Had a great mentoring session offered for free via ArtQuest with mentor Mary Cork who has many years of experience in the not for profit and commercial contemproary art sectors. Id forgotten how useful and inspiring it is to have someone give a different & fresh perspective on your practice (or in my case lots of itty bitty pieces) and how to move forward. One can easily just get stuck in their own mind and parameters of what they should and can do and often you cant seem to get out into something fresh and new. I really wish Id done it before!!!
Ive been feeling quite stuck in my art practice though I have been plodding along and trying as best as I can to make and be creative. However I wont be too harsh on myself as its been some tough years particularly since returning to London & family home in 2018 and also with all the various things going on since 2020 both out there and internally and for me the physical impact of energetic shifts where for lot of the time Ive been in discomfort and trying to manage that.
Back to the mentoring: interestingly I did have a mentor whilst at art school which got me through the programme as I didnt find the tutors very helpful at times. I also had a life coach for while which was also amazing to motivate and to get through ones own blocks and limiting beliefs. I would definately like to have a mentor on a regular basis to help with goal setting, accountability and moving practice forward.
Some notes from the session: (thinking about it now, I shouldve recorded the session)
- Finding the nature/environment within the Urban landscape - she spoke of her husband who is doing a PhD and interested in the environment.
- the main issue I have is that I want to move out of London and be in an environment that is inspiring to me. eg greenery/nature/inspiring community - she lives in Winchester but works in London - she suggested places: Hastings/Margate/University towns
- She asked how I see myself in short term /long term and setting goals is always a good exercise to do
- Finding an art practice you want to emulate /resonate with /aspire to
- Seeing art shows - eg Contemporary art shows/painters (I suggested Ethell Coloquon at Tate but although nice, also good to see something from the current /critical - I get this as its linked in with my art school stuff eg Glasgow but anything too wordy , I find it too heady but a little is ok I guess. Actually there is a basis for my work like the work I did at Edinburgh/Glasgow and things to do with the environment/ecology I do love even its about changign ones perception of it briefly.
- Continuing mentoring either with Mary or an artist & professsional/curator
- Networks and reconnecting with old networks - I have connected back with Andrew and PhD Geologist but no word. Will make a lis of people from MRes/MA days.
