I’ve done a bit more work on my project today, and I think I’m nearly done with it. This has been quite a challenge for me, as I’m completely outwith my comfort zone, in terms of colour and my work method.  I’m not usually this adventurous with colour, and that in itself has been quite a major hurdle to get over.  Colour terrifies me.  Well, new colour terrifies me.  I feel so reserved when I use colours and I tend to stick to the same colours.

Creating this has given me the chance to be a bit bolder.  I’m trying to learn not to be so ‘precious’ about what I’m creating, in the sense that if I don’t like how it’s going then I’ll paint over the top of it.  This has been something that I’ve been scared to do.  I’ve kind of felt that since I’ve just spent hours creating it, I have to live with it.  Silly, I know.  However, I’ve painted over this several times and you really can’t see much of the original colouring.  I’ve used all sorts of colour here like reds and pinks, alongside blues and yellows.  Combinations I never thought I’d use.  So, yeah, I’m really enjoying this.

I’m back to college tomorrow and I have been working on my life drawing skills for my assessment, also tomorrow.  The feet I did in the classroom with a live model, but he wasn’t there the last class before the holidays, so we had to work on the hands at home.  I’ve drawn my own hands.  It’s really difficult to try and hold a pose when you’re trying to draw it at the same time.  Your hand or whatever your drawing tends to move. Obviously that’s something you have to get used to, and you have to adapt.  The drawings aren’t great but since I’m just learning I’m not too down about it.  Thankfully my tutor is really interested in expression at this stage, and not overly concerned about exact detail.

So, I’m actually getting on really well with my final pieces. I’m just about done with the top painting, so that’s My Space out of the way.  I have a drypoint etching to do tomorrow for Coast, which I would do today but I have to paint the surface first and run it through the printing press before I can do the etching. I also have my collograph to print and I have my lino cut ready to go. So basically all I have to do is my printouts, and that project is finished.  I just have to do my paintings for Painting To A Theme, but I will have 2 weeks to complete these, and since I’ll be finished everything else I’ll have the whole 2 weeks to do these.  That will be plenty of time!  I can’t believe I’m so far ahead with everything, especially given the state of panic at the start of the course.  I’m really, really pleased with how I’ve coped, and I feel I’ve come on massively since the start.  I really can’t wait to see where I’ll be in a year’s time!