The Merry Go Round

Insania

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:20:00 +0000

Insania (ya gotta love Peter Andre)....perhaps that's what I am or will be if I'm accepted, as I applied to do an art fair in October. There's part of me that's really excited about the prospect and possibilities it could have to offer. Then there's a not so little voice shouting in my ear saying...'Are you stark raving mad!!' I know it's months away, but at present I really don't have much of a body of work to show, so it would mean...action stations...all hands on deck...panic...you get the picture. I don't know when I'll hear if I made it through, if I don't I may just breath a sigh of relief, sit down in the studio and tinker around...no pressure! But for the moment it's time to pack my bags, as the 3 of us are off on our hols, well a mini break to Winchester. So ta ta for now and hope you have a good weekend.

Dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Some dreams are bigger than others, some are more obtainable than others. One of mine is simple...I've been dreaming of making a living from making work that I enjoy. Mmm, now I need to put the work in!

::the birds just keep on coming::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:51:00 +0000

This is another new piece....yes you read right...I know, a feast or a famine right!
It's still in progress, I'll show the end result once a bit more progress has been made.

TA DA!

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:38:00 +0000

Things are coming together nicely...progress is being made...a new piece of work...finished
....TA DA!

This is the piece I made for a fundraiser for Haiti which is being organised by a friend of mine....I almost want to keep it for myself!

Inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Recently I stumbled upon this ladies work...Susie Cowie. I just love the intricate and delicate nature of her work, which makes it looks oh so fragile, which I think adds to its precious qualities. She's teaching an embroidery class in France for a week in June, which sounds divine. Maybe next year I'll take the opportunity to go to learn more about embroidery, whilst basking in the sunshine and drink wine to fuel my inspiration, although I'm not sure how conducive some of that is to making work! You can find more of her work here...go on have a look you'll be smitten!!

work has begun!

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:09:00 +0000

Carving out time

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:34:00 +0000

In the last few months my focus has shifted dramatically...I guess that will happen when you have a little one. I love being a Mammy, all the smiles, gurgles, coos, leg kicking and arm waving by far outweigh dirty nappies and sleepless nights and you know what I don't even mind them that much either! That said, I am also at the stage of not wanting to forget who I am alongside being a parent. My passion is art...making, creating and absorbing art are the things that fire me up, that make me feel alive. The last couple of weeks I've been wanting to get back into the studio, I want to get my hands dirty. Although, that doesn't really happen with the work I make these days, but you get my drift! I can feel this pent up energy and frustration in not doing anything creative. So, my goal is to make time for myself, even if that's an hour to sit down at my desk and put my hands to work.
I'm not sure how other women juggle being an artist and also a mother, particularly at this early stage? Maybe I'm being overly adventurous in wanting to get back into my art, when I have a 5 month old Baba to care for. But I'm afraid if I don't begin soon, I'll get used to sitting on my hunkers always waiting for the right time and space that I need, without actually carving it out for myself.
A friend of mine is having a fund raiser for Haiti and asked would I donate a piece of work to raise money. Now, I could go the easy route and hand over a piece that I did last year, or I could take it as a challenge and create a new piece. Based on all I've just said, it would be daft of me to just take the easy way out...so I'm going for it. I've prepped R about taking the Little One for a day here and there so I can focus on spending time making a new piece of work. In the greater scheme of things it may not sound like a major challenge, but amidst the feeding, nappy changes, early mornings and night wakings, time is of the essence!
So, I've got a deadline...over the next few weeks I'll let you see how I get on!

Guess who's back...back again!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:54:00 +0000

This little munchkin is the reason for the long absence....the Munchkin being the one on the left!!

More to come soon....

::goodbye to the summer::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:56:00 +0000

Oh I can feel Autumn in the air. The other morning as I was walking to work, I had left without a jacket as it looked pleasant enough, but my protruding belly felt the chill in the air. I'm quite looking forward to the change in season. I love the autumnal colours and the way the leaves fall, swoop and glide their way down to huddle with the other leaves on the ground only for someone like me to come along and shuffle through them. Normally I'm quite sad to say goodbye to the summer, but this year I'm embracing the change and looking forward to getting out my winter woolies, the long shadows and comforting food....oh and a little person arriving!

