Artists Practice Day, Camden Arts Centre, 8th January 2011

Page 28, The Sketchbook Project, 2011





On Saturday, I gave a presentation at the Camden Arts Centre Artists Practice Day, about recent drawings and installations I have created in the last few months.  I was amongst three other artists presenting their work; Si Sapsford, Sayako Sugawara and Duncan Marquiss, in the peer critique/ review opportunity - with other invited artists in the audience offering feedback and critique.

Despite being a little nervous, I very much enjoyed the experience - and comments from the other artists were very helpful and positive in considering elements of my practice to reflect on more deeply, or routes for developing ideas.  The opportunity to speak about my practice in a semi-formal manner in front of artists, was excellent practice in dealing with questions about unexpected or unconsidered aspects of my practice, of which there are always numerous.  Since graduating from Goldsmiths - which offered a plethora of extremely rigorous critique opportunities - I have only presented work to artist peers whom I have known for some time.  The experience has inspired me to set up more regular group discussion to support practices.

One element of my own practice I have been thinking about since in particular, has been my use of materials in drawings and installations, and the inexact manner in which I execute the drawings, often with blurred edges and uneven lines. I have always been interested in recreating or referencing these digitally 'perfect' images through handmade processes re- instating discrepancies and idiosyncrasies within my work, but it there a stage when this is too much and appears careless? We discussed the immediate nature of drawing - a basic tool to quickly replicate any visual or thought, and I am interested in the varying perception of drawing in this sense, as opposed to a process associated with consideration and longevity.

Otherwise this week, I have been busy sending off work to the Embassy Gallery Members Exhibition  in Edinburgh, which runs from the 21st January until 6th February 2011, and my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project Tour, which begins at the Brooklyn Art Library, NY on February 19th 2011.  I am still editing photographs of my drawings, but these will be uploaded onto my website soon.

Many thanks to Anna and Nisha at the Camden Arts Centre for organising and holding the Artists Practice Day.