Thursday Thoughts...

"Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know." 

 Alberto Manguel

Perhaps this.

So often I seek solace in books, trying to find the words that somebody has managed to think, arrange, and express, that go close to how I am feeling.  There is a form of validation that occurs when you realise somebody else has felt this way and has thought about things from this perspective; that they too have felt bewildered, terrified or hopeless by the turns in events.

I like that way he considers that we return to books, to find words for what we already know.  

Perhaps we know, but we simply can't express; and the gift is that somebody else can and has.

Perfect.

I come to quiet knowings, 2009.

Art Inspiration

 I am back to making, but also to thinking. This time of year feels reflective as I look back and consider what has taken place and what I have achieved; and as I look forward as I begin to plan out next year.

It might seem ridiculous, but there are already several key markers in next year's diary which will mean we travel to different places at different times and do different things...

As a result I need to have a think about what I want to make next year - are there shows I want to submit work to? Is there anywhere I can take some of the work I have done? How do I deal with my feelings about the world? What sort of things could I be making? When do I need to have key works done by and how does the travel interact with that?

I am fortunate to have a variety of modalities to investigate and play with and sometimes my head just gets a bit jammed full of ideas, dates, times and deliverables; so it is always good for me to stop and ponder so I don't get too anxious about things.

Whilst we were in Scotland, I had the notion to write a list of things I love in artworks; things I respond to; things that hit me in the centre of my body and make me go ahhh...

I think the availability of so much imagery on Instagram in particular, has made me stop and think about but what do I REALLY respond to? enjoy? appreciate? How might I include some of those things in my artwork when I am getting stuck or feel like I am doing the same things over? Are there themes?

I added to my list on my phone regularly - whenever a thought popped into my head or I reacted to something and wondered why. I am not sure if I will do mood board as originally indicated or not - seems a bit of overkill and would take too much time I think. Might also make me get focussed on other people's work rather than my own.

Then I transferred the list to the computer so I could print it out and over the past week or so I have picked it up and played with it.

I had given myself permission to double up; to jot down anything and to not worry about it. And so it was a fair jumble of things; and I tried then to see if there were grouping or categories.

I ended up with 8 categories, and I colour coded each of them. Some words ended up in two or three categories. I am not convinced this is at all comprehensive or scientific but it was a good way to sort and settle my brain.

At Biblio this morning, I continued with the grouping and added in extras here and there. And then this afternoon I got on the computer to make a table - colour coded again - and began to enjoy the thoughts and ideas it generated

I laughed at  the name I gave it, but it felt right, not too serious, but kind of what  hope it does!

I am going to go away and have a play with this. I have a book in mind, and will now see if any of these ideas nudge me along a slightly different path than the one I kind of assumed I would follow...

A showing of The Shape of Things

 During 2023 and into January of this year, Annwyn Dean and I undertook a small and beautiful exchange of artists' books. Working with the theme The Shape of Things, we each created six books, in an edition of 2 each time. We kept one book for ourself and sent one book across the globe, so that we each have a set of 12 stunning artists' books along this theme.

I have documented the process on the blog see here for a summary of 4 of them; here and here; and in April this year, Annwyn prepared a catalogue of our work so we have a repository for the stories and the artwork.

During one of the exhibitions at the studio this year I was fortunate enough to be able to show and share the books with a group of interested artists' book makers who were enthralled by the project, and the outcomes. This got me to wondering if I should ensure these lovely books got a little showing of their own?. Not an exhibition; and the works will not be for sale; but just a chance for more folk to see them, to hold them and to enjoy them.

And now they will have!

Barry is having a solo exhibition of his small watercolour paintings in the studio on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December (opening event is 5pm Friday night and all are welcome!) and I thought this might offer an opportunity for lots of folk to see the books. I am arranging to make a small display of them in the studio space, so that those attending Barry's show can also peruse the books.

In addition all other studio items will be 25% off for the weekend, so it really could be worth a visit!

Here are a couple of compilations of Annwyn's, then my work. They are remarkable complementary (we did share papers with each other).

I am really looking forward to more people seeing them and enjoying them.

And here are just a few of Barry's postcard-sized watercolours that will be on show...

Brushstrokes...buildings, boats, birds and the occasional bovine!

It will be a great way to round off the year.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.” 

 Susan Cain

I read this book years ago... Quiet by Susan Cain and I nodded along as I went, finding myself described, understood, even heard.

As introverts, we know we can do things like socialise, attend gatherings, events, and the like; but we also know it will cost us and we will need down time to re-group and re-gather our strength.

Earlier this year after a rather torrid and busy social and community time, we went away for a few days. I sat and did a 1000 piece jigsaw by myself for almost a full day. Barely lifting my head; barely talking. I just needed to stop engaging with the world and with people (even people I love) and get myself and my strength back. Jigsaws are the perfect wind down and build up again for me.

If I do have to attend and socialise at events I find myself best if I can be doing something - washing up, clearing plates, filling drinks, packing up, setting up, whatever. A chore or a job make sit easier - it's the small talk that kills me.

It's good to be reminded of the skills and strengths of introverts; we oftentimes get a bad rap in a world which often responds to the loudest or the boldest.

Shining quietly...

Together again

 I managed to get some time to print some Together cards and am looking forward to bundling them up and sending them out into the world. Do let me know in comments if you are interested in receiving some; and/or email me: infoATfionadempster.com.

I chose a deep sapphire blue to print with and three different type faces, as discussed in my earlier blog post.  I am working hard to use up supplies and spares in the studio so some were printed on the back of previously printed cards; and others were printed on some cards I have had lying around for quite another purpose which will no longer happen so they were just waiting to be used!

I also used up a few spare sheets of khaki paper that were lurking in a drawer - it felt good to gradually use things up.

