Turning over new leaves

This monthly blog can show no new work as my unhappy body is still in recovery mode. All is improving and I have been swimming again, albeit very gently. The whole experience has forced a 'who am I and where am I going' rethink. At one point I thought I could never make art again, which brought realisation of how important it is to me. Now I am more hopeful, and have been wanting to kickstart a new search for individuality and originality, rather than the focus on technique which has marked the previous decade.

As a result, I have signed up for an Open College of Arts Printmaking remote learning course. I am hoping this will give me both feedback and direction, and make me work harder at keeping sketchbooks and digging deeper for that elusive origionality. http://www.oca-uk.com/

I am also working my way through the book 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron pub by Jeremy Tarcher/Putnam ISBN 1585421464 2002. The language is a bit New Age over the top, but many of the ideas are helpful. The author recommends writing a daily 'stream of conscousness' words. I haven't done this since I was 18 and influenced by Virginia Woolf but hey.. it's fun! I hope to add random drawings to this mix, but am stuck at present, so am working through a very basic book 'The Complete book of Drawing' by Barrinton Barber instead. This provides exercises which I hope will loosen me up. Page 1 suggested a different way of holding the drawing stick which was a surprise.

So in summary, I have thrown myself into another adventure, which those that know me will recognise as something I need to do quite regularly in my life. I will send postcards along the way. Meanwhile some pictures from snowy Dorset.

Season's Greetings to you all and Happy Printmaking