Post 26

Spent half day Fri and Sat in the studio. I've had the good fortune of the loan of a desk which has proved to be a beneficial addition for my studio practice. I've been acquiring a useful collection of collage materials since commencing the course. The images produced have been created in response to the brief to produce 3 posters...one for each conversation between Stillman and Quinn in chapter 9 of The City Of Glass...the first story forming part of The New York Trilogy.

I've been trying to think less about the dialogue and more about the use of materials. The latest selection of images have been produced on lining paper. There is something quite liberating on a material that has a less precious feel as opposed to that of the sketchbook. I think it is probably more to do with working in the liberating studio environment. There is less of a fear for the potential of making 'mistakes.' There is the practical issue of having all materials at hand. No fear off ink, pens, torn paper, spray paint turning my home into a disordered chaotic maze. The studio is my haven of creativity, the space that facilitates free flowing intuition.

I've also had an opportunity to begin to collage some computer printed typefaces onto the posters. I've somehow felt a reluctance to do this, usually using my own handwriting. I've the contrast between the collage typefaces and my drawing a liberating process. I think it seems to add something to the work, although I would like to continue using my own handwriting in conjunction with others.

Post 25

I'm still really wanting to try screen printing! Ideally, I would have liked to produce on of the posters as a print, but time and practicalities seem to be working against me...I wish I was living in one of those 3rd year houses so I'd be closer to the college for a year...on second thoughts!

I think I've shown the image to the left as part of an earlier post in its simplest form...pen on paper. I found myself talking to my partner in a state of irritation...how am I going to portray these passages as images? As I was talking, I was drawing on a scrap piece of paper, intended for the purpose of writing a shopping list.

Why do I choose the pens that I use? Is it because I like the feeling of the nib on the paper? Ellie introduced me to 'The Mitsubishi pen about 6 years ago. prior to that I would use the artist fine tip pens most of the time. Why not choose a different drawing tool? I've tried countless pens...others run out quicker, damaged nibs etc. Is it wrong of me to say that they are cost effective?

Why did I choose the drawing tool above? was it because it was close to hand? I could have used a brush tipped ink pen.

The figure hovers over what appears to be a liquid shadow, on the verge of jumping into itself?

The paper...was there a reason why, at that moment I felt a need to draw? was I using the pen as an external way in which to think through a problem? Is it valid as an illustrator to allow what seemed to be an unconscious doodle and turn it into a figure? Is it OK to transform the squiggle into a shape that resembles a person? Does this relate to the text in a legitimate way?

The colours....I'd like to try and produce some images via other means but this one has been rendered in photoshop. Why have I chosen them? I don't think a photoshop image does the book justice. Perhaps it looks a bit humorous? Is this the way that I want to put the book across to a wider audience? What would engage the types of people who would buy The New York Trilogy? Is this it? Would someone really commission this? Would I commission this if I were the owner of Bookers in Oxford?

Post 24

Here comes 'Mr Everybody.'





'Have you heard of one Humpty Dumpty


How he fell with a roll and a rumble


And curled up like Lord Olofa Crumple


By the but of the magazine wall,


(Chorus) Of the magazine wall,


Hump helmet and all?...(The Ballad Of Perse O'Reilly, Finnegans Wake- James Joyce).

I made this on a recent paper rolling course held at my studio, Mr 'Humptyhillhead.' It seemed fitting that a gust of wind sent him falling from the wall of a disused petrol station on the outskirts of Caistor, Lincolnshire. He's the great Mr everybody and Mr nobody all at once.

I was stood at the bus stop before work the following Monday, reading Finnegans Wake. I couldn't help but notice people edging away from me as I was unable to suppress a display of mirth, I mean boomeringstroms......