[Yesterday evening i went for a walk, with the purpose of finding something stunning to capture - looking back at my photos i really need to develop my photography skills because the pics i took don't give enough credit to how beautifully the light bounced of the sea. Caswell Bay becomes a different place when the tides in, the water crashes against the rocks and the surfers take to the waves.
I found a spot on the cliffs to sit and take it all in, its settings like this which make it hard to leave.]

Pooches

[FASHION OFFICE !!]

- was the entitled email containing the instructions for my summer project in preparation for Autumn term (which apparently starts on 1st Oct, seams a bit late?) the title is 'Cultural Tastes' and they want us to draw/photograph/collage our home country, to introduce ourselves on day 1! 

Autumn term is about 'Colour', (i'm gunna study colour! woo haha that just sounds so funny and amazing at the same time :) ) so we also have to collect many different coloured papers (lucky i have a shoe box full!!)

So, i prayed and my brain got to work...

after fluttering from idea to idea, ive decided to focus on 'journeys i take oftern' recording all my drawings on postcards, as Mumbles is crawling with holiday makers in the summer. Im going to record characteristic of the area, like how everybody seams to own a dog. I've started by collaging the dogs on my street, and maybe ill look even further.

I've never been able to draw realistically, so collage is good for me, you can just play with shapes and colours and catch up on old magazines whilst you work.

Border Collie
(Maisy)

Sausage Dog
(Pip)

Corgi
(Unknown)

This is just the start, i think they will look cool copied and repeated.

I went for a run this morning around the cliffs, it was beautiful! But i did that thing where at the top of a hill, you give your legs full freedom to move as they wish, and you tumble quickly down the hill before you have to pull yourself together to resume normality!!

{Starting again, with the same body.}

These pages have gone through many a make over. Since around March I've wanted to give my blog a freshen up, i toyed with the idea of moving over to 'Tumbler' and start a fresh, but this blog is living proof of the only new years resolution i've ever kept so i didn't want to walk away that quickly.

[The torn place] Came from a podcast i was listening to, it stuck me that what i was hearing was stunning and that what i've wanted for this space is an avenue where i can be open and me, which i find easier to write than vocalise. So [The torn place] is assentially where brokeness makes way for power, and recording the journey and outcome of that.

The Sun = Cliff walks and beach games, and the outcome of the Sun was this video that i put together this afternoon, when i decided my skin couldn't take any more tanning.

The real purpose of getting behind the camera, was to film a video for a song warren wrote, but that needs a bit more work.

Practicing drawing people...

MID JULY.

I've needed substance for a new blog post. So i've generated a few sketches, getting me back into drawing and giving your eyes some easy activity. 

Hunchback:

Lady in Lace 2:

Lady in Lace 1:

Pair:

{Maybe ill add some paint somewhere, i just needed to do something creative in the fear of freezing before i start my degree!}

Inspiration Section.

I Love magazines/Books/images & words. I've most defiantly mentioned Oh Comely before, but last week i discovered the amazing Frankie, an Australian publication, which is really a study tool cause theres just so much interesting information from philosophy to design to travel! Its basically pages full of people who i find inspirational.

My boyfriend liked these illustrations, portraits of people in clothes, instead of simply photographing models in clothes. They were drawn by Helena Randall, (Click on her name) her blogs worth a look.

Gemma & Alex

Bethany

Ted, Francesca & Jean

I've spent the past few months reading 'To die for, is fashion wearing out the world?' by Lucy Siegle. Its taken ages because its like reading a text book, its factual, in every essence of the word. In order to digest it properly my concentration has to be on full. 

Its a book that reveals the in's and out's of the fashion industry, the good, the bad and the ugly - and my word its ugly!

Check out this article on the Guardian, which sheds a little light on the book. I'll probs do a post on it when im finished, but in all honesty.. i feel like it needs to be read at least twice!

I've had a revolutionary brain wave.

Whilst putting my balance and 'core' stability to the test (which id hopped a year of ballet classes would of improved.) i attempted to cross a 'Slack Line'.  

