Unnamed Forty Seven — Sidelong :: (click image to see more)
Just had a great conversation with another artist and in it mentioned the idea of self erected barriers. I confess, I am the king of barriers – if there is such a thing as a kingdom for this behavior. I too readily erect internal barriers to justify not moving forward with something.
Like right now I’m stalling on shopping my work out to galleries – I’m struggling with it out of some kind of misplaced fear. I’ll overcome it, I have to – but at the moment I’m still stuck and no one else can do this for me. It’s an internal struggle I have to conquer for myself.
Light Spear Over Madras, 2013 – Light Signatures :: (click to see more)
For so long now I’ve been afraid to promote my images to galleries. If I psychoanalyze myself I’m sure I could dig up mountains of excellent, rational, reasons why this is the case – and just because I’m able to name my fear hasn’t made it any less fearful for me.
But I’ve undertaken to systematically face my fear and somehow push through it. It’s long past time I did this. I can no longer deny it’s holding me back. My method is small steps – baby steps. Each step in itself is logical, doable and non-threatening – so I can do it – am doing it.
Occasionally though when I take a longer perspective and see the destination of my small step process I get locked up – for a moment at least. It’s weird. Hopefully this fear will leave me once I actually manage to reach my goal and promote my work to galleries.
Deep Blue Refracted Orange, 2013 – Light Signatures :: (click to see more)
Began working on a book of images today to use as a leave behind when I meet with galleries. But I’m kind of excited by the possibility of offering it as an ebook for free on my site and also as a hardcover for sale. I spent a good amount of time researching and trying to find a print on demand publisher with decent colour and quality – which not surprisingly was harder than expected.
Next step is complete the design then make some to see how they actually turn out. Difficult to judge the colour quality without a test at least. Now I’m also excited by the idea of making a book to accompany the Light Signatures work … once it’s complete.
Speaking of which I’ve kind of started experimenting with production of the Light Signatures images. Ordered some clear film, worked out a process for separating the images into visual elements for printing as individual layers and ran a small print test on the film – which looks pretty good. Next step is to start fiddling with the resin and see how well it transfers the ink pigment from the film so I can build up layers of colour.
Hope it works. Alternative to this organic manual process would be to 3D print it somehow in clear acrylic – if that even exists. Now that would be very cool.
