This amazing video tracks Ian Ruhter on his journey capturing moments of time using wet plate collodion for the project, Silver & Light. This toxic process is increasingly being used by photographers due to it's unique aesthetics and returning the handmade to photography. His investment in this project is truly inspiring. Watch the video to find out more and check out his tumblr page here. http://vimeo.com/39578584
Bought a new but old darkroom!
With the help of a few individuals and the seller, I bought this great assortment of photographic equipment with an enlarger from eBay.* I hope to use this in my art practice once the garage has been converted into a studio but I'll have to wait until New Year. Really can't wait to put it to good use! I'm so grateful to the woman who listed this collection as it will help me develop creatively, especially in preparation for MA applications in the future (fingers-crossed London). *Images of equipment are not my own and courtesy of seller
Looks like I'm going to have to learn about colour processing too! I've heard that it's a pain but I'm going to be a bit experimental with it after I came across Mariah Robertson's painterly collages when writing my dissertation (see below). I'm so excited about these new possibilities when printmaking in the darkroom. #artnerd
Creativity Post-University
After my grandma died this summer, it made me realise that I hadn't felt the pain of losing someone properly before, although admittedly not the same extent as my mum and granddad. The loss to the family is ever present, especially when looking through family albums. This has provided me an opportunity to better understand Roland Barthes writings in Camera Lucida. While photographs are used to preserve moments in time due to our failing memory, they also act as reminders to the lost and absent. These photographs and memories are precious, but for some reason I end up destroying them in my art practice while rescuing them in my spare time on Photoshop. I think it's safe to say that there is some irony there. Here's some recent experimentation:
Lincoln University: Re-imagining Art Schools for the 21st Century
The School of Art at Lincoln University is currently holding a range of lectures throughout this academic year in celebration of their 150th year anniversary. The first lecture, 'Re-imagining Art Schools for the 21st Century,' looked at the progression of art schools from the Victorian age. During this time, artists were seen as skilled workers rather than today's creative thinkers. Although more often than not, we are creative dreamers! #LUFineart13 From looking at the history of art schools, the talk moved onto 'Where are we now? Where are we going?,' an important question considering the rise of tuition fees. Regrettably, this has added pressure to university funding, research and let's not forget, the students themselves.
During my undergrad, I struggled enough with the pressures of academia and the usual money issues, especially when affording art materials. These restrictions would often negatively impact my creative practice but I suppose that's the reality of the arts. This can definitely be an issue if you're a risk taker, which can often lead to more failures than successes. I particularly liked that this was noted in the lecture. After all, failure is just as important as success in learning and progression.
Maybe we should follow Thomas Edison's way of thinking on how he didn't fail but found 10,000 ways of not to make a light bulb. I guess the real challenge is to convince myself that failure is not the end, but a test of our determination and persistence, something that is essential when surviving as a recent graduate. Attending this lecture made me realise how much I miss academia already. It was great to be re-immersed in that intellectual environment again and I look forward to returning to it soon as a student and maybe one day, as a staff member.
See link: http://lincolnschoolofartanddesign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/lsa-in-session.html
Free printmakingonline membership!
You know what they say about the best things in life are for free. Well as it happens that's true. West Yorkshire Print Workshop were running a competition where they awarded free membership for a year to the 200th person to like their page. As I'm a social media addict, how could I miss the opportunity! Printmakingonline hosted by WYPW is a directory where they promote printmakers across the UK to galleries and the public. To see my page follow the LINK