Things on the art front are beginning to wind down. The exhibition in House came down last week and this week the exhibition in Putney will be coming down. I've also been submitting work to various open exhibitions, Jerwood and Salon 09 to name a few, but so far my work hasn't been accepted. Oh well chin up! There are a few other exhibitions I want to apply for before the Babog arrives and it's all change Piccadilly Circus.

Sweet Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:05:00 +0000

I went to see a lovely lady called Mel Wiggins play in Camden the other night. A friend of ours John Ryan was in town and he plays guitar in the band, so we went along to catch up, eat, drink and sway to the sweet sounds. It was such a beautiful evening in the weather sense, in fact in all senses and we meet some lovely folk. Check her out if you get a chance, hopefully she'll be back in London in the near future sometime.

Private View

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:26:00 +0000

The Private View went really well, there was a good group of people there and a great buzz about the place. I had loads of positive feedback and comments about my work, which is always a good thing to hear. It makes you feel like you're doing something right! I didn't sell anything and often think that the PV night is the mostly likely time to sell. Although, the exhibition is on for 3 weeks and I'm feeling a lot of PMA (positive mental attitude) so who knows. Even if I don't sell anything, I still think showing work is very valuable in itself, it's getting my work out there. Someone may decide to contact me in the future and want a whole series of works done or decide that my work would work perfectly in another major exhibition. Oh I can still dream...It's all about the PMA!

London Through My Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:33:00 +0000

The next in the series of artistic ventures is looming. Next week on 18th Aug to be exact, I am taking part in a group exhibition, with a few folk from work. The Private View is on Wednesday 19th August, come along if you're free.

The show is titled London Through My Eyes and runs from the 18th August to 3rd September at the Putney Arts Centre. I've completed 2 pieces of work, the aim is 3!! Panic hasn't quite set in just yet, as I do have some kind of idea what I'm going to do and the other two are framed and ready to go. It all needs to be hung and displayed by Monday as the exhibition opens on Tuesday, so it will be a case of coming home straight from work and working late into the evening over the next couple of days.

The pieces that I'm working on is a very loose interpretation of the title of the show. I have been working on some more pinholes using the song 'It's a Long Way To Tipperary' This song is so well known both in Ireland and the UK. I remember singing it as a kid. I started to look into the history behind the song and discovered it was written for a bet of 5 shillings by Jack Judge and Harry Williams. If you're interested in finding out more check it out here Having delved further, I discovered it became popular when troops went out to Belgium to fight during WW1. Messines is the smallest town in Belgium and this was completely destroyed in the war. There still remains a craters in this area, one of which is called Peckham Farm.

Now many of you may not know this little fact I am about to share, but I spent 2 years in Belgium and Peckham is close to where I now live in London. So I began to tie it all into the work I was making for the exhibition. Well I thought it was a genius idea anyway, not sure how it will translate on paper....literally!! Here's a sneak preview.

House

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:22:00 +0000

It took me longer than expected, but it's up! I'm really happy
with how it looks, the space feels like it was made for the the
piece.

Threading Memories
House

::it's all go::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Tomorrow it's up at the crack of dawn to go and hang my work in House gallery. I've also been working on my artist statement in order to have that ready. To be honest I hate writing about my work, if I could sit down and explain it to someone it would be a lot easier but I find the writing side of things difficult. Words come easier when I'm talking, written words seem so permanent and I get self conscious about what I've written.
I was away home for a few days, trying to make the most of things before life as I know it changes forever! I had such a fantastic time my sister whisked me away to a five star hotel for the weekend and I was treated to the full spa treatment. It was divine, if only all weekends were like that!! But now it's back to work with a bang, as I have this exhibition and also another one coming up in 10 days time, which I'll post about next time. Arghh...think I better get busy creating some work!!!!

