for copyright infringement. This included how to incorporate other people's work into their work and not going too far into the area of infringement. Within these three areas, there are a number of sub-issues, but what I've said is a general introduction covering most of it."

Some more information here :http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag09/may_09/copy/copy.shtml

=] http://www.creativecommons.org.uk/

Earth Exhibition Photo's

The two photos below are from inside of one of those individual rooms, this one has Fred Baier's maquettes and sketches in.

 The work below is all of Fred Baier's sculptures from inside the gallery.

Below is a photo of Beverly Bell-Hughes' ceramics for the Earth Exibition.

Earth Exhibition

I went to an exhibition in Rhuthin not too long ago, where there were works my multiple artists ranging around the theme of "Earth".  I enjoyed the exhibition itself, yet alongside it there were works by Fred Baier.  It was his work that appealed to me more.  The gallery is really nice, also there was a cafe attached.  Another thing was that there were separate rooms that some artists seemed to be renting out for some of their work or to do work in.  
"Fred Baier’s work is sometimes described as demonstrating the principle that “form swallows function”. However, what Baier does is what Henry Moore did on the seashore. Moore found objects he could later twist into sculpture. Baier uses the computer to turn up three-dimensional forms from the seashore of mathematics."

- Peter Dormer

The photos I took at this exhibition will be in the next post =].

Something I've just been working on

This is something I have made today and photographed at certain points of adding the new pieces.  But now I have to get some of the other stuff for the blog sorted out.  So look out for another update very soon.

3D Sculpture Concept

Just a few photos here of something I did recently, but moving away from the perspective thing slightly.

They're taken on the beach because this is where I intend to create a large scale sculpture like this but made from driftwood perhaps.

Also I've updated my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61511279@N03/

Perspective Concept

I did this a while back. Can you tell how it is really? This was my second go at creating something using the measurements from a drawing.

Reflection

First off, it looks like I should be able to get into Chester with 240 credits.

Won't be volunteering in Canada. Might take a holiday to Rome with a friend in the summer though =].

http://www.isendyouthis.com/opportunities.aspx
This one is a good one to bookmark btw.

Well Easter came and went... I didn't manage to actually collaborate with another artist on some work specifically but I am part of Core V.

*New goals*

*Collaborate before the end of May.

*Get my artist statement redrafted a few times.

*Work on a CV

*Find something I am passionate about, for a series of works.

*Wrexham open is something to have a look at. I think I still might have time.

Good luck

Rhyl Library Gallery Exhibition

The exhibition was of Geoff Yeomans work.  The exhibition itself was titled "Out Of Iron" shown from 11th of February to 17th of March.
On the 11th of February was the launch of the exhibition from 12 - 2pm with light rereshments available and free admission.
There must have been about 20 or more works in all, pretty much all of them cost over £1000.
The lighting in the room is either from the windows high up in the ceiling or/and stream of tube lighting that ran around the whole room.  An invigilator was sat behind a desk and only a couple of other people entered to view works the whole time I was in there.
The curation was simple enough, it seemed.  It was like, big, small, big, small etc and finally there was a grouping of smaller paintings, framed.
I viewed each piece individually and took about 30 seconds studying them.  I concentrated on the brush marks, use of colour and the subject of the pieces themselves.
I can say, I was impressed from start to end.
The work was semi-abstract in that the forms were about recognisable, those that contained forms.  A lot of the works contained rusty colours, as the coastline he paints contains objects of iron which have decayed over the decades.

"I work as I walk, not knowing what I might find: Sight is touching at a distance, Painting is a love affair with a surface: Art is how a nation defines itself." ~ Geoff Yeomans - http://geoffyeomanspaintings.co.uk/

"Hawse" - 1994

The oil was plastered on thick, but then even thicker for certain objects, which then stood out and drew the eye in.

"Eclipse No3" - Oil on canvas

I was taken on a journey from the first few images, which included his self-portrait and his original explorations as he started to paint the coastline, to rusting parts of boats/ships and other objects that he closes in with and abstracts.

DACS

Did some research on an organisation known as "Design and Artists Copyright Society" DACS starts as a group of people who wriote up "The Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006" and campaigned to get it passed.

You can find out more about DACS and what they do here http://www.dacs.org.uk/

WIP

For the transcription "brief". It seems this is a good thing to do as a 3d person.  This below is made from "art-straws" not exactly what I was expecting when I ordered them lol but still, they do the job, and I've been using a glue gun to stick them together, it is not the greatest thing to use when doing fiddly bits.  AH well.  From here on I guess I will be making sketches, although this isn't finished yet  I will post it up when I've completed the "prototype" and from the sketches I will choose some to make like this and choose one to make big etc just to keep the thought process going and to lead to somewhere.

Action Plan

Ok.. well just had a look at some other blogs for some inspiration and I can't see any action plans.  So here goes.

To Plan. - Achievable goals include;

Once I actually have some work to exhibit then I will enter Bangor open, I guess that'll be within the year.
Rhyl gallery, I will approach sooner and when I have work I will find out if I can be part of an exhibition.

To be honest I just want to be a sculptor and I have my whole life for it.  In the mean time I would just like to keep practicing, making art and trying to get my name and work out there.

I suppose in this list I am to write the small steps (1 week) that include;
Subscribe to newsletter for opportunities,
Research Ba course in Chester,
Follow tweets etc.

