I've been having a great time in the studio using those pages on my 'wonder wall' from my concertina sketchbook pages.
When I say 'using', I mean working from them, enlarging them, changing up the marks for larger ones, downplaying the areas that distract, emphasising favourite areas, even missing things out and/or moving things around! I know it may seem like a small thing to some, but for someone like me who is used to planning everything to the nth degree - it has been quite a sea change in my approach... and much more fun.
It's fascinating to me that those abstract seeming marks still conjure for me the Blast Beach and its history.
I love how the experience and approach used in Karen Stamper's 'Free Up Your Sketchbook and Grow' course has made me less precious about mark making, allowed me to ask that 'what if' question more frequently, and reminded me that ultimately, it's only paper, and no one's going to die because of what I do!

This mad art journey is, if we're lucky, a series of breakthroughs, light bulb moments if you will.
This week I completed another Karen Stamper sketchbook course... using a black, A5 sketchbook, then I broke out the other finished ones from the shelf and lay them out, end to end.
Lots of great moments in them, but such a shame to have them closed, sitting on the shelf.
With encouragement from Tom McKendrick - an artist I hugely admire, I 'cannibalised' them all. Went ruthlessly through them all and tore out my favourite moments.
They make for quite a display, even if I do say so myself.
They make me braver. Surprise, unintended compositions.
SO exciting.
What next?
Who knows.

Phew.
Collect work from Richmond Station.
Take down Beyond Coal exhibition at EDAN gallery.
Curate and install Extravaganza exhibition at EDAN gallery.
Submit work to Zillah Bell Gallery for their summer show. Fingers crossed.
Deliver Beyond Coal to Arts Centre Washington.
Deliver chosen pieces to Zillah Bell Gallery.
Curate and install Beyond Coal at Washington.
Attend preview event at Washington.
Time to step back a little me thinks.
Enjoy some making for a while.
Great thing about having so many proactive members now is not feeling the need to submit to all themed exhibitions. We always have enough work... so... I get to settle into some personal pieces.
Still loving the charcoal explorations, but sorted out this 'not so little' beauty which hasn't been shown before for the Extravaganza show.
Rather wittily titled I thought, 'A Weight in the Sun'.