There is a misconception that an artist’s work begins and ends with a funded project. These in-between periods are often where the next steps begin to form.
Following the completion of A Tapestry of Connection, I’ve been taking time to reflect on the direction of my work and where I want to focus my energy over the coming months.
That thinking has brought me back to the studio.
I’ve been preparing a new set of acetates to take to Highland Print Studio. My focus is on developing my photopolymer work further, pushing the process beyond where it has taken me so far – making this an opportunity to experiment, and deepen my understanding of the relationship between image, material and print.
Away from the studio, I’ve been preparing for a local exhibition of my work, where I’ll also be showing the collaborative artist book A Tapestry of Connection. It feels right to bring the project back to the community that shaped it. I’ll share dates and details soon.
Getting ready for an exhibition also brings practical things into focus. Framing prints is one of those necessary costs that often goes unmentioned, but it’s an important part of presenting the work properly. It’s all part of the process, even if it happens quietly in the background.
I’m also pleased to be contributing an editioned print to Highland Print Studio‘s 20:20 Box. Printmaking can be a solitary process, so it’s rewarding to be part of a wider community of artists connected through a shared commitment to the medium.
Although I’m not currently working within a funded project, the work continues — walking, collecting, looking, printing, and thinking. This quieter period is not empty; it is contemplative, and new ideas are beginning to take shape.
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Nicola Neate 