Hi AA2A artists,

To celebrate 10 years of AA2A schemes we are putting together a celebratory document in the form of a digital publication which we will promote and circulate during 2010.

We invited the 800+ artists who have been on AA2A schemes since 1999 up until 2009 to tell us their AA2A story and submit three images of their work.  So, although you are unlikely to have submitted your story as you haven't yet completed the scheme we hope you're not dissappointed and would still be interested to follow the digital publication - and take a look/show others when it is finished.  We will let you know when they're available on the main website :  http://aa2a.org/publication

Also if you missed my blog last week I'd like to mention again that we are looking for ten students from AA2A colleges/universities across the country, to become student advisors and help us spread the word about the scheme and increase the benefit to students.  Please mention this to students you're in contact with - it could be a great way to encourage people to follow your work on dotbiz too! We'd also welcome your feedback and ideas about ways to involve students - I've set up a new topic in the 'Main forum' on this site so you can add to the discussion here Go to the main forum AA2A     we would really appreciate your feedback.

Best wishes,

Georgia

Hi Guys

I have been blogging about my progress on my own blog From Perfume To Birdsong have a look and please leave me some feedback!

cheers Dean

Spending more time in the studio - running between wax pots and porcelain pieces - in different rooms so getting lots of exercise as well.   Intend making two exhibition pieces with a common thread.  Embedding lint in wax blocks, then working into them with soldering iron. Can't do this in the college as the fire alarm will probably go off from the wafting wispy smoke.  Not much better doing this at home, but at least I'm not poisoning everyone with the fumes.  Differing opinions as to whether paraffin wax is toxic - but I'm not taking any chances.  Face mask constantly on.  

Porcelain pieces coming along nicely - getting some good effects from firing with wrapped wire.  Exciting to see the results - different each time.  Just need to take some good photos which will appear on here eventually.

The studio was full today, as it will be for the next 5 weeks with graphic design students doing their printmaking module. It's a bit weird going from almost deserted each week to inundated, but i prefer to work in a busy space as a i like it when the banter gets going.

I haven' t been in for a couple of weeks due to work comitments so i was busting to get going. I think i'll have to moderate my plans a bit for the next five weeks though as it was a touch crowded.

I've been thinking about how the make the full length figures slightly more animated, as the drawn outline can flatten and make the figure seem static. I made a cock of registering one of the sections a few weeks ago and the sheets didn't align properly, but wabi sabi (happy accident - i think) intevened and i liked the way the form broke across the sheets. So I though I'd do it deliberatley this time and I think it works well with the diving figure.

I'll be away again next week, so so you in two.

Sometimes you make work and you are pleased with it. That's it. Sometimes you make work and others like it. That's great. Sometimes, I think, we need that validation. Well this piece has been validated. And had i not been on the AA2A I may never have made it due to the lack of opportunity. This piece is currently, as i write, in the Houses of Parliament, in an exhibition to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. After this it will be taken into the government collection.

I was really impressed with this font. I know i have done a few prints on a theme but the font had been lying unloved and untouched just gathering dust.

I am constantly frustrated by incomplete fonts. In this case no upper case W. I like this embossing due to the total lack of meat.

I guess that's what this whole experience is about - putting meat on the bones. And i have. Not as much as i would have liked, but i have. I came across this unusual font - chisel - and i rather like it.

I had been doing fine with the 1 colour screen printing process. I was confident enough to try more than one colour. I had been watching Lydia work very effectively on the screens in multi colours. It was inspiring. Like a one woman production line. No time to talk - screens to do - the ink dries - etc. Good on her for not being distracted and for being sooooo focussed. I could do well for a bit of focussing. 

Printing always takes longer than you think. Oh this'll just be a few minutes, i'll just knock this out...wrong. There's always drying, taping, filing, mixing, developing etc to do and each step takes its' own time. That's partly the charm of printing for me. I like that it's so hands on. So antiquated. it's the perfect antithesis for the digital age. Don't get me wrong i love my digital manipulations - but that's for it's own time and place.

Things i know i have to do are work faster before the ink thinks about drying. Get organised. And if i am screen printing then screen print and don't wander off to the letterpress.  One thing at a time. Enjoy and be IN the process. 

So i did all the registration stuff but what i didn't think about was i make all my paper random sizes so the registration doesn't really work, especially when i move the screens to and alter their positions for each separation. Doh!!!

Overall though, i am happy with the progress i made moving into multi colours. But it's still early early days