Thursday, 29 January 2009

still packing


Today my colleague is finishing these panels ready to take with me. It's tricky work, sewing such delicate silks.

Thank you Caroline :)

I feel so unsettled just now, my chest is tight, can't sleep, walk around with lists.................I'm now looking forward to the 7.5 hour ferry trip from Oban to Lochboisdale this Sunday. Time to think, watch for whales, read and sleep. Should be a beautiful sail, if it stays calm!

Wednesday, 28 January 2009

another reason for missing home


This is my son in New Zealand last year, when he was away travelling. I missed him.
He's back now :)
I think he feels differently to me about Arran.

Reflecting









I have hundreds of photos of my shoreline, when I feel homesick, I look at them again. As you can see, the mountain one was a photo I didn't take!
It's interesting to look at different shorelines in Scotland, all beautiful in their own distinctive way, full of memories. The land you see here is Kintyre, out to the west.










These are better pictures of where I'm going this weekend; Lochmaddy.
They show the gallery where I'm exhibiting as well, Taigh Chearsabhagh Heritage and Art Centre, a cultural hub of the islands. I've stayed in the artist's flat before, the sea laps the building walls at high tide :)
As you can see, it's a very special place.

Tuesday, 27 January 2009



My sketchbook is absolutely essential and is an integral part of all this.
The other image shows part of the process of creating the sea silks. Time plays a very important part in all of this. And patience................................

Maybe I should talk a bit about why I work the way I do.
It's all process driven rather than by an abstract concept. The actual processes involved take quite a while to work through, with several variations along the route to finding the answer. Some of these textile processes I've learned, others are adapted from different disciplines. Usually, there isin't a correct way to attempt an idea's visualisation, you just have to try it and see what comes.
With this body of work, spanning several years, there have been many dead ends where I just became bogged down with no where to go. Being alert to possibilities helps, not knowing where solutions come from or when to expect them.
I do keep a running sketchbook as a documentation of all the work's progress; I forget things :)
It's also good as a teaching tool as well as almost speaking for itself. In a fire, I'd grab it before my laptop...........well...............almost.
So why do it?
Curiosity. That burning question.............I wonder what happens if I.....................?
Makes for dull company unless you happen to be driven too.
I wouldn't change any of it and would do it all again.

taking down







Today I started dismantling the work for the exhibition, I leave for North Uist at the weekend.
This feels sad, yet it is time to move on with new work now. It's been a huge part of my life for over 2 years, part of my daily vision, so to have it disappear is difficult. It leaves a very large space, quite literally, in my studio which now needs to be filled with new thoughts and journeys.
Very very careful packing needed!