Today’s studio time was quick but fruitful.  I had done all the thinking already, so when I arrived, I was woman on a mission.  I stuck my span shapes up, overlapping and crossing a corner (of course) and set to work cutting out some purple brushstroke silhouettes, without a brushstroke for a guide.  With all the time I’ve been spending ‘studying’ brushstrokes, this was a surprisingly easy feat.  I then painted off the vinyl and directly onto the wall.  I’m trying to be a bit looser in the way I’m using vinyl.

Today I am in the studio.  I have been writing my research paper, or worry about my research paper a lot lately, and it has kept me from making.  Today I am making.  Having had some feedback recently where a few things were brought to my attention, which I was not seeing, I am trying to begin to change.

I am toying with the idea of not cutting out the brushstrokes exactly as I have been.  Maybe giving them more room.  Maybe even changing up the order of doing things.

With very late notice, I was included in the VCA Honours show and I had to put together something very quickly.  I have been experimenting with using two different colours as vinyl backing, sticking them to each other before painting on them and then cutting them out and applying them.  This has proven a very tricky process.  Sticking vinyl onto vinyl which hasn’t yet been adhered to a hard flat surface is incredibly difficult, but I got there (after a fair amount of wasted vinyl).  Purple and green backing, with yellow and fluro pink ‘swept’ over the top.

Sometimes posting unfinished work or work in progress online is daunting.  Exposing ideas and work that aren’t complete or even work that isn’t quite sure where it’s going.  It is perhaps part of the reason why I haven’t posted much lately.  It’s cool though, I’m big and brave – here is some of that work.

Using actual signwriter’s vinyl instead of book covering contact makes a huge difference to the possibilities of the work.  With contact, the vinyl paint doesn’t adhere very well and ends up peeling off – unwanted paint skins.  It’s also a bit rubbish at adhering to walls and floors.  It was good for testing ideas early on though.  Now I have been able to stretch out in my studio, rolling out metres of vinyl, pouring great globs of paint and then brushing it around with a broom.  Yes.  A broom.  I found one with lovely long bristles and I can push the paint around from a standing position with it’s long-enough handle.  Painting onto the floor arose out of need, to avoid runs and drips in my brushstrokes.  This way, the paint stays where I put it.