It all started with the two photographs above, of a friends weathered patio, covered with shade cloth. The shadows, textures and colours attracted my attention, so I took a few photos for my pattern library. A couple of weeks ago I created some folded, layered, cut work using these, & since then, I’ve been exploring other combinations of these two photos. Some are layered combinations of both photos, others are repeat patterns of just one (shown below).
So far I have created 8 variations mounted on discarded vinyl records. Each time I finish one, I have another one ready to explore next. I’m having to remind myself to be patient, while my curiosity prompts me to try out all these ideas. Sometimes I get annoyed – & find myself thinking – why aren’t we done yet? My mind replies ‘ How long is a piece of string?’, & I begin to wonder – is there any end to this exploring? Seems not (at the moment).
It’s made me begin to appreciate my own creative process. I have no planned outcome, I just started exploring the combination possibilities of two photographs, in my own way, because I was curious. I have no planned result in mind either, yet I am producing a body of work, which once I have finished ‘exploring’, I can spread out, review, & select the best work from – for an exhibition!
The longer I keep exploring these two photographs, trying different arrangements of the same pieces, the more I find the character of each one reflecting different things to me – cluttered, calm, playful, even sharp! Their individual character seems to be decided in the process of making them, because there is no intention at all to create it when I’m working!
And there are so many possibilities! The more I work with them, the more possibilities I seem to notice. Over time, once my usual, familiar way of working is exhausted, the unexpected stuff will start to arise, the ideas I could never think up on my own, but just happen when I’m focused on exploring. It’s my unknown zone, where I am travelling, but have no clue where I’m going! I am slowly beginning to feel at home just travelling, & despite my mind constantly wanting to have a known destination – & get there – I think I’ll just wait & see where I end up!
I guess I’ll only know exactly where the destination is, when i arrive :o)
Vicky xxx
