{studio archive}: working in transit... the mobile studio

Friday, January 20, 2012

working in transit... the mobile studio

Last night I returned from time out up the coast and put together a post on that at my visual eclectica blog this morning.

I packed up some ink, watercolours and various journals and found some space to work sitting in cafes as well as at the holiday apartment. Hers a few mages from a cafe setting.

This is cotton rag paper ...a khaki journal i've been using lately... figuring out the best ways to enhance the qualities inherent in both paper and materials.

This concertina book is a really engaging surface to paint on...

If i tire of a section i rework it or introduce other colours etc

that can mean adding or subtracting in a way that one regrets at times

but in order to give life to something that is par for the course!

In a way there are a lot of ideas stored in one small series of works in this concertina book.

Back to the cloth journal ... simple mono-prints

and these are a few images of the other side of the concertina book...

I started this journal at the Kew Mlllennium Seed Bank and have added to it now over several work sessions in the past few months. Ive got 4 more concertina books to use at some point and am looking forward to seeing what is generated by using this format.

mono-printed page in the cloth book

mono-printed pages

working with textured marks

More work from Journals: 2008

2011

and November 2011

I could post pages of journal images. Much to do... I'd best get moving now.

7 comments:

ValeriannaJanuary 20, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Great stuff! I have a small concertina book that my sister gave me from China years ago. I think I MIGHT be ready to use it with a spiral study... been thinking about it. Love yours. Great watch, too!
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Sophie MunnsJanuary 20, 2012 at 4:17 PM
You reminded me Valerianna of the fact I had that concertina book for 2 years before I finally made a mark in it. When I was very tired, past it really ... I finally got started.... all the thinking first was putting me off. Thats also why I have been enjoying returning to it ...realising I didn't need to get it right.,..just needed to start and rework it as needs be!
Lets check in about our concertina books yes?
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Mary ZeranJanuary 21, 2012 at 5:32 AM
That is soooo inspiring...Considering my upcoming trip. The concertina book format is especially seductive!
xo
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VelmaJanuary 21, 2012 at 7:21 AM
i love concertinas for many many reasons...just remembered, my first artists' book was a concertina!
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Sophie MunnsJanuary 21, 2012 at 1:51 PM
OK... girls ...we are going to do a concertina post before too long!
I'll be in touch.
S
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CaroleJanuary 22, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Hi Sophie, I was given a concertina book years ago. The first thing I did was take it apart to see how it was made! I love my little concertina almost as much as my Moleskines.
ReplyDelete
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NAVIGATING WEBLINKS:

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!

Friday, January 20, 2012

working in transit... the mobile studio

7 comments:

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