Our introductory project asked us to collect objects around one of four themes and explore them through drawing and mark making.
I was drawn to the theme “Frozen in Time” although I did have a think about all of the choices but struggled to relate to them and kept returning to the first one. I did some brainstorming – thinking first of things literally frozen/captured. Things that we freeze to preserve or things trapped in amber/fossils/collections of creatures stuck in glass cases.
I tried to move away from the literal meaning, as prompted, and it led me to thinking about objects that mentally freeze time. Things we attach sentimentality to – items that can transport us back to memories and feelings we have preserved/frozen for ourselves.
I gathered items I own from home with strong memories attached. My first layout had a rose that I’d frozen to keep and a bag from a holiday that had a really interesting texture. I soon decided against those though as the photo looked flat and the while I thought the frozen rose was fun, it was too literal.
I chose a couple of different objects to put in and changed the layout a bit to make sure I had some interesting textures and shapes.
All the objects I choose have strong emotions and memories attached to them. The background cloth belonged to my Grandmother, it had an interesting pattern and fringing that I liked. The photograph is a literal “frozen in time” moment. I used to collect old photos years ago but gave them away. This one I bought three years ago at a time when I started to pick up creative hobbies again and she became a sort of good luck charm even though I have no idea who she was. The petals are from my daughters flowers I bought her on her 18th birthday. The coral was from a beach in Malaysia – it was over twenty years ago and I wouldn’t dream of taking it now! The cork is from a bottle of champagne opened when we bought our house and the beads are a souvenir from a series of Buddhist lectures I saw in 2008. All these objects were deliberately chosen for their ability to vividly transport me back to a specific time and place.
Recording the objects proved a bit tricky. I like drawing but I’m not very good. I have added the drawings I did below. Some of them work and some really don’t. The paper I used reflected the theme, I chose old, creased papers I have around the house. I also used the back of some old maps. I tried to stick to sepia and brown tinged paper to fit the vintage feel.
I feel they are “poor” drawings, at one point I even took a rubbing of the coral in order to capture the texture better.
Looking at the list of artists to check out for this project I was drawn to Debbie Smyth and Roanna Wells. I love both of these artists and found mark making to be very compelling. I feel mark making is more “me” and I really started to love the project from that point.
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