Pencil & Biro: The Underappreciated Medium!

Some more images...A few I forgot to put up from January and some new stuff- mainly the suff in pencil/biro...I forgot just how organic it feels just to use these simple materials...Sketching rough images is posibly the most therapeutic way to create art! Lots more pictures to come (I have a several different things going on at the moment...Exciting!) I also put some work up on Artbreak earlier today and people have already favourited my work or left me really positive comments/feedback! Some of which are current contemporary artists! I still can't believe it! Yay! My user name is EmmaJaneCorsan...if you were at all interested!

A Stumblin' I Will Go...

Some inspiring images found whilst using StumbleUpon

The third one is by artist/photographer Chema Madoz...well worth a look! As for the others, not sure, but I give them kudos!

The first one I particularly liked, the content reminded me why I do the work I do, I've felt a little despondent lately and unsure of my own ability (boo hoo, violins etc.) so it felt quite inspiring. I'm very tempted to print it off and hang it in my studio!

For Display Purposes Only!

Have got myself involved with an exhibition running in May at Unit 5 studios in Norwich. We've provisionally booked the 24th-30th May! We haven't got a specific theme in mind however all of our work can is loosely connected via "the home". I intend to make a bookshelf to exhibit my "books" and also make a coffee table using books as the base (currently on a mission to find some so called "coffee table books", as I would quite like to highlight the absurdity of owning books for display purposes only! The very idea shocks and appauls me, such a waste! I think it'd be very amusing to give these books a use like their name suggests!

However it isn't without contradiction that a lot of "coffee table books" are big, expensive art and photography books! I find it bewildering that a book which holds images of an art object can become an art object in itself by virtue of its purpose. "For display purposes only/Do not touch" comes to mind! It has made me consider the different purposes that different types of books can possess, especially as someone who struggles to let go of a book...I mean, I still own study guides that I no longer need! One of which, I thought of framing as a piece of art, the pages are covered with colour coded notes. It's odd that I had no qualms whatsoever about writing or drawing on study guides...I suppose it makes sense when revising but in any other book i'd view it as sacrilege!

Hmm...I fear I am digressing, back to the different purposes of books, I suppose you have:

Study guides - no explanation needed here I guess, although they are often sold on or handed down through generations to make use of the more than once!

Coffee-table books/books for display - you know the type, usually full of glossy photographs, with minimal text and as for those display books, I actually own a few (I do like to contradict myself!); nice editions/covers of books I already own, a lot of publishers tend to market huge leather bound versions of classics too.

Books for pleasure - probably the majority of my book collection falls under this, could be any kind of book.

Books for escapism - this is one of the main reasons i read books, to relax, unwind and escape the stresses of life!

Books for entertainment - fiction that entertains us, could be anything depending on what entertains you! (but also humour titles)

Books that educate/inform/instruct - self explanatory really, but a few examples might be cookery books, assorted reference titles and "how to guides"

Religious/Spiritual books - again, it's all in the name

Mini books/pocket guides - that you never actually keep in your pocket

Toilet books - yes, there are actually books marketed to keep in bathrooms...weird!

Gift books - books you receive as gifts, probably something marking your day of birth/'You are a Good Friend' - full of endearing/overbearing sentiment and cutesy pictures of animals in hilarious pairings which actually suggests that the person who bought you this gift probably isn't really worth classing as a friend!
reference books - dictionaries/encyclopaedias and the like (that tend to sit on shelves until a dispute during scrabble ensues!)
I guess a lot of these depend on the person.

And ofcourse...books for art!

I'm sure there are many more purposes of books, perhaps I will ask my fellow booksellers when I'm next at work. I'm sure someone out there uses books in a practical sense maybe as a doorstop/cheap alternative to fire wood/lining for a litter tray...maybe.

My musings will end here as I fear I will get on to rambling territory (as usual!)


Oh, also, I have recently started using Twitter, (yes,yes, I know...I've jumped on the bandwagon!) but if you would like to follow me just search my username: EmmaJaneCorsan

It Pays to Be a Fan Girl Sometimes!

A few things to report...

Hopefully, if things work out ok, myself and the part-time ladies on the course will be having an exhibition! Yay! I find it odd that it'll be my first, I am but an exhibiting virgin! Obviously this brings to light the fact that I don't have a great deal to exhibit...I need to get my art on!