Bigger steps;
I will collaborate with an amateur poet to create a piece of art work before Easter,
Oh yea, to declare myself, self employed within the year (this will depend on doing a Ba this year or next).
Local library exhibition within the year,

Finding voluntary work, by the summer,
Opening an art studio (group or solo) within the year,
Work with another artist before Easter (probably my biggest step, because of the timing... will I make it.  You will have to keep following to find out!!!!!!) lol.
(Omg, what is this feeling...? ambition?)


To Act, to take action. - To start with I began to follow gallery's on twitter (thank you for the links, Wendy). So;
https://twitter.com/#!/ArtWorksCymru
https://twitter.com/#!/artsjobsonline
https://twitter.com/#!/ARTSTHREAD
https://twitter.com/#!/ArtsPro
https://twitter.com/#!/ace_national
https://twitter.com/#!/_GALERI_
https://twitter.com/#!/Arts_Wales_
Awesome!
I decided I am not design orientated though.
I will certainly be going to Rhyl Library, probably try and get there tomorrow after college if I make it in time and have a talk with someone about exhibiting work and volunteering or any opportunities there.
I set up an Etsy, an Axis and a Flikr, I bookmarked; http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/, http://www.wai.org.uk/about-us, http://www.artsthread.com/how-arts-thread-works, http://www.qest.org.uk/ and signed up/followed/liked, those that I could.

Also I spoke to a friend in Canada... and if anyone is interested in local Canadian artists or art works;
http://www.darrellbellgallery.com/
http://www.saskatoon.worldweb.com/Saskatoon/Galleries/ (Directory)
http://www.thestallgallery.com/
http://www.usask.ca/kenderdine/home.html
http://www.akagallery.org/
http://www.rougegallery.ca/
And these are just in one city.
I am considering staying in Canada for the summer and might just volunteer there instead.

Sounds like research is under way and subscribing is done.

From what I understand/remember, the reflection section, is for intervals from now on.

Thanks.

Flickr

I joined Flickr last night, again.  If you are interested in seeing photo's of my own work then you can add me there.
Thanks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61511279@N03/

Intermission

Something to think about,

Poverty is the fault of society - a society in which the greedy and the cunning exploit and rise to the top. We want the same thing, we also want to climb the ladder and get to the top. And when all of us want to get to the top, what happens? We tread on somebody; and the man who is trodden on, who is destroyed, asks, "Why is life so unfair? You have everything and I have no capacity, I have nothing!".

"As long as we go on climbing the ladder of success, there will always be the sick and the unfed. It is the desire for success that has to be understood, and not why there are the rich and the poor, or why some have talent and others have none. What has to be changed is our own desire to climb, our desire to be great, to be a success. We all aspire to succeed, do we not? There lies the fault, and not in karma or any other explanation. The actual fact is that we all want to be at the top - perhaps not right at the top, but at least as high up the ladder as we can climb. As long as there is this drive to be great, to be somebody in the world, we are going to have the rich and the poor, the exploiter and those who are exploited." - Saravana Kumar


Coming soon, an Action Plan!!!

Self help list for uni

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat's

I'll start with Strengths; New Ideas,

                                    Once motivated I can be hard working,

                                    Working in a team,

                                    Writing.

                  Weaknesses; Painting,

                                       Cannot show enthusiasm, no matter what,

                                       Speaking in front of groups of people,

                                       Would rather work at my own pace,

                 Opportunities; Trying to get into an exhibition (solo or not),

                                         Enquiring at places for public sculpture(s),

                                         Renting somewhere for group studios,

                                         Keeping an eye on Arts council for Wales and England stuff,

                                         Searching in Art journals and magazines,

                                        Enquiring to Arts council for Wales for a grant if a great idea occurs or something.

                Threats; Competition?,

                              Money?,

                              Poor economic times?,

                              People losing interest in the arts,

                              The art community not reaching out to the common folk?,

                              Art being uninteresting and unintelligible to the masses,

                             

What do these threats lead to?  Becoming a homeless(bum) artist.

Enjoy your day =)

New piece

Finished wrapping my spare dowel with twine and glued the ends down with my glue gun by 2am lol.  It was really just to see what would happen.  Seems ok and I've made some notes and sketches of what can come from this, in my journal.  The texture of them is soft but rough.

Decisions, Decisions...

Okay.  Hello.

      Well, I'm almost considering not doing a Ba, but then I don't know whether to do a Masters eventually... how much better off is an artist who has to find part time work anyway?  I am also considering getting into writing properly, as in critically.  Maybe for a magazine or maybe just myself, a blog or website I guess is how to start.

      Maybe I could just advertise like crazy to get my name and work out there, enter in to as many competitions and exhibitions as possible and all over the country, see how far I get in a few years, once I've finished this course.  The future is so uncertain, I'd like it to remain so.  All I can do is wait and at least know I have options for when the time comes to make a decision.  Some days it bothers me a lot.  Some days I actually don't care at all.  Right now I don't know which is better lol.

Thanks, Stu

First update of the New Year

I seem to have a problem signing up and subscribing to the Arts Council of England but I managed to get The Arts Council of Wales newsletter now, although the first email wasn't very helpful, hopefully there will be a few to come that are of more concern to me lol.




The winter is for hibernating.




Also if anybody is interested you can follow me here also: http://sculptors-story.blogspot.com/ With more discussion of my personal work and a timeline of sculpture throughout the 20th century.