We had the first session of our final term today. I don't quite know where the time has gone (something that seems to be rather universal in the group!). We're now on the home straight to being fully realised MA graduates.... eek! I think I'm going to be spending the next few years just digesting everything the course has taught me, made me question, opened up, etc...etc...
Anyway, the main idea that I came away with was for the video we have to make. After the main session I stayed on as usual and Jonathan, Noah and I were chatting about it and Jonathan told us about a video that was really visually simple - walking through an underpass towards a print on a wall. Despite the simplicity it was rather profound (and I need to look it up and see if I can see it!). I'd said that I'm almost overwhelmed by the sheer volume of imagery I have and don't quite know where to start with putting it together. I had a real lightbulb moment when Jonathan described this video as all of my work starts with walking in the forest. I think I need to take some work to the forest and walk around it / towards it / away from it. I need to take it walking with me! I think I need to take the little press with me and make something in the forest too. I rather like the idea of taking new footage but taking test prints and sketchbooks and ideas with me. I also rather like the idea of the print being really similar to tree bark and being mounted on a tree. Overall I really need to pull my finger out and get something made! I've got some first layers from my lithino prints but more is needed!
These were semi - successful. The first couple of pulls were really nice but the lino very quickly filled in with black again. I sampled a few different papers so I've got the starting point of things to play with. As soon as the children are back to school next week I want to get the two larger etching plates I bought done with some white ground (I'm going to have to have a day at CSM to do the tusche). It's good to be back - I'm feeling rather excited again!