Slack lining is a new 'CRAZE' (like the yo-yo) in europe. My mother being at the constant fore front of 'active outdoor equipment' purchased one, and i have to say its quite addictive, i am yet to cross it without holding on, but im sure my time will come. 

So, the brain wave..

Im not sure if your aware, but there is many people tapping into the well that is 'Fashion blogs', usually they consist of girls taking photos of there outfits and posting with the tag line 

'found these at the back of my wardrobe, quick casual look'

Times change, technology moves on and i think i need more than an outfit to grab me, i need commitment and passion. Which brings me to combining the slack line and fashion, to result in the ultimate skill vs creativity collaboration. 

If i was watching a girl parading her outfit down a slack line, id be much more impressed.

SO, WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Its been a good week,  me and warren went to London for his interview at Goldsmiths, and he got in! Which is just dead exciting, because he really deserves it and the course sounds perfect for him. I did realise that sitting outside a interview room waiting for somebody is much more nerve racking than being in the interview (considering i could hear everything, cause its drums!).

It was also an exciting trip for me because i got to check out the house i'll be staying in for the year, and its beautiful!!! I feel like i've landed on my feet, and am utterly greatful, God don't half no how to treat a girl :)

This is my room in the attic, theres another big window behind me, and i can lie in bed and look at the clouds, which is pretty much what i do now, also if you haven't noticed... I HAVE A DOUBLE BED! first time ever!!

I also got to go to the central saint martins BA shows, and have a look at what i'll be getting up to in three years time. I was impressed by the skills, but i was surprised that i liked the knitted pieces best, they just seamed more natural and tactile. I didn't see anything which i LOVED, which left me a bit empty as i left, i guess i was expecting to be overwhelmed with inspiration and excitement, but i wasnt.

Then it hit me.....

If i loved everything there, what would be the point of me doing the course? Because it would already of been done. 

So then i got excited.

I'll leave you with a couple of snaps from the inside of the college and an upside down interior....

I'm currently waiting for the clock to hit 11.30 so that i can log on and check out my overall mark. Its not as dramatic as it sounds.

 I'm very peaceful about the whole thing - whatever it is (Pass, Merit or distinction) i've come away from 'Art Foundation' with a growth in knowledge, ability and a discovery of how i want to spend the rest of my life. 

The course has been a real support for me, its given me an insight into what a creative community can be. Its a deeply diverse collection of people, and it isn't perfect. But its been my constant comparison to the church, and in many ways its become my church because truthfully i feel my relationship with God and my understanding of him as 'Creator' has grown so much deeper on the 5th floor of an office block with 67 people who to my knowledge don't have any particular faith than what ive released myself to experience during church

I have now come to this conclusion, and believe that there are many personal factors which contribute to these feelings. 

1. I have brought God into the area of my life which has taken over my time, and 'making' is what i've spent the majority of the year doing.
2. Location. I live in Swansea and i study in Swansea this city is my home so i want to be involved in celebrating this place.
3. Relationships and the growth of new friendships, has given me support and joy.

Although its good what i've experienced doing art foundation, i don't believe it has replaced Church although for this year its become a place for me to know God. Church has its own treasures, which have subtly rested in me and without the enjoyment and music of a service, i would be sad. 

 I have so much admiration for the church and how they approach life. Ultimately, church is all i want. I just don't no how to belong there anymore. 

I feel what i'm going into is a period where i will form my own opinions, and outwork them through my art. This is the beginning of that, it may not be written well but hopefully you can understand the ideas that im putting across.

I've had a bit of 'Creative block' recently. In fact it was said to me last week by a tutor that i've now 'broken through the pain barrier'. But in order to do that, it was a week of quite insane actions and on Wednesday i drew it out (Above).


It started with me taking my piece of fabric for a walk, and then throwing it and slowly learning to like it again. A bit crazy.


But after that moment, things got alot easier.

Now, we work on the top floor of an office block and i managed to avoide the security cameras and break into floor 4! (not quite, but i did trespass to a certain degree) We took some shots of the fabric wrapped in different ways in this vast area of grey.