My original proposal was written early 2021, when I had no commitments for 2022 and the idea of having a paid residency was fantastic so I simply focused on what I thought would beneficial for the students and myself in my proposal
“I intend to work with new mediums and techniques that I am not confident in: specifically drawing and collage on paper (no oil painting), restricting myself to pencils/pens/charcoal, collage and maybe some wet medium (ink, water colour and gouache). To compound this experience, I plan to relocate temporarily outside the security of my own studio, and into an area I am unfamiliar with (North West Coast). With these two challenging steps I intend to replicate a similar vulnerability and uncertainty that students face beginning their year.
My aim is to do a series of works on paper, or other new media, exploring the tension between the familiar and unfamiliar or figurative and abstraction, highlighting the slippage of the in-between space. I’m excited (and a bit nervous) about the possibilities, questions and dialogue that this series of studies may reveal.”
Since then, I now have several irons in the fire… all with some time constraints
curating a group show for June in which I need to do a painting and continue with my ChromaCorona series.
I also have a painting I would like to get cracking on a Bay of Fires entry (which may or may not get accepted) because this year’s theme is larrertenner and wurrawina – Light and Shadow - resonates so well with my current research so I would love to expand on that.
I need to actively apply for more grant funding for the up-and-coming show
I want to expand my PhD research from the garden construct to the significance and hidden dialogs of trees. What can we learn from them, these adaptive stationery reservoirs of knowledge?
Consequently, coming into this project I’m at a loss at what to focus on, whilst I am well aware that once I arrive all these agendas can fly out the window.
I am super looking forward to working with the Art Department staff, especially Lisa Garland and Anne Morrison, although I have only met them briefly, I have the hugest respect for their arts practice - amazing work (to be brutally honest I’m a little intimidated - what could I possibly bring to this powerhouse of experience?). Anyway, insecurity aside I am committed hence this ramble… I mean blog.
Lisa has mentioned to me the amazing bushland that surrounds the school, I believe its primarily tea tree and holds great significance for the indigenous community. So I am thinking this will be my key focus in developing some imagery and preliminary drawings, inks, watercolours, charcoals and maybe even collage.
I thought for the first week while I get into the rhythm of things and met the students etc etc I will start on something quite simple… a no brainer for me until I get my bearings. So that will be the oil painting idea I had for the larrertenner and wurrawina – Light and Shadow theme. This will be an exploration into ‘mock black’, I will add a post about that soon. In the meantime, I better stop typing and get back to packing.