British Ceramics Biennial

I would like to share some images I took recently at the British Ceramics Biennial that was held at the disused Spode factory in Stoke. I found it very inspirational and was so pleased to see an exhibition of this standard in Stoke on Trent. I just hope that the old Spode factory gets to house more creativity very soon because it is seeped in so much history and every inch reveals so much about the massive amount of productivity that happened on the site, in fact the building was as much a part of the exhibition as the pieces on display, right down to the engrained aroma of the clay. I wanted to look at and photograph every inch of the building because of the stories embedded within its decaying walls. I captured a number of amazing textures that I'm going to use within my upcoming project which will be on public display in January 2014. The textures from the factory, created by both man and nature, intentionally and unintentionally, represent the stoic yet fragile history of pottery industry within my city. And on a personal level the textures represent the childhood memories I have of the pottery factory where my Dad worked; following him around on his floor walks on many a Saturday morning and how, as an unassuming child with an overactive imagination, I made up endless exciting possibilities for the abundant obscure objects all around, which to my Dad and his colleagues were just tools that helped them to get on with their daily banal.

For a unique insight into the production process and to see some of those obscure objects in action take a look at this video recorded at the Portmeirion Group Factory in Stoke on Trent, captured by the talented Johnny Magee.

Creating the creative space.

Plans are in place for my new creative room/workshop/office and I can't wait! Its going to be amazing to have somewhere to make all of my images. It will be my home within my home.

I want this Ikea Expedit desk. I love the copious amount of shelving that it comes with and I love a big desk.

I'm also figuring out the colour scheme to enhance the feeling of creativity, any suggestions are very welcome. I'm thinking the more colourful the better but I don't want it to be too crazy and distracting.

The other part of my master plan is a music playlist. It will be inspiring, motivating and relaxing, all at the same time!

When more progress has been made I will post photos and tips learnt along the way and. As well as the playlist so that you can have a listen and hopefully share yours with me too and all together we can create the Ultimate Creative Playlist!

<3

Writing in Pencil

I did something yesterday that I haven't done in a while, so long in fact that I can't remember the last time...I wrote in pencil. It was the first thing that came to hand as a thought crossed my mind that I wanted to jot down because I've been forgetting my thoughts as quickly as they arrive recently. The moment I used it and looked at what I had written it was like the world paused for a second and I said to myself, 'oh my gosh'; writing in pencil created a depth of meaning that I couldn't fully process, and still can't now. But here goes anyway, in no particular order:

As a child at school I only wrote in pencil, as we all did in the UK in the eighties (do they now or has it gone digital...? Which brings me to a later thought). I think the first paradox that becomes apparent is that a pencil is such a charged tool, it's use can literally change the world and yet it is so simple, a piece of wood with a strand of lead (or what ever it's non toxic counterpart is, which again is a whole new thought about a generation or two exposed to lead poisoning!). There aren't many non electrical tools out there that can be used by children to change their own world and can also be used by powerful leaders to change the entire world.

Then I started thinking about why, why use a pencil. My first answer was because it can easily be erased, wow, well that in itself lead to so many other thoughts. Childhood thoughts erased, learning processes erased, mistakes covered up as if they never happened to promote perfection. Did all this happen to me when I was 5 years old and I got my b's and d's mixed up? 'Rub is out and do it again'. I have some of my school books from when I was 5 to 16, I can see that small remark as it has manifested and grew into a total need for perfection. I swapped the pencil for a pen when I reached a predetermined age and right of passage (another thought appears about the connotations a pencil has with being too irresponsible to use a pen). But when that time came for me I continued to write everything out in pencil first then wrote over it in pen, to avoid making a mistake, because I didn't trust myself and my abilities and I didn't want to show my floors and I wanted to appear to be perfect. And up to this week I can now see that I have been metaphorically writing in pencil, then over again in pen, then erasing the pencil, over and over again as an attempt to do things how I deem them to be perfect, for as long as I can remember, and driving myself to exhaustion and exasperation in the process.

So what do I do now?

Well when writing with a pencil triggers a thought that spans the depth and width of the universe, seeing a plethora of ideas, connections and emotions all at once through your minds eye, it may seem difficult to move on, however life is for living and not getting wrapped up in ones' narcissistic thoughts for too long. And to be honest I mainly write in digital now, where the faint scars of the mistakes left by an erased pencil are 100% non existent. I can't decided whether this is a blessing or a curse, not only for myself but for everyone else in the world in establishing their identity, so for now I will keep the pencil to hand and I will continue on this pencil journey of discovery.

One

This is the biggest week of my life, again! One year ago this Saturday I got married, we promised to be true to each other forever. This Saturday I become a full time Photographer and Artist, promising to be true to myself forever. The synchronicity at play is a power in existence in our world that is beyond my comprehension, and I love it! Its what gives me roots and makes me feel alive and gives me the momentum to grow. I am on an unmapped journey and these blogs will be footprints left in the sand, on the tarmac, in the dirt, grass, cobbles; whatever, wherever the path may be.