All is revealed...

So, now Christmas is over I can reveal what all the secrecy has been about. (I realise that sentence just made me sound like a bit of a scrooge but I'm honestly not! I love Christmas!) One of the presents I made as a gift was a stitched and painted doll of a vintage tattooed gentleman. I liked it so much that I actually thought it could be a great inclusion to my exhibition in April. Not this exact doll you understand but other dolls that I have made that reveal a little bit more about me. I was impressed with the final size when he was completed. He's 27 1/2 inches tall, which was not intentional but just sort of happened. I think dolls such as these would be an exciting addition to my exhibition and would give me the opportunity to work in fabrics.

I am drawn to the number three again when thinking of these dolls. Maybe there could be an Emma, Judy and Terry Baker doll? I was actually thinking about my obsession with collections and groups of objects and where this may have come from. To tell you the truth I was lying in bed and instead of sleeping was giving it some serious thought. I think there is safety in numbers. I like to fill my home with numerous collections of found, vintage treasures, perhaps to keep me safe. This could be why I like to group things together, so they themselves are safe. I also realised in the same early hours of this morning that I like to group things in threes or multiples of threes. The work I did for the first MA exhibition was all in groups of nine. Since the death of my brother there are only three Bakers left. Could this be where the three comes in to it? Maybe I need to keep reminding myself that there are just the three of us now and so what better way than to create three dolls of me, Mum and Dad.

I have probably just raised more questions than I have answers but I feel they are important ones that I will continue to ponder. Whilst I'm thinking I shall do some drawing work. That's a promise.

Just a quick update as the journey continues...

I have been diligently keeping my sketchbooks recently, not least because I've been sharing them with the Foundation students and today was our show and tell. Isn't it funny how you always want to be able to create the things you haven't! There were elements of the students sketchbooks that I thought 'I wish I'd made that.' You always seem to want to create the things that you haven't or couldn't!
I've actually found some more sketchbooks but they're even smaller than the A6 variety I have been using recently. I wonder if I'm just taking it too far now?
Anyway, there are still a few things that I'm quite excited about and keeping tightly under wraps until I'm ready for the big reveal...I hope it'll be worth it!

That time of year again...

So, it's that time of year again when my thoughts turn to Christmas presents! As I tend to make a lot of my gifts I generally ask myself why I didn't plan them all sooner....However, I have some great ideas this year and am planning to start this week. The reason I'm writing all this on here is because these ideas link directly to my art work...I can't believe I didn't think of them sooner! I've actually only thought of them recently due to a particularly bad migraine I had yesterday and today. (Stick with me. This is going somewhere I promise!) Whenever I have a migraine I have to go to sleep and end up having very vivid dreams. It was in these dreams that I dreamt about a Christmas present I had made! (I obviously hadn't. It's a dream you know!) So, anyway, before this gets even more confusing, I woke up and thought that it would not only be a great present but should also be included in my MA final exhibition. I got so excited that I ordered all the equipment I needed and will make a start this weekend. I will post again soon and all will become clear! Now I'm off back to bed until this migraine properly clears up and who knows what I'll dream!

May the documentation commence...

I went shopping the other day and quite unexpectedly came across this little sketchbook that I was desperate to use.

I loved the exercise book feel to it and so bought it. I think this will be sketchbook 14!
I'm hoping to start drawing for my three dimensional fabric pieces in the next few weeks now it has settled down a little at work. I'm itching to get them done but as always good things take time. (I think the actual saying is 'good things come to those who wait' but what I said has the same sentiment!)

How will another sketchbook compare?...

I was worried that, having filled my sketchbook bought in Barcelona I wouldn't be able to find another sketchbook that would compare! Then I found my Grandpa's notebook and felt that this should become my next sketchbook.

I've enjoyed using this book so much. I like the fact that it has previously been used and had another life before I even started drawing in it. I even found a phone number that I initially thought my Grandpa had written but on closer inspection I realised it must've been written by my Grandma as her handwriting was always a little more 'loopy.' My Mum has always said that my writing is just like my Grandpa's, small and very neat! Anyway, I'm getting off the point now.

You can see the phone number written on the above page but I haven't yet rung it. I guess I'll be a little disappointed if the number is no longer used or if it's for something quite mundane. I think I like the idea of it being an unknown, mystery number. I love a good mystery!

And so, the end of the sketchbook and I wonder what the ripped out pages were used for? Now I'm worried that I won't find another sketchbook to compare with this one. It's funny how things change! Maybe I should go and raid my Mother's house and see if I can find anymore books I may want to use?

Sketchbook 13 is completed...

Well, I have been very busy of late, (what's new) mostly documenting my daily exploits in my sketchbook. I used a sketchbook that had been in my possession for some time and belonged to my Grandpa. As I was quite attached to the sketchbook I'll confess I was a little scared of using it because I really wanted to do it justice but having drawn on page one, it really wasn't so bad! The sketchbook now has a whole new meaning in it's completed state, although I must say I'm actually quite sad I have no more pages left.

Let the drawing commence...

I can hardly believe it but I've actually completed and handed in my final essay and now I can continue to draw. I have some major plans but have sadly had little time to implement them of late! All this is going to change, rest assured, I shall be busy from now on with practical work. I intend to draw some more of my precious objects and then re work them in Illustrator, adding colour and texture. I also hope to draw and then make in fabric some three dimensional cameras (my camera collection continues to grow) and continue my recording of life in sketchbook form. If I still have time to breathe after all of that I may even include some new ideas I'm working on...obviously I want to keep you in suspense and not reveal too much!