Threading Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:12:00 +0000

Just a quickie to let you know that I will be showing a piece which I made last year 'Threading Memories' in House Gallery in Camberwell. I've been meaning to show it for some time and after having a chat to a friend of mine who encouraged me to hang it, I decided to do something proactive. When I approached the gallery they agreed to hang it in their window space for a couple of weeks, which is great as It's a perfect space for the piece to be viewed. They also have a coffee shop and serve a mean cup of coffee. It will be on view from the 10th-24th August, for all to see, if you're passing that way!

::little challenges::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:32:00 +0000

It was a flying visit back home, but was good to catch up with friends and family. I got loads of hugs...as did the bump! I will be back again at the beginning of August, so I didn't mind so much that it was a short stay. Next time I'm going home for a week, so I'll have much more time to see folk.

But onto things of art and making, I promised I'd let you in on what's new in the studio!!
Well....I constantly have this inner debate with myself about art verses craft. Sometimes the two inter link quite successfully, but there are also times when they are apparently separate in their practice. My need to create is always niggling at me. As I mentioned in previous posts I come from a family of artists, my Mum is very much an artist and craft worker, so the desire to create something is embedded in me. Not only is the debate of art verses craft going on but also the reality of making something that enables me to have an income. Oh the joys of being an artist....a struggling one at that!

So the challenge is to make a thing a week. It can be anything....a painting....a sculpture....a cake...some jewelery. Whatever as long as it's made by my fair hands. Join me if you like, let me know what you've made or better still send me a photo!

I like setting myself these little challenges, in order to inspire and create when I'm not working on anything in particular. Often something unexpected comes out of it, which can grow and lead onto who knows what?! In this instance, that's exactly what has happened. I found myself sewing again, doing applique none the less! For those that are unsure as to what that entails, it is basically sewing fabric onto fabric, normally using some kind of design.

Gosh I suddenly realised that this has turned into a longer post than I intended. So on that note.... the latest creation to come out of the studio is....

Unexpected eh??? Or maybe not considering my current state!
You can check out more here This is where the income part comes in I guess!

::flying visit::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:58:00 +0000

I'm off home for a flying visit, to spend some time with family and friends. I've been quiet busy over the last week so I'll post some more about what I've been up to when I get back. I intend to have a good few days, hope you do too!

All packed up

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:41:00 +0000

I'm not long back from handing in my work to the Jerwood Drawing Prize. It's been one of those days where I'm feeling very unmotivated, I think it's got something to do with the heat wave that's hit London. Thankfully I had the help of lovely Joanne to give me a lift with my works to the submissions office. Otherwise I was feeling like I could just sleep for the day. Although I know that wouldn't have happened, I had to take a day of annual leave to go today, so it was now or never. But it just would have taken me a lot of strength and power of wills to get there, not to mention about 6 pairs of hands!
I really don't enjoy handing work into such things. I guess who does? Everyone is checking each others work out and I tend to feel so vulnerable showing off work that I have made. It's just such a personal thing, it makes you feel exposed in some ways. It's like you can almost hear peoples opinion forming in their minds of what they think. Paranoia and self doubt sets in and the temptation to perceive what others think can be a little destructive to say the least!!! It's all totally irrational, but my brain often doesn't take this on board. But I'm happy with the work I submitted. As I often have to remind myself...if you don't believe in your own work who will!?! There was a lot of work submitted already today at around lunch time and they still have tomorrow, so I think competition will be very high. Or maybe it's a case of quantity over quality, but I'm hoping at least one of my pieces will be chosen as a quality piece!!! So it's just the waiting game for the next couple of weeks, I'm not sure when I find out if I'm in or not, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Latest from the studio

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:57:00 +0000

The new studio space is paying off already, not financially (yet!!!) but from a creative point of view.....It feels good.
Here's the latest!

The Hair & Heart piece is a pen drawing using thread stitched into the paper. The Heart piece below is using pen and gouache whilst also using the pinhole technique that I have often used in the past.

