Reflective post

Writing and posting a blog has been a very valuable experience for me as it enables me to combine all of my working methods in one place, and in chronological order. When I work out ideas I tend to write and sketch in a sketchbook, often in haphazard and erratic ways. Pages are not in the right order, some ideas are on separate scraps of paper, some photos I have to find again as I recall them and how relevant they will be to my progress. And so the blog becomes a catalyst to bringing all of it together.

Ideas often come to me when I see something while I’m out, or when I’m watching a film. Painting and literature also inform my work, and other photography can sometimes be at the bottom of the pile of inspirational material. Keeping the blog has placed these thoughts and plans into a more coherent order, and it has allowed me to reflect on them, with all my influences tidily in one place. The act of keeping material and updating the blog regularly also made me think faster, and allowed me to question my motives. It was like giving myself a critique every few days and I found this aspect of it exhilarating and motivating.

As I looked back on my first few updates I was conscious of varying the posts, and subsequently made sure I posted not only sketches, but work I had seen by others in various media, written plans and reflections, and of course my own practical work. This would mean producing work quickly, with no messing around, and presenting it in a way that was clear to the reader, particularly in the context of my project and the blog so far. In terms of practicality, I found I could update and alter my blog wherever I was, whether in front of my computer or even on my phone. This instant access meant no idea would be missed, no research would be forgotten.

In this way at times I felt I had to consider what to upload and what to leave out. I saw the blog as a public work which could be seen by anyone, and so I reminded myself of the fundamental point of it, which was to put across my project proposal clearly and succinctly. In this sense the blog had to be captivating and streamlined, with a purpose to it.  A beginning, middle and an end.

Having read it back frequently, I found the chronology of the blog made me consider how I work and how my ideas are realised. I found it quite fascinating how my concepts ebbed and flowed and how looking at the work of others made me consider my ideas even more. I had some personal problems during this module in that I was housebound for a month after a knee operation. Reading my blog I can see how this influenced and effected my work and how not only research but the conditions around me can make an impact on the meaning behind my work and how it is realised. Writing a blog is certainly something I will continue to do in the future.