Blog posts

Communication Breakdown
The bad weather last December seems to have thrown everything up in to the air and I haven't been to college for a long time. I still have my own timetable to work to, as far as my own artistic ideas are concerned, and I have therefore had some chiffon silk printed and am in the process of having it turned...  show more
The moment of privacy has well and truly passed
The Moment of Privacy  Has Passed exhibition is well and truly underway and the visitors  are non-stop. Visitors are very keen to engage with the sketchbooks and to take full advantage of the opportunity to handle and look through in the sketchbook on offer in the Library Zone.   Some visitors have returned several  times to make the most of...  show more
be less critical more often etc..
Be less critical more often Trust the you of now Go to an extreme, move back to a more comfortable place Are there sections? Consider transactions You are an engineer The above are some of Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies I drew whilst in the Maidstone UCA Library this week with fellow 'resident' artist Stephen Turner who'd introduced me to them,...  show more
last printing sessions of 2010
I had a couple of busy printing sessions just before finishing for Christmas. I did some more screen printing - I particularly enjoy over printing on some of my earlier prints. There is a bit of the unexpected about how two completely different images will work together - or not!!! I also did some more etching with silver foil plates,...  show more
Work In Progress
Happy almost Christmas! So I know this is kind of the opposite of a blog but heres a load of pictures, work in progress etc. I keep meaning to write a bit everyday but then I dont so sorry about that! Ive been working on making lenticular images but to be honest Ive been having troule getting to grips with...  show more
SecretPortraits
So recently I did some illustrations for Poke london for the Orange secret portraits project where you illustrate a persons tweets, well here's the link; http://thefeed.orange.co.uk/2010/11/29/secret-portraits/ I should be uploading some of the work soon!  show more
December
Time seems to be speeding past so quickly and with a delayed start to the residency I don’t feel I’ve managed to do very much. However I’ve made a start on a suspended installation. Sourcing the materials has been a real challenge. So far I have 60 test tubes, cuffs and a selection of metal hoops on my bedroom floor -...  show more
Day 14 (and 11, 12 & 13!)
Day 14 has been a sort my life out kinda day. trying to get over the hiccups of clamity that have been stalking me this past week. Day 11 was a full day of screen printing induction that in the end produced great results. A new series of drawings of topless lady octopuses (i know thats not the correct plural!) is...  show more
Emma's aa2a products in the shops
The fabric I initially printed at the beginning of my aa2a scheme has now been made into my first two Worktop Protectors. Grandpa's Fuchsia and Sweetpea are part of a limited edition collection of 20 hand screen-printed fabric onto organic cotton. The really exciting part  is they are now on sale in my first stockist Debbie Bryan's beautiful shop in...  show more
Back to work...
So, after starting a new job, and having some kind of horrible cold for the past two weeks, I finally managed to get back in to the college, to start work on the first of my triptychs. Not a lot to show for it yet, but I'm hoping to spend a bit more time there over the next couple of...  show more
ASSEMBLY @ BEARSPACE
Oooh look; your all invited. A new show opening up this Saturday at BEARSPACE in Deptford, South London; promises to be very exciting, showcasing some of the best plinth based contemporary sculpture, created by emerging Artists. Displaying multiples, singulars, assemblages and porcelain; consider this a snapshot into current trends in new types of sculpture. Get down there, have a look...  show more
busy printing
Another good day at lancaster [Cumbria Uni] this week. Some new screen prints and 'etchings' on silver board. I had to cut my printing session short when heavy snow started falling. I'm still at the stage of mark making and experimenting with printing images which I can then start to work back into. Just started this week stitching and manipulating...  show more
Snowbound in Treeton
I was meant to have a crucial meeting in High Melton today, to discuss how my plans for silk scarves were going to be incorporated into the work of some of the more advanced students in the Fashion Department. No chance! I am snowbound in Treeton and I am sure that High Melton is just as bad! My last Blog...  show more
First few weeks
I promised to blog! A rather shy and private sort, I’ve spent years avoiding the writing on that ‘wall’ but, for AA2A, I’ll have a go. A “bullet blog” to cover my first few weeks at Canterbury.   Peter Hofer, AA2A co-ordinator welcomed me and showed me around UCA – thank you Peter, good to meet you. Fantastic facilities –...  show more
research and development
going back to basics at the moment.. Ive had these ideas for my bump series for a while but Im concerned Im being too literal in my thinking. Ive had ideas in myhead of how I want the finished images to look but while theres no right or wrong answers I dont think this is the bestway to approach making...  show more
First Post
A bit of a re-post already, I have just made live the latest (fairly lengthy) post on my own personal blog. As I've also just uploaded quite a few images to four albums here on AA2A which describe pretty much the extent of what I have done throughout 2010, I thought it would be a good idea to link to it so that any...  show more
Dance group
Today I made my first visit to a second year dance group.  Due to the snow only 3 students managed to get in but that was to my advantage.  Fewer students gave me more of a chance to keep track of who was doing what.  The speed and variety of the dance moves was a challenge to capture and I was...  show more
