Early Morning Mark-making
When you’ve been up since 4am and can’t focus, simple repetitive movements in left over paint are just what the doctor ordered.
I usually sketch a bit when I first settle into the studio - it helps warm up my fingers and arms (ESPECIALLY when it’s 58 and the space heater hasn’t quite caught up yet…) but every so often the entire day ends up being spent in those pages.
Days like today, where I found myself wide awake at 4 am - and now there’s not enough caffeine in the world to get me out of this haze.
So, marks in leftover paint it is.
I’ll use work in a few different methods; occasionally I just close my eyes and let the muscles of my arm pull the brush along the page, or I’ll pick an object and use it for some blind contours, other times I’ll just focus on the brush pressure and placement of the bristles, which can make for calligraphic-esque marks.
Either way, the point is to disconnect from anything analytical and just let the brush make it’s marks.
This is also where having multiple sketchbooks or sheets of sketch paper come in really handy. As one set dries, I can move onto another.
When I’ve decided I’ve finished with these it can be helpful for my process to lay these out and look at them for a while. I’ll note moments that call for more attention, lines that jump out at me as something to work with more (or to ignore), transparencies that I want to explore… etc. Scribbling these down somewhere, or sketching out what is interesting can set me up for a much more productive session the next time in the studio.
My Process; Photographing Work
*** This isn’t going to be about the technical aspects of photographing work. There is a plethora of great information online about how to properly and professionally photograph your work and I would just be rehashing it.
Here are two resources for the technical side of things;
I want to focus more on the importance of photographing your work (or simply seeing it) out of the studio, out of the context of it’s creation and in an intended atmosphere - be it on a wall of a home or office or gallery. ***
Where i photograph work currently - StudioStudioA2!
I started doing this back in Miami when I was a babyartist. Our condo building had a lounge up on the 11th floor that I could usually have all to myself. I would scope it out first and then bring up paintings and drawings in various states of done-ness to photograph separately and as collections.
Those windows…..
So much white.
I would usually begin with each painting on it’s own, photographed in a few different places if I’m able. This practice gave me an immense amount of insight into the work; ideas about the paintings became clear in these limited palette-surroundings. Things that would have been harder to glean in the mess and chaos of my teeny tiny artspace jumped out at me. Like little meditations on each one, without the distraction of the other work/the rest of our apartment.
Once each painting had their own little photoshoot (I would use several cameras, phone/DSLR/instax) I would start to combine works, to see what stories they had to tell each other. Sometimes collections would emerge from pieces I previously thought were unrelated. Sometimes I’d see holes, movement and colors that still needed to be addressed. I’d usually always learn something about the next steps, next direction to take the pieces. Or my favorite response from the paintings; I’m done, leave me be.
This practice is still very much a part of my process, though I’ve had to do some digging to find places to photograph work now that I don’t have access to a fancy lounge. The only rule I need to follow for the process to work is ; not in my studio.
Not around my other work, or supplies or sketches. To remove the pieces entirely is what works best for me.
Places I’ve tried (and you can too!*)
*with proper safety measures in place, because, you know, pandemic. Or better yet, make a plan now so that when we’re all safe and vaccinated you know where to go/who to call to set things up!
Reach out! Do you have a friend with a cool house? A nice big wall? Maybe send them a message and see if you can borrow it for an afternoon of photography. This can be especially handy if you want to show your work in the homes of your customers, it will give them an idea of how it can be styled/displayed.
Do you go into an office? Perhaps they have a nice minimal conference room with big windows you can use to set up work. Especially if you are trying to find more clients in the business sector - catering your imagery to where you want your work to live will help your prospective buyers imagine your work in their space.
School stairwells can be amazing little spaces of contrast between walls/floors if you’re going for a stark ‘gallery’ type image. If you find yourself on the campus of a college perhaps check out a few hallways, a good white wall and gleaming cement floor are always nice backdrops for photos.
(( Just keep in mind that good lighting is literally everything when photographing work, so either bring your own kit (which is usually fine in homes/offices but can be a little tricky if you are out in a public/semi-public atmosphere like a school) or make sure you have good windows in your immediate vicinity. ))
Rentable locations! Check your area for photography studios that might have rooms for rent. This is a really good option if you’re starting to consider prints, or wanting to control all aspects of the photo, as these studios usually have high-quality lighting kits and all sorts of the right equipment to produce perfect photos.
Without access to that fancy lounge in Miami I floundered for a bit looking for a good room to take pictures in, borrowing garage space/storage space/cool basement walls for photos. But with the opening of StudioStudio here in Ann Arbor, thankfully, I’ve got my go-to spot back again and many more photoshoots of artwork will be happening in the future.
Happy 2021 friends <3
I hope you all had a nice start to 2021. Our NYE celebration was a lot different this year - but not necessarily worse by any means. My husband and I made tacos, played games and enjoyed not having to decide who had to drive home from the festivities this year. If anything I think I prefer this quieter more introspective entry into the changing year, especially after everything that has happened recently.
I have to keep reminding myself however, that just because we’re leaving 2020 behind, doesn’t mean that everything will get magically better. I’m hopeful, but trying to stay rooted in reality too.
I’ve made a few little paintings over the break and am finishing up one larger work - but I spent the majority of time thinking about the direction I’ve been following for the last half of the previous year. It’s easy for me to get swept away by new marks and not question their purpose - so I’ve been taking lots of notes and considering the reasonings behind their placement and movement.
Again, really enjoying this quieter start to the year.
A Change in Plans....
I’m so sorry to say that I have made the incredibly difficult decision to step back from the York Winter Art Fair this weekend. With the Covid 19 numbers going up locally as they are - I’m just going to be too nervous to be a successful vendor this weekend. I love meeting and talking with you all and I’ll be too wrapped up in my head to do that well.
I know the team over at York and StudioStudio will do an amazing job of keeping everyone safe, I just need to sit this one out for my own mental health.
I hope you all are doing well and staying safe
<3
Holiday Updates
Happy December everyone!
Just thought I’d pop in with a few holiday updates:
SHIPPING:
Due to a HUGE influx of packages FedEx and USPS are both recommending all non-rush orders are shipped by December 11th. If you’re looking to pay the regular shipping fee, then definitely make sure you have your art in your cart before then.
SHOWS:
November 30th-December 30th: I’ve got two pieces in a group show at David Jones Gallery out in Kansas City, MO. I unfortunately won’t be in attendance (limiting travel) but I’m sure it will be a great event.
December 4th-December 6th: I am so excited to be participating in York Ann Arbor/StudioStudio Winter Art Fair. It will be outside, masked and distanced and I have great faith in the team over there to provide a safe environment for the attendee and the artists. I’ll have prints (and originals weather permitting) If you’re local this is a great chance to pick up an original without having to worry about shipping! Send me a message if there’s a specific piece you are interested in and I’ll make sure to put it in the lineup of work to bring.
In other news the new site launch is *ahem* a bit delayed. But it’s coming. Soon. Slowly. To pick up new work that’s not on my site check out Jenner McGinn Studios and RedDot Culture. (and follow them on social media so you don’t miss out on sales!)