I’ve read that as an artist, you should just never stop making. Then you don’t have to start again. An art practice needs to be practiced.
…but I stopped for summer. Life happens, school holidays happen and here we are, end of February, getting started again.
When I look backwards, there are starting points everywhere.
What worked well with my last body of work? (I purposely decided to focus on this rather than a more negative question, my inner critic is not helpful so I’m trying to put her on mute!)
What is important to my practice?
What motivated and excited me?
What am I angry about right now?
What could I read more about?
What materials would be interesting to play with this year?
What intentions do I have for my practice this year?
What about goals?
Its a start and its exciting me.
I am grateful to have the wonderful Judy Darragh as my mentor for this the year. I was drawn to Judy for her positivity and boldness. Her works make me smile. We had a great first session.
I asked Judy why she thought her work was so confident. I loved her response. She wasn’t classically trained, she went to polyptech. She learnt to actually make stuff. She thought the Art world would be open and creative, but found it to be stuffy, full of men and rules. She wasn’t trying to make money or fit into a box. Her work was a kind of “fuck you,” (my words not hers) to the confines of the gallery world. It exuded energy and a self-made quality.
I want to ‘make good work and share it.’
I asked Judy about finding ways to share my work more. She told me I have to make my own opportunities: ….find a couple of others and rent an empty shop window …Have a show in my garage (I live in Wellington, no on has a garage.) Apply for grants. Network. Go to art show openings. Manifest it. The sage advice …look out for opportunities and you will find them.
After our call I brainstormed things I could do to move forward and I began to action them.
Hello 2024, let’s go!