In other news, one of my favourite contemporary artists at the moment, Mike Stilkey, replied to a message I sent him and I'm chuffed to pieces! Despite sounding like a total fan-girl he seemed pleased that I recognised him! If you haven't seen his work check out one of my earlier blogs...his website is there and he is amazing, he paints in a similar style to Egon Schiele and there's definitely an inherent humour within his work! I might have to ask him for some advice at some point!

Also have a seminar and private tutorial with an art therapist at 4.30pm today, should be interesting and might give me some tips if I decide to go down the art therapy route. I'm wondering what I might possibly ask him or if I should take in some of the art therapy tasks I did...or maybe not! Better get thinking...

I feel fairly relaxed at the moment regarding my MA but I feel somewhat guilty about this...I need some kind of pressure to get me working! Maybe the suggestion of an exhibtion will gear me up! I'm going to make a few more book sculptures methinks!

The End is Closer Than I Thought...

My research project...is dooooooooomed. The school I was working with has pulled out, I'm left with NOTHING. Just all the research and prep work I did...I even had all the materials ready. Ah well, it's all part of the learning process for next time I guess. In the meantime I need to think of something new to do...and fast! My brain is having a bit of mental meltdown though, the deadline is but a week away!

I'm surprisingly positive though. I even tried calling Red Balloon (the charity I used to volunteer with- do check them out as they are such a worthy cause and do so much for bullied children!). Unfortunately, they too are quite busy and unable to accommodate me. At least I have a lot to write about in my evaluation and I'm more than prepared for any future projects now!

Despite this strange optimism ('tis a rare thing!) I'm a bit worried as I might fail my unit. I might continue some more practical work as a break from over-thinking, uploading my last pictures has made me want to do some more actual art!

Little Red Riding Hood Book Sculpture (Unfinished)

As promised...more pictures!

Never Work With Children!

It's been far too long since my last post! I thought it was about time for another!

Well, so far in the RPP unit a lot has happened. My original proposal was going to be be; Art as a Way of Combating Stress in High Achieving Pupils.

It linked in well with my fascination of art therapy and was at one point on track. I had found a school, sent my proposal, planned "lessons", made up questionnaires and researched quite a lot of material...for a change, I was ahead of my game!

But then...it all came crashing down. I hadn't really considered the ethical implications and the school asked if I had ethics board clearance and what I could offer in the way of counselling if any psychological issues arose for the pupils...

SHIT!

That was pretty much my reaction for several days...sandwiched between panic and despair!

To make matters worse...along came half term, making any communication with the school difficult. Children eh? Maybe I should have looked into adult education!

So, last week, the realisation had dawned on me that I was going to have to rethink my whole project. I decided to take out any art therapy/psychological element in my research proposal and try out something new (and with only 3 weeks left- out of 10!)

I still intend to do work shops with the pupils although now they will be art sessions not art therapy and I will observing the effects that non-curriculum art can have on these high achieving pupils.

Now half term is over, all day I've been refining my questionnaire, attempting to re-do my proposal and writing a parent/guardian permission letter for all pupils who will be participating.

The sessions will be fun (I hope!) as I'm going to buy a book for each student and let them manipulate it! This will fit in with my own practice too! I'm hoping also to get parental permission to exhibit their work alongside mine at my MA show!

I'm looking forward to the sessions as they will also be good practice for me if I do intend to go into teaching eventually and I can always apply to do a PhD and do art therapy research in the future. At least all the problems I've had will enable me to be better prepared in the future and will give me a fair bit to write about in my evaluation at least!

So that was my quick update!

On the creative practice side of things I've made a little progress, I used glue to stick together 6 books to create a kind of book sculpture, then I painted it with white acrylic. It had been sitting in my studio for weeks as I had no idea where to take it next.

Last Friday I decided to paint onto it and began painting an image of red riding hood. It has given me several ideas;

1. Make a series of "sculptures" similar and paint scenes from my favourite books onto them (maybe fairy tale related?! Or to highlight narrative of a singular book?)

2. Make a shelf then use a book sculpture as a book end? Perhaps with new spines painted on to look like books?

3. To paint images on my sculpture, document them photographically and then paint over in white acrylic only to begin the process again (to highlight the layers of meaning maybe?)

I will post an image of the red riding hood sculpture soon, so watch this space!