If you’ve seen my latest Instagram post, you’ll have witnessed my foray into creating a reel featuring myself. If you’ve yet to view it, head over and give it a look. While I often shy away from exposing too much of my face on social media, I feel it’s time for me to start sharing more of myself instead of hiding behind my artworks. It’s a steep and uncomfortable learning curve, but it’s also something I feel has been missing from my practice as an artist, that is to foster more connection and understanding.
I don’t intend on keeping myself on a content treadmill, and I will only create reels and make posts that serve a specific purpose. I don’t do things just for the sake of an algorithm, so don’t expect a sudden jump into being a content machine. My priority will always be to my artwork and its development.
Speaking of which, my last update on my arts practice was basically my lack of one. I have yet to return to my studio and begin painting again, but that’s not to say I’m not building any momentum. I’ve been doing a lot of planning, research, learning and undertaking mentorship. I’m an organised person so I’ve never struggled with the business side of being an artist, and have my design career I have for that. So, the admin and planning side of my career is still functioning.
I was fortunate enough to recently meet with a prominent Australian curator who gave me a lot of helpful career advice. There were a lot of takeaways and lot of surprising insights, as well as a lot of groundwork that I need to do. I was advised that my work is ready for gallery representation if I were to pursue it. It’s something I want, but not in the way that a lot of unrepresented artists idealise gallery representation. For me, I still wish to retain a level of independence as an artist, it’s more about the recognition of my work and the opportunities for development and career advancement that can open to me through gallery support.
Now that I know my work is ready for my next career milestone, and have the confirmation that I have all the right pieces of the puzzle in my hands, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. This means one of my main goals now is to work towards some level of representation and with a more discerning eye. The investment I’ve made over the last five to six years is starting to feel as if it’s leading somewhere, and I will continue that investment and development in myself and my practice. Which takes us into what I’m doing with the actual artwork I’m building.
It’s taken me a bit longer than expected to even want to start creating again, but I’m finally at a place where I’m ready to pick up the paintbrush. I’ve yet to officially return to my studio, especially when I’m still going through a lot of health issues. This makes it challenging to dedicate as much time as I would like, and the financial strain I’m experiencing due to all the medical bills is a drain on how much I can invest in materials. But the good news is that I am intending to hold another solo show this year and keep up the pattern of holding a solo show once a year. So far it has been consistent for the past three years. I’m looking at holding it in the last half of this year, I just need to find a space. I will be sure to keep you all updated when things are more concrete.
I am planning a few new bodies of work this year, which I’ll release as multiple projects, some of it a little experimental and not commercially focused or possibly viable, but we’ll see how it all unfolds as I build it up. What work I intend to put into my solo exhibition at this point, I’m unsure.
In my previous post I touched on my journey into becoming an art therapist. It’s going to be a four-year journey that includes a master’s degree. I officially started the first leg of my study last week in which I’m undertaking a Certificate IV in Mental Health. It includes placement hours and once I complete the course, I will have satisfied all the requirements to apply for a master’s in art therapy as well as be qualified to work in mental health. It’s at that point I may transition my career from design into mental health. But since that is a couple of years away, we’ll see how that develops.
I have a lot going on this year, and it feels like a very transformational time for me, especially when I hope to reach a better position with my health. I have a lot of work ahead of me physically, mentally and emotionally.
1 comment
Nice one jase!