Sophie Ashdown

Back in October/November I started making some pieces on paper in black ink.  This was quite a step change from my previous work which was often large-scale colourful abstract paintings on canvas, eg:

But I found that I really enjoyed making work with black ink.  There is no room for error as once the mark is made, there’s no way to get it off.  In one way this is scary and dangerous.  I was fearful of this at the start, as I’m the type of person that can beat myself up a bit for making mistakes.  In the past I have been in situations where every mistake was pointed out and mocked, so I became paranoid about trying to be “perfect” which is impossible to achieve and actually soul-destroying.  So now with the ink drawings, I don’t mind the mistakes too much and in fact I almost celebrate them.  They prove that the piece was made by a human being, not a machine or AI (although AI certainly makes mistakes.)  I now embrace the mistakes as part of the process of creating.  If they happen, then I just have to accept it.  (To a point though – I did have to abandon one piece after making a huge smudge across the middle!)

I made four pieces in black ink in November for an art show and one of them sold.  The others are proudly displayed in my house (also since they are black and white which matches the rest of my house!) Eg:

Somehow it feels really natural to create pieces in black and white.  I have created a lot of paintings in black and white, but usually the colourful pieces sell better so I started making more of these.  Over the past few months I’ve realised (and blogged about) that I need to stop making pieces for the purposes of sales.  As an artist I am happiest when I’m making pieces that I like myself, and that I would be proud to put up on my own walls at home.

Granted, if someone came along and commissioned me to do a piece in colour then I’d probably do it for the right price, but then I think that would be different if someone is coming to me for that.  It feels less “sales-y”?!?

So now I am making more of these black and white ink drawings of patterns.  I’m enjoying it so much.  I find it so calming and satisfying. I’ve decided to make a collection of A5 size pieces, and eventually I will take my favourite pieces and make them on a bigger scale. This will give me the chance to experiment with the many ideas in my head, and be able to stand back objectively to see which ones work the best, and which would be worthwhile to make in a larger size.

Usually I think carefully about the pattern I want to make before starting, and sketch it out in pencil first.  This helps me to get the structure and spacing to work, as often the pattern evolves as I work.  Only once I’m happy with that do I commit to doing it in ink. 

There is still a “nucleus” element in some of the pieces, where there is a discernible centre from which the pattern emerges, but I’m also experimenting with not having  a nucleus.

Here are two the I’ve created recently:

With the interim show coming up, I have an idea of creating a piece that is a “pattern of patterns”.  I need to discuss it with Jonathan to see if the idea could work then I will have to create a lot of work between now and then.

I have signed up to the “30/30” project on Artquest to try and create a new artwork every day for 30 days.  This seems like a big challenge for me given that I am always so stretched for time, but I think the discipline will do me good, and it will ultimately give me enough pieces for what I want to do for the interim show. 

I’ll keep you updated on how I get on…