I'm in this big big space made up of three spaces connected - there is light and silence. Energy and fear. Blue Monkey shared space residency is at Casson Art School studios, Eastbourne College for two weeks. There are 5 artists working alongside me Angela Smith, Juidth Alder, Sharon Haward, Pat Thornton and Claire Shoosmith.
It's day 3 and my emotions have ranged from arriving in total exhaustion on the first day to a frenzy of energy and excitement - taking risks and feeling at home producing large scale work. There is fear of course that helps keep it turning over.
I am going through ideas I have been playing out in my mind for a long time now which need a larger environment these include 3 series: contact drawings, ash lines and alteration drawings
I started with cutting up ash line trace drawings with Roni Horn in the back of my mind, I like her pigment drawings which she cuts up and pieces together meticulously. I am experimenting with the trace drawings to see if they will go any further.
The first intervention drawing
I placed paper around the studios and taped it down in order to get going, I made a black pigment brush drawing and then 'shot' the pigment off the edge the result was a lovely trace line of pigment which resonated with the intervention above
The second day was pushing beyond and taking risks I took my socks off and stepped onto the big ash circle trying ballet steps around the paper getting pigment, ash and charcoal all over me and the floor the result was a huge liberating mess! After mopping up I re painted it with gesso.
...and then I put on the rollerblades. Wanting to make contact drawings where the body and weight make marks that are ambitious roller blading across the paper through and over ash was the idea.
Once I had gained a bit of steadiness by rolling around the studio several times much to the amusement of my fellow artists I started an inline drawing rolling back and forth whilst videoing it holding my phone. It was lots of fun and just what experimental art should be.
These works are very much a continuation of my interest in the landscape and its inherent materials. Working in Eastbourne very close to the South Downs has a strong relationship with these materials.