Day 9 & 10
Day 9 felt super productive.   Got in early, 8:45am, continued working on my mould. Had meeting with print technician ahead of print induction next week. Did a little more on the painting on found paintings, nearly complete. Joined the student demo against rise in tuition fees. A great number turned up to march, from school kids to lecturers. The...  show more
loving technology
so my first shoot went well, I cant really upload any images due the nature of my work- not that its top secret or anything I just mean to make these lenticular images I have to put together 9 images then use a crazy algorythm to make the image so the individual shots are pretty boring and technical for now...  show more
Cannot Wait
I cannot wait til I get to use the clay and print making facilities at Nottingham Trent University.  Christmas is approaching.   I wonder when we'll be able to access.... Cannot wait.    show more
The Quality of Being Nothing
Hello fellow artists. I wanted to share with you all a link of a project I collaborate with Anna Mawby.   Please have a look at the site to see what adventures we explore! Click HERE.  Enjoy!  show more
New Poster - Letterpress and Linocut (see 'exhibitions')
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test blog
This is my first go at 'blogging', so just posting a short test to see if I can manage it!! Have been into the print department for several screen printing sessions now. Have been using photo stencilling up til now, but I am going to try some other methods of mark making tommorow. Also planning to have a go at silver board...  show more
Constant Movement and Negative Space
Third session with the 3rd year group.  The students were working through a sequence of movements to music along the lines of 'Getting ready for the day'.  As they rehearsed and performed I was able to focus on the movements of individuals.  The constant movement meant that no gesture was ever completed in my drawings but the vaguely figure shaped...  show more
First studio week
During this week I will use my studio space, at the Uni, to advertise AA2A scheme and my project, trying to engage with the art students. Hopefully, some of them will reply to my invitation on writting some words about being an art student/artist. I would like to thank all that have already replied :) I confess I am still...  show more
Day One- Back in the Studio
Well, this is my first day in the studio and Im very happy. Im not really sure about much at the moment, I sort of know the kind of images I want to make and I kind of know how to do it so hopefully it will work! This blog will probably be a bit sketchy, Im not sure how...  show more
Day 7 & 8
Day 7 was presentation day. Seemed to go well enough for me despite being ill and having to follow Andy's popular presentation/performance. Respect to him, he did put his all into it. Alan and Clairta both did great presentations too and it was fab to finally see and hear more about both their works. The other thing blocking up my...  show more
Flipping Flocking
I've had a disappointing couple of days flocking onto glass without the use of a heat press it has been hit and miss with an iron. Whilst previously succesfully flocking onto glass using a heatpress and tubvinyl, now I create larger panels I am reluctant to risk the glass by putting it in the press (could be very costly). As...  show more
prologue
I finally have my camera back in working order so now I guess I can begin. I'll keep you posted....  show more
Chelsea College: settling in
During my time at Chelsea College I will be developing a project in and about Millbank, where the college is located, to bring together people who live, work and study in the area. The college is next to the River Thames, Tate Britain and the Millbank Estate and close to Parliament and government ministries. The college was previously the Royal Army...  show more
First steps
After a slow start I have now made 2 visits to a 3rd year drama group at High Melton.  Last week I presented a folder of paintings and drawings by way of introducing myself to the group.  They turned out to be a splendid group and very amenable to allowing me to photograph and sketch their sessions.  My first efforts...  show more
Day 5 & 6
Completed new works for Globe Gallery. More details to follow. Rummaged with some success for goods in a props cupboard. Appropriated some found texts. Sorted piles of odd bits of paper works and drawings. Spend a great time happily plundering through the Uni library. And continuing to prepare images (drawn & found) for screen printing and etching soon.  show more
The First Step
With the clocks having gone back and the foul wet and windy weather starting to take hold, that 2 hour trip by public transport to High Melton had started to look unattractive, so I was thankful for a bright day on which to get my project going. With the help of all of the staff that I encountered today, I...  show more
Progress
Its been a few weeks now since embarking on the AA2A. Been managing to get in at least one day a week. Wish I could do more but work committments take me elsewhere. So far have felt very welcome at Teeside Uni, with all staff encountered being open, friendly and happy to see artists using the facilities. Have been mainly...  show more
Day 3 & 4
Waited in for parcel. Cleaned my studio. Had some meetings at uni. Discussed ceramic possibilities, exhibitions, health & safety and performances. Had a cuppa coffee. Positive progress made from all that.  show more
Back in the swing of things
After 3 days of printing I have successfully printed 2 designs Fuschia and Sweetpea, ready to be made into my first two prototype worktop protectors. I have taken them off to be laminated this afternoon and am expecting them back in 2 weeks along with my debut collection of digitally printed splash-backs. The worktop protectors are designed to be part...  show more