I'm going to put both of them up in the shop over the next few days.

New Studio Space

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:25:00 +0000

At the moment I have an amazing amount of energy. I can't remember the last time I felt so buzzed up with lots of get up and go. Long may it last, I don't want to peak too soon. So, I'm trying to make the most of it before the beached whale look arrives and my movements look like they are in slow motion!

R & I both had a day off so we decided to rearrange the furniture...oh fun times...what an exciting life we lead! Our living room is open plan & it's quite a big long space. The thing is we tend to use about two thirds of it and the end of the room kinda gets ignored. We had a large bookshelf against the wall and beside it a few boxes and bags of art materials that have remained there since I moved out of my last studio space. I was so sick of looking at them, I like order you see and it used to drive me crazy that they didn't have a proper home. Now the bookshelf has been moved about 4 foot forward which acts like a partial room divider, I have a sneaky little desk in behind it against the window and the boxes are out of sight. It still needs some major organisation, to make it a proper working space, but it's looking and feeling good so far. The great thing is that our living area, even though it's been cut short, now works better. It feels more communal, having friends over no longer means that we are shouting at each other across the room, but it is more intimate with a proper seating area. We still need to do a few other things around the apartment (the nesting has well and truly begun!) but for the moment I'm happy to have somewhere to work that doesn't need to be packed up each time and put back in boxes.

Jerwood

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:15:00 +0000

I've just entered the Jerwood Drawing Prize. One of the aims of this prize is to create debate around the nature, value, status and representation of drawing as a contemporary practice. So whether you view this as more traditional drawing practice with a pen and piece of paper, or endeavour to cross the boundaries of traditional technique and challenge preconceived notions of what drawing is, it is generally up for discussion and open to enter.

I had great intentions of entering this last year also, but I missed the deadline as my work for the degree show was still up. So this is the year...If you're not in you can't win as they say! Who knows, it's a long shot, but if I got accepted it would be a great confidence boost and fantastic to have my work on show. But hey, I'm getting ahead of myself...I won't find out until July, so fingers crossed. But it's just good to get back into the mindset of creating and showing work. The works I have entered are works that I had on show for the 'Seamless' exhibition I was involved in a few months back. So, I haven't actually created any new works for it, but am giving 3 works an airing and a chance to be viewed by a new audience.

R&R

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:52:00 +0000

I just got back from 10 blissful days in Portugal! There wasn't much on the agenda apart from some major R&R (rest & relaxation) I got through 3 books, sat by the pool, that is on the days that the clouds parted and ate delicious seafood. Oh, and I even treated myself to the odd glass of vino, a woman in my condition has to live a little once in a while. But don't worry there were no renditions of 'Down at the Red Rose Cafe' in the wee hours!!
I had planned on bringing my sketchbook and some pens, but alas that didn't materialise. I have been thinking about doing a jewellery making course or getting back into knitting. Not that my knitting skills are in abundance, plain and purl is about the extent of my knitting talents. But I'm thinking it would be good to do something creative and crafty just for the fun of it...for the shits and giggles as they say.
Hope all is well wherever you may be & the sunshine is in abundance!

::roll up, roll up::

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Some of my small canvas drawings are now up for sale on Dwanda for sale. I'm gong to try this out for a while and see if it's a grower and if so, who knows, I may even add to the collection or begin selling various other works.
Get em while you can!!

Excuses, Excuses....

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:44:00 +0000

Here's my excuse and a very valid one at that I think!
After weeks of nausea and fatigue, I finally feel more like me again.

Yep, looks like things are about to change around here!

Humming Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Paula McGurdy) — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:21:00 +0000

OK, so it's been a while, a long while, there's no excuse, well there is actually but I'll explain next time! I realised that I hadn't posted a photo of my Humming Bird piece from the exhibition, which feels like eons ago. I cut the birds out individually by hand and made a sculptural piece with the birds, I wanted them to be suspended so they looked like the were gathering to make their way back into the book. So here it is....