Monday 4 February 2008
February 4th 2008
Hi. I have been asked by the lovely and extremely dedicated Open Up Sheffield and South Yorkshire team to write the blog this year. I have never written a blog before, and I have to say, rarely read them. But clearly some people do, and I guess the format is up for grabs.
I am a ceramic artist (mainly) with a studio at Persistence Works in Sheffield. I do lots of other jobs too, mostly in education, and mostly to do with Creative Partnerships. I have a permanent battle on my hands to juggle this work where there is a direct correlation between going out and doing a job and getting paid, and my work in the studio where there is no such correlation. I also have a mostly losing battle in the studio work between making commercial stuff which I can sell more easily, and indulging my artistic meanderings to make what I want, regardless of the client group. I could also do alot more to get my work "out there". Which is partly where Open Studios comes in. Of course, it doesn't get the work out there, but it does give it exposure, and I love the contact with the public. I know not everybody does, but I have found the Sheffield audience pretty receptive to my work, and I love the comments they make about it. I make quite large, sculptural forms which are sensual and evocative without being representational - I love listening to the interpretations people put on them - and it makes me think about the work too. I like the fact that alot of the people coming round are either artists themselves, or have a keen interest in the arts.
Doing Open Studios also concentrates the mind. It is an opportunity to show your work at its best and to network. And its a deadline. I think like many artists, and others, I have a love-hate relationship with deadlines, but I couldn't do without them. They often bring out the best work - but sometimes at considerable cost to my health and well-being. On the other hand there is nothing so satisfying as working all out to get something done and then being able to sit back and appreciate what you have produced with your blood sweat and tears. And it makes you tidy up the tip that the studio has inevitably deteriorated into - in my case anyway.
I have not been in my studio much recently, having had alot of other stuff on. I am beginning to think now about what I'll be making and how to arrange the studio. I do in fact have some ideas for much more commercial work which has come out of some of the sculptural pieces I have done. And, whilst I can't, and don't wish to, wean myself off the large-scale stuff, I will be working on a range of smaller items. I also like, perhaps a bit esoterically, making buttons. My daughter has an idea for little figurative pieces which she wants to make - and it'll be fun having her there to help on the day.
Which brings me to another point - unfortunately due to staff shortages Persistence Works will only be open for one day on the 26th April. This is a real shame, and I just hope that people realise this and make the effort to come round on that day. There is always the possibility of phoning any particualr artist and making an appointment to visit, but that goes for the whole year and is not specific to Open Studios. Its so great when there is a real buzz around the building with visitors and artists.
Well, I went into my studio today and searched again for my lost/misplaced glaze recipe book. this has all the glazes in it that I have been using over the last five or six years, plus alot of names and addresses for my mailing list. I am gutted to have lost it - my only hope is that in fact I brought it home sometime before Christmas and in the holiday melee it has been misplaced. I shall sign off now and go look for it amongst my mountains of paperwork and books. Till next time...Sarah
I am a ceramic artist (mainly) with a studio at Persistence Works in Sheffield. I do lots of other jobs too, mostly in education, and mostly to do with Creative Partnerships. I have a permanent battle on my hands to juggle this work where there is a direct correlation between going out and doing a job and getting paid, and my work in the studio where there is no such correlation. I also have a mostly losing battle in the studio work between making commercial stuff which I can sell more easily, and indulging my artistic meanderings to make what I want, regardless of the client group. I could also do alot more to get my work "out there". Which is partly where Open Studios comes in. Of course, it doesn't get the work out there, but it does give it exposure, and I love the contact with the public. I know not everybody does, but I have found the Sheffield audience pretty receptive to my work, and I love the comments they make about it. I make quite large, sculptural forms which are sensual and evocative without being representational - I love listening to the interpretations people put on them - and it makes me think about the work too. I like the fact that alot of the people coming round are either artists themselves, or have a keen interest in the arts.
Doing Open Studios also concentrates the mind. It is an opportunity to show your work at its best and to network. And its a deadline. I think like many artists, and others, I have a love-hate relationship with deadlines, but I couldn't do without them. They often bring out the best work - but sometimes at considerable cost to my health and well-being. On the other hand there is nothing so satisfying as working all out to get something done and then being able to sit back and appreciate what you have produced with your blood sweat and tears. And it makes you tidy up the tip that the studio has inevitably deteriorated into - in my case anyway.
I have not been in my studio much recently, having had alot of other stuff on. I am beginning to think now about what I'll be making and how to arrange the studio. I do in fact have some ideas for much more commercial work which has come out of some of the sculptural pieces I have done. And, whilst I can't, and don't wish to, wean myself off the large-scale stuff, I will be working on a range of smaller items. I also like, perhaps a bit esoterically, making buttons. My daughter has an idea for little figurative pieces which she wants to make - and it'll be fun having her there to help on the day.
Which brings me to another point - unfortunately due to staff shortages Persistence Works will only be open for one day on the 26th April. This is a real shame, and I just hope that people realise this and make the effort to come round on that day. There is always the possibility of phoning any particualr artist and making an appointment to visit, but that goes for the whole year and is not specific to Open Studios. Its so great when there is a real buzz around the building with visitors and artists.
Well, I went into my studio today and searched again for my lost/misplaced glaze recipe book. this has all the glazes in it that I have been using over the last five or six years, plus alot of names and addresses for my mailing list. I am gutted to have lost it - my only hope is that in fact I brought it home sometime before Christmas and in the holiday melee it has been misplaced. I shall sign off now and go look for it amongst my mountains of paperwork and books. Till next time...Sarah
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