Hello, well, I haven't given up just yet... which perhaps was the real challenge all along!?
It is currently day 30 of 40, and I have closed a total of nine projects.
So, with 10 days left, I hope to (start and) complete the other 21 projects...some of which, I haven't even confirmed titles/ideas for, so yeah, it certainly looks like a panicked finish is in sight.
I spent a lot of the week telling people about the vase and book, and the rest catching up on family commitments and tasks unrelated to the studio. But here's a little summary of the things I did achieve for this #30BY30 challenge.
PROJECT #9: DOES IT CYANOTYPE?
so, pretty much as it sounds - taking a bunch of stuff and seeing if I can cyanotype it... and generally ignoring all advice on how to do it properly and just going for it. Most of these bits need to soak for days, so photos and video to follow soon + should really do a glass experiment.
PROJECT STATUS: OPEN
PROJECT #10: SIGILS
PROJECT STATUS: CLOSED
PROJECT #11: COLLAGE
I'm not sure this one really needs much explanation - I have recorded some footage which I'll eventually add here...
Basically, I used to collage ALL THE TIME as a kid, and it's something I haven't done much of in recent years. So I wanted to connect to that childhood passion, using/recycling 'scraps' from my passions and interests as an adult.
I was more than happy to settle this as a complete project after my first collage attempt, because I think all I really needed from it was a reminder of how fun it can be, without overthinking it and trying to design a whole range. I'll leave that for another day, when I've not got 20+ other projects waiting for me.
PROJECT STATUS: CLOSED
PROJECT #12: MEMENTO MORI
latin for "Remember that you must die"
A project which explores and celebrates the beauty of death and it's inevitability.
PROJECT STATUS: OPEN
PROJECT #14: SELF DEFENCE
Okay, this was a prompt suggested by Saskia when I asked for suggestions on Instagram... and I finally found something I was passionate about (and able to draw) in response.
I do most of the explaining in this video, so I'll save myself some typing time and let you listen to me instead...
here's some of the inspo I had in mind while I was sketching it up in my mind...
progress thus far:
There's still plenty more to draw; it isn't quite the quick, easy, flowing drawing style I managed in From Her to Here, so it's taken a little longer than I anticipated.
PROJECT STATUS: OPEN
PROJECT #18: BRIDESMAIDS
This project is a commission for my sister Olivia, who wanted a digital sketch in the style of my "From Her to Here" piece, celebrating her best friends, and the morning of her wedding when they made up all the bouquets and button-hole pieces for all the bridal party. She loved that moment so much, but the photographer hadn't got a photo of all four of them together - in steps Libby.
I have started designing this digital sketch, trying to work in all the little aspects that Liv has requested, and working to her chosen colour pallet (not my usual)... I think it'll come together nicely.
I filmed my screen for the whole process, so I'm sure I'll be making some cute little videos in no time.
PROJECT STATUS: OPEN
PROJECT #20: LET THERE BE LIGHT
This honestly has to be the quickest and easiest of all the projects so far!!
I'm absolutely chuffed with the result and can't wait to use it regularly as a mood setter in the studio, something to calm me when I'm getting anxious or over stimulated and panicky.
I'd been looking into trying to fit small lights into frames for a while now to backlight these delicious fennel firework patterned coffee filters, but I hadn't been happy with any of the test thus far. Then on Friday while giving it another thought session, I stumbled across this adorable little night light cube - that was it! It didn't have to be a frame at all, it just needed to be beautiful and backlit... this was even better because you then had FIVE surfaces to cover in yummy blues.
Saturday afternoon it arrived and as soon as I could, I ripped it out of it's packaging, quickly did one "test" i.e. held up a small section of cyanotyped coffee filter, and said "YEP!", then just went for it!
Armed with my trusty ModPodge (please sponsor me) and a whole lot of faith, I got straight to it, no plan, just passion. I managed to get the whole thing covered using one complete coffee filter, cut and folded around the box... I think my wallpapering lessons from my sister earlier in the week really aided this, so thanks Liv!
And didn't I just pull it off - what a fucking triumph!
Though I couldn't help feeling a little bit like Loki when he gets the Tesseract, the pride, the power... that magnificent blue glow!!
PROJECT STATUS: CLOSED
1000% want to be selling these soon... imagine it with a cute cityscape or custom portrait collage... My mum suggested that I do the same thing on my aroma diffuser too, which obviously I need!
NEXT WEEK: I obviously want to round off most of these projects, and go back to complete #6 the Meridian Clock too. I also plan to start a few of the following:
8. CURTAINS
13. EMBROIDERY HOOPS
15. SELF PORTRAIT
16. LOVE (book)
17. CROWN
19. UNDIES
21. XXX
22. FREYJA
24. FABRIC
25. PAINTING (following a prompt via FB)
26. WET CYANOTYPE
27. BLUE DAY / POWER OF BLUE
28. [TBC]
29. HELD
30. EMIN:ATE