I'm researching artists for both my assignment and my project at present. Additionally, I'm researching artists for my overall MA too. I'm generally hampered by my terrible memory for names, but I'm reliably informed the same can be said for others. Either that or people are just very kind...
My current assignment requires me to start networking with others in my field. I have to reach out and request a chat or an interview around their practice that I find relevant to my own. The theory behind this is sound; making connections is paramount as a way forward to furthering my own artistic practice. The reality is slightly trickier. For a start, I don't want anyone I approach to be under the illusion that I feel my practice is on a par with theirs. That smacks of an arrogance and presumption that I simply don't have. The second issue is approaching people when you lack confidence and never really know what to say. At my age, I have primarily worked through these issues and have a few strategies in place, but this whole networking task puts me completely out of my comfort zone and I have to put on my big girl pants and stop hiding under the table.
I approached the task by finding relevant ceramic artists who strongly work with narratives in their practice, and whose work I very much like. Having been informed that many ceramicists don’t get back to your request for a chat, I made a list of five, as I only required two:
Qi Fang Colbert
David William Sampson
Jaeeun Kim
Lucy Baxendale
Jillian Riley.
I emailed them all via their websites and also messaged them via their Instagram accounts. Covering all bases I felt would help me to get a response. Did it ever! Within 24 hours, not only had I heard back from two from my list, but I had also carried out the Zoom meetings too. Thank goodness I had already prepared my questions before I emailed out my requests!
Within the next couple of days I heard back from my other three artists and all bar one was able to assist me. To be fair, the one who I didn’t interview was still prepared to help, it’s just she had so much work on at present, that I suggested she stand down and concentrate on that.
I learned much from the interviews and it will really help with my assignment. So, lesson learned. It pays to stick your neck out and step outside of your comfort zone. People are generally lovely and only wish to help you. Why wouldn’t they? I would.
My research for my project, whilst including the same list of artists, also has a few more that I want to look at. The work of Richard Notkin interests me, and I need to research him further. I like the idea of storytelling by adding tiny figures to pieces and Richard does this. As he’s American, I’ve only seen pictures of his work.
I also want to explore artists who have created whole other worlds. There are many of these in the world of fiction, but two that interest me are Lewis Carroll and Terry Pratchett. This is more for my long term MA goals than for my current assignment or project, but I can do this research alongside my current remit.
Ultimately, all of this research will inform my choices and ideas, and move my practice forward towards my end goal of telling the stories from Blinksville in 3 dimensional ceramic forms.
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