waiting, tidying, gathering

I spent most of today waiting for the man from Fedex to pick up my big box of artwork, to be delivered to Japan for the exhibition. I hate being stuck in the flat for these kinds of things...I've had bad experiences in the past, waiting all day for the man who never showed up, so was really anxious.

I needed to keep myself busy while I waited, so decided to tackle the big mess in my studio. As I went through the big pile of paper bits on my desk (a very boring task, where I go through all of it, deciding what to keep and what to throw away, when really I should just chuck the whole pile in the bin!), I thought about the words of Tove Jansson from her brilliant story "The Magic Forest":

"Gathering is peculiar, because you see nothing but what you're looking for."

I started gathering bits from my big pile, and stuck down the pieces. This is what I ended up with. I don't know what it is, but it helped pass the time :)

I think I prefer it cropped.

metamorphosis!

Because of my indecisive nature, most of my paintings go through a LOT of changes, and sometimes turn into something completely different. I turn them on the side, upside down, trying to work out what they want to be.

This one here....

...ended up as this:

And the one on the right ended up as...

this!

postcards

Here are the postcards I ordered through moo.com. My photos are bad, but the prints came out pretty good, so I am pleased :) I've ordered some more, with 3 additional paintings - I'm not sure whether these will arrive in time to send to the exhibition...cutting it fine, as per usual!

I might add these postcards on my etsy shop soon. I've still got my Christmas cards on there...oh dear, I need to update!

nearly there...

These two canvases are what I have left to finish. In the last 3 weeks or so of solid hermit-ing and painting all day and night, I'm almost there!!! Hopefully, I will have 10 small canvases and 10 large ones for the exhibition. I don't think I've ever worked so hard in all my life! I've gone a bit weird spending so much time on my own in my little studio without much contact with the outside world...it's really not healthy!

Here's some other bits and bobs I've prepared for the exhibition: I got some business cards made by the brilliant moo.com. (I've smudged my details here in the photo). I've also made some postcards with them, and I'm really pleased with how they've come out. I'll post pics soon...

I've made a little comments book to have at the exhibition:

My name stamped on stickers:

My super messy desk!

back at mine

Now back at mine, I'm finally making a bit of progress, hooray!

I think most of these pieces are finished...I think...? I'm resisting the urge to keep on making tiny little changes that noone notices but me.

at my mum's

Earlier on this week, my mum suggested I look at my work in a different environment, so I took my canvases to her place. It really helped, as the cramped conditions of my flat and studio don't offer much space to spread all the pieces out and look at them as a whole. A bit of distance helps a lot in seeing things I never noticed before. After a bit of rearranging and discussing, I've decided to break up some of the groupings of the paintings. I now have a clearer idea of what I want on each wall.

It was also good to get out of the studio and enjoy the great company and cooking of my mum :)

postcard

I received the postcards for the exhibition at 14th Moon Gallery, so here it is!

I'm still working on the pieces, with only a few days to go!!! I've finished about 12 canvases so far, but still have a lot more I'd like to include in the exhibition. It's one of the hardest things knowing when a painting is finished, knowing when to stop! Sometimes I over work things and when it's real painting, there isn't a history button where you can retrace your steps like in photoshop.

I owe many thanks, as always, to my partner, and my mother for all their honest critique, advice and encouragement, and for convincing me that a painting is finished! It's easy to become lost and obsessive in your own little bubble. My bubble is very small and messy, and I can't wait to escape it and join the outside world when this is all over!!

I'll post some more pics of my finished paintings soon...