It seems in the last few days that every man and his dog considered how 2014 went. Fair enough, I suppose the end of the year is as good a time as any for a review. So what do I think about my 2014? How, broadly art-wise, was it for me?
Just like every other year I can remember, I didn't get round to even a quarter of the things I meant to. All my good intentions tended to wallow endlessly in a sea of not-quite-thought-it-through-enough-to-start-yet, and not-sure-it's-quite-right, and any number of other out-of-focus states. On the sort-of-plus side, I guess I thought a lot. On the minus side, I certainly didn't do a lot. There were highlights - near or at the top was a lovely lady who bought the last of my 'Chalk and Memory' prints, the framed one, from the '20' exhibition at Warrington, and then came along to the Manchester Artists' Book Fair and searched me out especially to tell me how pleased she was with it. How confidence boosting was that? But that was a work from the previous year and she made it into a highlight, not me; over all, the judgement would have to stand as 'Should do more'.
Just like every other year I can remember, I didn't get round to even a quarter of the things I meant to. All my good intentions tended to wallow endlessly in a sea of not-quite-thought-it-through-enough-to-start-yet, and not-sure-it's-quite-right, and any number of other out-of-focus states. On the sort-of-plus side, I guess I thought a lot. On the minus side, I certainly didn't do a lot. There were highlights - near or at the top was a lovely lady who bought the last of my 'Chalk and Memory' prints, the framed one, from the '20' exhibition at Warrington, and then came along to the Manchester Artists' Book Fair and searched me out especially to tell me how pleased she was with it. How confidence boosting was that? But that was a work from the previous year and she made it into a highlight, not me; over all, the judgement would have to stand as 'Should do more'.
(This turned up on facebook, posted by Janis Ian. Yup, I'd go along with that)
So in 2015 that's the idea - to do more. There are events in the pipeline - book arts fairs in March and April, potentially a couple of group exhibitions in the summer, so really I have to do something, for those if for nothing else. But what I really want is to build up a body of work so that if opportunities arise I am, potentially at least, ready for them. That, and to experiment for no reason, just play about with printmaking and such, and see what comes out of it all.
And (I do hope I start this and keep it up) I intend to make a postcard-sized piece of work for every day this year. It won't necessarily be finished the same day - some are sure to be prints, and they mostly take time - but it will be started on the day and finished soon thereafter. I thought it might be a way to make me do something arty on a daily basis. Not quite sure what if anything I'll do with them, but the making of them is the main point. Here's to doing more.
And (I do hope I start this and keep it up) I intend to make a postcard-sized piece of work for every day this year. It won't necessarily be finished the same day - some are sure to be prints, and they mostly take time - but it will be started on the day and finished soon thereafter. I thought it might be a way to make me do something arty on a daily basis. Not quite sure what if anything I'll do with them, but the making of them is the main point. Here's to doing more.
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