I decided to use both variations of together. Together and Together...

So there are A6 postcard sizes; and business card sized cards.

I will wrap them in 3s so folk will receive one of each type face. They will be  random selections of paper types and I will pop them in the post over the next wee while. Just send me your name and address and if you would like Together, Together... or both. I have twenty sets available.

I quite liked the look of this one - proofing Together in duplicate here - well and truly together!

Beyond beginning again

 Well I got back into the groove with the silversmithing the other day and was chuffed with how my large pendant worked out. During the week, my mind kept turning to oxidising and trying to work out if I could oxidise some silver.

So I looked up books, and watched You Tubes and read blog posts and thought I think we could do this, and on Friday we did. We had purchased a couple of glasses bowls at the Op Shop for $5 and they will become our oxidising-only bowls.

I took my pendant apart, separating it into the three components.

And then we set about making up a mixture of Liver of Sulphur - which as one can imagine, smells like rotten eggs. Apparently you can also oxidise silver by leaving it in a plastic bag with some hard boiled eggs, but that is an experiment for another time.

You dip quickly, then drop into cold water, then dip again, and cool, and then dip again .... until you get the required depth of colour.

I was pretty happy with this colour. Then you brush it with a soft brass brush to remove some of it, and start again. This way, the oxidisation layers sort of grow into each other and bond; rather than simply layer themselves and then flake off. Apparently. 

Barry thought it would also be a good opportunity to re-oxidise the ring he made years ago with Lindsey in Thurso, so in it went as well.

And out it came.

And here is where we got to.

And here is the pendant put back together.  I really like the contrast between dark and shiny.

I like where this could be going...

Thursday Thoughts...

“A good artist has less time than ideas.” 

Martin Kippenberger

I'm not sure it's only good artists who have more ideas than time; I certainly do!

I imagine what he is trying to get at is that a good artist (maybe successful? maybe full time? maybe committed? maybe professional? maybe..?) has a brain teeming with ideas and creativity, and is one who sees the world in terms of art they could create, and whose mind is always turned to artistic opportunities.

Or as is the case for many, there are definitely more ideas than time permits or allows one to fulfil...

I oftentimes think I need about three lifetimes to do all the things I want to do, to make all the work, to do all the things. Perhaps he feels a lesser artist can't think of things to do; doesn't have a huge creative urge; doesn't make their way through the world thinking about art?

I'm not sure good is the best word, but I am happy to say that I am an artist who has less time than ideas!

Ideas...

Together

I have been pondering how to respond to world events. They are big. Bigger than me. They are hard. Hard to face. They are scary. Too much for my head. But they are.

What can I do. I keep trying to work out how to care for others, and be kind in as many ways as I can. I am trying to look after myself as it seems overwhelming. I am reading small bits of hopefulness. Of gathering. Of solidarity. 

And of togetherness.

Hopefully in the next wee while I'll get to print some postcards, and send them out into the world. I will simply re-use some of the cards that didn't get written on at the exhibition in Scotland and print on the other side. There might be other postcards to re-use; or I might also cut new ones. I have been pondering what to print. Which word comforts me, or helps me, or says what I am hoping for.

And I have landed on together.

I had 20 minutes at the studio earlier today and I grabbed some type and a card to see how it might work.

Together in a couple of typefaces.

The same typefaces but with the ellipse. How do the dots change the meaning I wonder? Am I better off with simply a statement of together - bold and firm? Or do the dots leave us with a sense of together into something?

Any advice and/or thoughts welcomed before I start to print!

Here is how they might take up space on the postcard (with the ellipses).

And then I looked over and saw a heap of business card sized pieces of heavy duty paper already cut and thought I could do some pocket sized ones as well. But would the type fit on the smaller pieces?

So far so good if I remove the ellipses.

And even tho this one look like it is overhanging the edges, 

it does actually fit!

I think I will get printing soon and then send out a call to folk who might like some and send them on out into the world...

It seems like we can make it through if we are in it together. 

Together.

Beginning again

 I oftentimes feel like a beginner whenever I go back over to the workshop and try to do some jewellery making.

On Friday morning I just wanted to make a large pebble, the beginnings of a new pendant for myself.

I had realised that I would like a longer hanging pendant like a number of the pendants I wear that B has made over the years; as well as others I have purchased at that mid tummy length.

And it was not to be. I got the larger silver wire I wanted, I sawed a  length off, I filed the edges, I gathered some solder, I set up the new borax in its dish and I turned the stone over so there were no holes for my solder to fall down. And off I went. 

No way was it going to work. I tried different gas burners, I tried different types of solder. I tried solder on the top. I tried solder on the bottom. I tried different flux. I pickled and cleaned the silver and started over several times. Nope.

I retreated, and headed off for a catch up with a friend.

B said he would see if he could work out what was going on, and sure enough after attempting all the things I tried, he thought wow that stone is hot and worked out that the stone I was using was absorbing ALL of the heat of the flame so none was available for melting the solder. Good deducting!

So today, I went and played and had success.

Here is the large pebble B had managed to successfully solder/solder successfully.

Here is my smaller pebble necklet; and an example of a pendant that I wear at mid-tummy for size comparisons and checks. And the new stone B organised for me to solder on!

Here are the three pebbles together - I managed to make the smaller two with ease today; the solder ran beautifully and I was able to file and polish them with relative ease.

I headed back to the sewing/jewellery room to put the pendant together on a long cord. Here are the three pendants together with the pendant on its longer cord.

Speaking of the sewing/jewellery room we are mid-reorganisation there so it was a bit tricky. We are expecting some new storage drawers tomorrow or Tuesday so had to get in and move some things around before they arrive. Chaos reigns.

Fingers crossed we can get the new bits in and then sort the other bits around them as per the plan...