Back after a break

So I think I've recovered after the image a day project and I also feel that the project was very good for me, I feel like I worked through a lot things that had began to bother me about my work and my practice. I feel far more focused now and I have a greater understanding of what I would like to do with my work next. My time is still a bit split, between teaching, illustration and fine art, all of these are necessary if I want to continue paying the bills (which reminds me, I moved house again).
So as much as I would like to get back on the computer and produce 3D work, I'm still deeply in love with traditional work and as such I'm working towards an exhibition of works based on Manx folklore... I'll update you on that later, here is a work in progress in my new studio:

The image a day project has ended

Looking back at the start of the project I think I was incredibly naive about how big the project would be. The project has been extremely demanding but also really rewarding. I've had the opportunity to work across many mediums and explore a number of themes (which is alway good fun).  In terms of thinking of an image to create everyday I've only really stumbled a couple of times, at the end of January, I had a couple of days where I really found it hard to come up with anything (though I did, in the end) and then a brief spate around TT week, where I wanted to do images that were bike themed without actually doing images of Bikes.

The long duration  of the project ( a whole year) has made the process of creating an artwork every day into sort of a habit, it's become something I just do every day now.  and it's been nice in that I can explore whatever medium I'm in the mood for be it Acrylic paint, print making, digital or drawing. People ask me how far ahead I work? to be honest, not very, usually only a day ahead. 

I've tried to keep the subject matter as light as I could, but I know at times it got a bit dark, I'll not apologise for that as it's all a part of life, though I would like to thank all those people who emailed or asked if I was ok. (I was, but thanks for asking)

Part of the project meant travelling round all the island's high schools and producing an artwork in front of the students, which was nice (and I'd like to say thank you to all the patient high school art teachers who put up with me). The thing I've enjoyed the most about the project is the amount of exposure it has gotten, it's not just the Manx public that have  viewed the daily artwork, but people from the Uk, USA, Canada, Australia, Malta, Bulgaria, all over the world really,I've Even had views from far flung islands in the south pacific and Mongolia. The Blog averages around 100 to 200 views per day with a current total of around 40k views.

I think I'm too close to the project to decide how I feel about it. I don't know what the arts council plans to do with artwork after the project is over, I've heard plans ranging from an exhibition to a book, I guess we'll see in 2015. People keep asking me what I'm going to do next, in truth I don't know, all I really know is that I'm going to sleep in (all year I've been getting up at 7am or earlier to promote each day's artwork) and I'm going to have a little rest.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Island of culture team, the IOM Arts Council for funding the project and to everyone who has viewed the blog throughout the year. it's been a full on year for the island in terms of creativity  and I hope that 2015 will be equally as amazing.

What to do next?

As the image a day project enters it's final stage of about 60 or so artworks, I'm keenly aware of the fact that I have nothing planned for after it is over. In the past when I've finished a big project or large body of work, I've been so exhausted (mentally) that a break is all I've thought about. The image a day project is different in that, yes it is large project with a lot of work involved, but it a little bit of work every day rather than bursts of vast amounts of work over short periods of time. The project has been hard, but it has been good for me, I feel like I have my mojo back (so to speak). i feel like I've been a little lost with my work for a couple of years now, this project has allowed me to try new things, experiment with older methodologies, get a little closure on themes and techniques that have bugged me for awhile.

so here I am, in a position of being inspired and ready for something to do next. now all I have to do is think of something new to do.

The Guardian yesterday :)

So this is a piece I did for the Guardian recently, I have to say I'm rather pleased with it, I'm really feeling quite comfortable with the digital way of working now, this is thanks to all the practice I've had with the Image a day project. speaking of which it is all going well, I have just completed image number 235,  I'm very much enjoying the project but I'll be very glad when it is over, I hadn't realised how stressful the project would be whilst I'm trying to get other work done. Speaking of which I have a small exhibition in September, mostly of quirky small watercolour art, more on that soon. :)

The Guardian the other week.

Just realised that I'd forgotten to put this up, another piece done in the digital style I've developed for the image a day project, originally developed because i was getting a bit bored of paint, and wanted to make use of some of the digital skills I'd developed on my masters course, I now find myself keen to get back into paint. I know, I know, I'm very fickle really.

little update

I know I've been rubbish at keeping this up today but most of the action has beed happening over at the image a day blog (check it out here: http://imageadayiom.blogspot.com ) in other news I took part in an art festival here on the island called WOSAT which was a fantastic 3 days with plenty of visitors and plenty of sales too. I also reprinted some small press books, something I've not done for about 8 years. they went down very well,  so watch this space for more. the digital work produced for the image a day project is proving very popular and I will be making prints in the not to distant future. in the mean time I'm busy preparing for 2 shows, one a group show in New York city (details TBC) and a small exhibition here on the island in November (my first show in 3 years, here on the rock.

also here is a Guardian illustration I did a couple of weeks ago:

Today's guardian

I think this is the first completely digital illustration I've ever done (you can see it in today's Guardian's Weekend supplement). if you like it you can see more digital work here: http://imageadayiom.blogspot.com/