In-between projects

It can be difficult when you find yourself in-between projects.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds this feeling extremely difficult, yet when you come out the other end you realise how beneficial it was to have been given some time to think. 
These are times I find I'm able to return with fresh eyes and fully focus on the new task in hand.

During these quiet times there's always something I find to do.

1: Reading 
This is something I crave to be able to do when I'm rushed off my feet.
I usually take the time to do some research or revisit a subject I feel I can expand on from previous work.

2: Experimentation 
Over the past months or so I've been developing a material archive using clays and canvas.
Something I've been meaning to do for a while but haven't had the time.
Using different materials, soils, oxides, and mixing them into porcelain to create a comprehensive collection of tests for future works.

3: Explore new glazes 
While I have some time on my hands I've been mixing some new glazes that complement my existing ones.

4: Update website 
This is the perfect time to make sure all websites or profiles are up to date with new work or upcoming events.

5: Photography
Photograph any outstanding work 

6: Explore outside the studio
Changing my surroundings and exploring new places, visiting exhibitions, seeing new things, can be really helpful to move thinking forward when you feel a bit stuck. 

7: Talk to others 
Although I often have to gear myself up to leave the studio sometimes. I do fully understand how important it is to talk to other makers and artists. 
Talks, presentations, openings are all a beneficial way of utilising time. 
It keeps you fresh, informed and knowledgable.

Movement through space at Siobhan Davies Dance.

This collection of Images were taken on one of the very first visits to Siobhan Davies Dance back in December 2013 at the beginning of my research for the Human Nature Season in 2014.

I was partly interested in looking at the movement through space and also wanted to push the capability of the camera to slow the final images down.

Although the outcome for Human Nature was completely different I still consider these to be important in the initial stages of the thought process.

I'm in not doubt that they will feed into another project at some point in the future. 

All images taken by Ben Winkley Dec 2013

All images taken by Kim Norton Dec 2013 

Physical traces of making

This exploratory work has been sitting in my sketch book for a while now. I'm revisiting it as I think I've finally formulated my thinking enough to begin to develop it further.

I'm looking at the process of making and the importance of that direct contact or handling of a material through making. In this case I'm using three different clays. 

With a simple set of instructions such as: pushing, squeezing, folding, opening I've been interpreting and responding to these words through the movement and manipulation of the clay itself.

 The initial idea came from looking at Richard Serra's verb list. There is a rhythm to this list in much the same way there is a rhythm to many making processes. 

http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2011/10/20/to-collect

Each piece of clay begins in the shape of a ball. The idea is to work quickly without over thinking each instruction meaning you are left with an object that hasn't been overworked. All tools have been removed from this process. Every mark, trace and indentation has been made through my hands or contact with the work bench.

I will be posting more images as this begins to unfold. 

All images taken by Ben Winkley 2015