{studio archive}: confounding times with tech stuff!

Monday, September 12, 2011

confounding times with tech stuff!

Getting used to the new laptop is confounding at times. Luckily I'm making the most of the year-long offer of classes at the Apple store! Even so it's not always the case that I get in there with the questions i need to ask at the right time!

I have a three year old desk top which I have come to know my way around OK and now I find that some functions on the new up-to-date-you-beaut-machine are far too clever for me to know whats going on!

I guess if I just persist things will reveal themselves to me... but I do get that sinking feeling when putting images up on i-photo and suddenly old processes no longer translate into action. Given that I am even more at sixes and sevens with my new supposedly simple camera and its downloading functions I find it a little unnerving that just as I'm about to go off on a research trip I'm still fiddling with the basics of these tools i like to rely on.

small work on an uneven block of cedar wood - acrylic and ink

I did this little work a couple of years ago when I found some interesting blocks of cedar to paint on. I always meant to keep my eye out for more of this fabulous material to work on as it was easy to gesso and work with, had the most wonderful scent and I loved the texture of the wood that was coming through... and in this one the fact of two odd sizes of cedar being glued together in a way that added something pleasing to the composition.

Friday I had a wonderful search for art material through online art suppliers in the UK! I posted here on that... and found these inks which i would love to puddle around with.

Abraxas Inks

Made in Switzerland. Enviromentally friendly inks, made to the highest standard from natural ingredients. Handcrafted using traditional methods, each bottle is filled individually, corked and labelled with a hand coloured label. Information on the different ingredients used available on request.

This got me really thinking about all the possible mediums I could work with ....and surfaces... Go see that post to read where these inks are found!

Well ...its been a very busy week tying up loose ends after last week's huge event. The trip is coming closer and much still to organise.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS STUDIO ARCHIVE BLOG OF SOPHIE MUNNS

COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS:

Public Collections:

. Newcastle Community Art Centre

. Maitland Regional Gallery

. John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle

. R.S.L.CARE Fortitude Valley, QLD

. Victoria University Library Collection

. Victoria University Alumni collection

. QEII Hospital, Brisbane

. KEW Gardens Millennium Seedbank, UK

. Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ, QLD

. Cairns Botanic Gardens -Tanks Artist's Residence

Private Collections from 1990 onwards in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, NZ, UK and the U.S.

Commercial commissions to produce Textile designs for Domestic Textile Corporation, Melbourne from early 1997 through to 1999.

Private Commissioned work since 1992 in Australia.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Sophie Munns is currently living in Brisbane, QLD, Australia having relocated from Newcastle, NSW in May 2008, her base for 8 years.

Born in Grafton, Northern NSW, Sophie studied for a B ED (Art) in Newcastle before teaching in various secondary schools on the NSW coast for the following 6 years. A 2 year stint working in London and travelling abroad was the catalyst for Sophie to consider taking her passion for Art further on her return to live in Melbourne.

Comfortably ensconced in leafy Kew, (Melb) Sophie set up a studio from home, 2 years later starting a small design business and within 2 years of that opening a shopfront studio in Collingwood - 'Themata Studio' - effectively an artist-run-space operating as a multi-purpose facility providing classes and workshops for adults, works by commission and a lively cross-roads for conversation and exchange between diverse participants and visitors to the space.

4 years later freelance work and commissioned work was continuing although the shopfront venture closed in 1998 and in 2000 Sophie returned to study painting at Victoria University.

This plan was short-lived when, 4 months into studies, a housefire necessitated changes and relocation to Newcastle ensued. A studio from home was once again established, classes for adults offered, artwork picked up and gradually shifted its focus. Sophie returned to teaching in secondary schools virtually full time, exhibiting work quite frequently, entering art awards and by 2005 showing work in Sydney as well as the Hunter.

After a prize and commendations in the annual Maitland Art Award in 2006 Post Grad study was commenced the following year with a large mid year exhibition of work from 2 solid years painting in the University's student gallery. Unexpected changes, once again, occured at the close of that year due to complications of a medical nature. Uni was left behind and Sophie made the shift to Brisbane and family ties.

Sophie's art practice has continued to evolve and deepen over the past 2 decades through embracing significant changes and challenges with courage and enthusiasm, curiosity and perseverence.

Energy may flag at times and life can interfere with plans but for Sophie there is something perrenially life-giving about continuing to produce artworks and explore ideas. That the unexpected can and does happen is a lesson well learnt...but perhaps the greater lesson is in finding the poetic, the transcendant in all that comes along. And that is worth striving for Sophie believes...always!

Monday, September 12, 2011

confounding times with tech stuff!

Abraxas Inks

About Me