This has been a busy month for me. On one side I have spent lots of time reviewing my work, seeking feedback from others and more importantly and stopping to consider how I think of my work and progress. Such questions while interesting in the OCA degree space provide insight into future challenges I will face in the outside world. I have found the exercises in the course notes very helpful this month asking me to test the timing, tempo and pace of my planning, thinking of obstacles to progress and of plans to overcome such blocks and thinking about working with others, showcasing my work and other opportunities.
Engagement with others is a fluid task. I have no direct control over how others work and their own tempo or timelines so having reached out, there are often periods where nothing appears to be happening. Then, if responses come back, I am left with a surge of work I need to do. An example of this is the artist’s residency I applied for in Italy. The acceptance came back a few days ago and this triggers new tasks and planning. I need to book flights and bus or rail travel and look at how to get from the airport to the site of residency. I need to consider the language barrier of being in residence at small Italian village so have signed up for online Italian course which I hope will provide me with some basics. I have started to research previous artists who have been in residence at this location and to learn from their experiences.  I also need to apply for funding for the residency with the OCA and Creative Scotland. My request to these funding bodies will be good skills to develop going forwards as an artist and I can imagine is something I will utilise again. All of this needs to be documented into my learning log.
There are new skills to learn from my creative test pieces too such as how to transfer my work onto the wood of a see-saw whether using laser transfers, wraps or cyanotypes. I need to find time for this within my work load.
On a personal level, my father is now aged 94 and his health is deteriorating and as he approaches the end of his life this presents challenges for me in terms of emotional and time. My own health been suffering over past few months with challenges over a slipped disc in my neck, with being put on statins for early heart disease and with my diabetes has been needing more monitoring and careful nurturing. At the back of these things, my project and how this interrelates with other things in my life comes with the potential for mental health challenges. Interesting to consider where all of these things fit with me as a person and with my art practice.