Artist Residency in Motherhood | Week 3
If you’ve missed the last two blogs, three weeks ago i began my own Artist Residency in Motherhood based on the self guided artist residency by artist Lenka Clayton. If you would like to see the progression of my work within this residency. Visit the rest of my blog.
Here’s how week 3 went.
I’m very limited when it comes to work time so unless I get up much earlier than my daughters usual 7:30 sometimes 8:00 AM wake-up, I only have 2-2.5 hours in the afternoon to make work. This block of time Is also when I try to take a shower, do any work for my business, and of course, studio time. Monday I had a business call that took up an hour, and unfortunately my daughter woke up shortly after.
While I wish I hadn’t, I let the lack of productivity affect my attitude and outlook for the remainder of the day, until 9 PM when I I developed a few rolls of film. The rest of the week was a mixture of productivity, frustration, tears, and a few good photographs and new pieces in the progression of work I’ve been trying to make.
The following day I rolled with the chaos of toddlerhood and made photographs of the messy and sweet moments. Including bites being taken out of my hopeful still life of apples.
I continued the day working on my websites, scanning the film I had developed for the previous night, and preparing some work for my Artist Mother Critique Group.
I’m really happy with a lot of the film that was developed, and feel a lot happier with the medium format images I had taken. Before I had a lot of trouble using that camera properly. Here’s a few favorites from the roll.
Wednesday I attempted to make the best of a few moments of sun and made a couple cyanotypes of more fruit pouch lids. With the intermittent sunlight I was left with these two. I enjoy the pattern the lids begun to make but would need a longer exposure time.
Thursday’s “Studio” time was taken up by cleaning the house, some website work. And attempt to get some use out of a stack of polaroids I have that don’t have an image by making a collage of polaroid emulsions that fell apart upon drying - at-least I tried to make something.
Friday I was able to test out some cyanotype toning on test prints by toning the prints with some black tea. It was interesting to see what happened with these, and I’m glad I tried the process. I do think I prefer the blue tones and toning them just gave the images an aged look that I wasn’t as fond of.
Overall, this week I was mostly spending time trying to balance a small art practice with keeping my house together and trying to make website updates that have been overdue. While trying to continue making work I’ve been thinking a lot about the work I’ve made in the past that was all more personal. While the cyanotypes of objects my daughter leaves on the floor have some significance in the daily life we share together, I’m becoming more interested in my relationship with her. Especially when comparing it to the experience that my mother had caring for me as a single teenage mom.
I haven’t yet thought of the work I could explore about my experience of motherhood compared to my moms, but I may begin to put more thought into the work I’m trying to make. I hope to figure out how to make work in collaboration with my daughter somehow. Though the paintbrushes and pencils I’ve to tell her to take out of her mouth prove that may be difficult.
To end my work week I had an introduction call with my Artist Mother Critique Group. It was great to virtually meet my mentor, along with the other three artists participating. I’m really excited to be in a space to discuss the work I’m making and receive feedback. I hope this experience allows my work to grow and help me get back into thinking about my work more clearly.
I hope that the coming weeks bring more inspiration. At the start of my first week of this residency I was really hopeful and excited to be giving myself the time and space to make work. I’m realizing that I may need to re structure my work time and be more patience with my studio time (or lack thereof) each day. I’m still trying to find balance in maintaining my practice alongside motherhood and other obligations.
While this week felt less inspired, and less productive, I’m still hopeful for the coming weeks, especially with the addition of the Artist Mother Critique group. To end with something I’m thankful for, as the last two weeks.
This Week I am really thankful to have all of the materials I need to continue making work in whatever medium I want to pursue.
If you would like to support my Artist Residency in Motherhood,consider becoming a Patron. Through the generosity of my patrons each month, I am able to pay for this website, or purchase film to make more work.
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