designing space

One afternoon, earlier this week, I cleared out the stack of paperwork that has been hiding under the bed, awaiting sorting and tossing or re-storing in my plan cabinet.



This is a Uni project from '91 or '92. Can't remember exactly. It was a studio that I struggled with, but I found myself amazed at the care and precision that I still put into the drawings. They were drafted in pencil on thick watercolour paper, with some watercolour highlights and Letraset text. It must have taken me ages. Looking back at them now, I think focussed on the presentation production in lieu of the design, because it just wasn't working for me. There was some kind of mental block there that I couldn't find my way around in order to get into the project- to really engage with the studio brief and find inspiration in response.

It's an interesting excersise to look at past work like this. This was one of many, many projects and artworks (from school as well as Uni, and even one painting from kindergarten) that I looked through that day. So many memories and markers of my art and design development were tied up in those sheets of paper and card. Many of them were put in the bin. Some I couldn't part with. A select few might get framed. Others were in a half way zone and ended up in a bundle that I imagine I will be recycling- good quality paper and only one side used, so why not use the other side for C to draw on, or perhaps even me, or perhaps cut into gift tags. These drawings fell into the latter.



It was a cathartic afternoon. Some shedding. Some inspiration to make time for more art and drawing in my life. I've always been drawn to (pardon the pun) drawing and printmaking. Perhaps now that I've made a little space....