I wanted to create a space, (online studio notebook) to talk about the importance of a studio practice and share how some of my works are created. A studio, for me is a personal space that exposes what the artist is thinking, the inside workings of the artist’s mind. A space that constantly ebbs and flows, where work is placed on walls, along with inspirations and ideas. I like to call these walls ‘working walls’. My working walls are like my studio sketchbooks, they help me work out problems or give me inspiration when I need it the most. I want to find a way of sharing what happens in the studio. The process is vital to my practice and is the essence of my work, or perhaps the studio is my work. I find there is a less opportunity to visit studios. Studio spaces are declining as rent soars and buildings are being bought over for flats or future offices that will remain empty. The importance of my work lies in the studio, and I want to find a way to bring this to the public. The importance of tools, objects, notebooks, ideas, the need to make and think.
For me it’s hard to reveal my work online, not because I am private person, but it’s hard to reveal a feeling, a sensation without physically seeing it or holding it. When you walk into someone’s studio or even someone’s personal space you already get a sense of what they are interested in. Perhaps it can be compared to reading a book, it’s not until you have read a little that you start to understand the author or maybe not in all cases, but it’s still that breathing space that allows you take in the words you read to form an impression. An online presence can work great for people, it can help reach a larger audience to most corners of the world, but I find even websites are being ditched for social media accounts, like instagram, where you condense all your work into a post or story and through a tap of a thumb you are liked or the dreaded alternative, you are scrolled on. If you don’t reach an audience in that one post, they are lost forever, unless you have a good hashtag. There is no anticipation for work to be released, or to be eked out slowly. If you don’t have ‘x’ amount of followers then you are not good at what you do or you are seen as someone doing it as a ‘hobby’. I have found in the last year stagnation in myself and it has to change. I have to admit I have posted work on instagram to see if people will like certain new works. This has only led me down a path full of anxiety (more than normal), and wasted time checking my social media accounts to see who has liked the post. I felt at one stage completely lost to what my practice was and if it was worth pursuing. Thankfully, I have a compulsion to keep progressing, my practice is apart of me, and my mind is constantly thinking and researching. Perhaps this post is my catharsis, but I ready to move forward and in the words of Sol LeWitt to Eva Hesse
"just Stop it and just DO”
I have included a bit of the letter below as I feel it benefits everyone in today’s world.
Dear Eva,
It will be almost a month since you wrote to me and you have possibly forgotten your state of mind (I doubt it though). You seem the same as always, and being you, hate every minute of it. Don’t! Learn to say “Fuck You” to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder, wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, grasping, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, numbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-trickling, nose sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just
DO
Page 1 of LeWitt’s letter to Hesse (courtesy of The LeWitt Collection)
Below are some examples of my studio ‘working walls’
One of my earlier studio ‘working walls’
New works in progress
Plaster, drawing, black and white darkroom print.
Lately I have been introducing plaster into my practice. I have been learning to cast and create molds. With my previous works, I created sets from collecting props and fabrics and now by introducing sculpture into my practice, it’s like creating my own props for my sets. Still holding on to the cinematic aspect to my work.
In the below images, I have collected pieces of driftwood from my trips to Dungeness, there is something sacred about Dungeness and for this reason I wanted to create my own totems. As well as plaster, I am beginning to experiment with wax casting. I am still in the early stages, but it is such joy to using these materials, I can’t fully understand what got me started working with plaster, other than a strong urge, a craving that won’t go away until you finally succumb, and I am so glad I did!
Continuing with totems, I have become enthralled by forms and shapes, currently I have impulsions to create pyramids, and I am trying to learn why. It is leading me down a beautiful road full of sacred geometry, forms, and philosophy, which I hope to share more in the coming months through the newsletter and my blog.
Artist Residency
Isle of Wight, 2023
Black & white hand printed darkroom print
Towards the end of June I will be heading to Isle of Wight for one week as part of an artist residency.
I am aiming to spend the time focusing on research & writing towards my practice. It can be hard to focus on writing. Whenever I am in the studio, I always feel the need to create, or I tend to feel guilty reading in the studio instead of making. To have this designated time to spend recollecting thoughts and research feels like a lifeline to my practice.
Next post will be focused on colour! This is something I have been working on the last 2 years. I will be dipping into the tri colour process which I have been doing in analogue. I will share some pages from my notebooks and show some works that haven’t been seen before.
Thank you for your continued support, Sam x