Chloe

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Correspondence (this exchange was completed after the artwork ‘Many Hands: A year of exchanges and stories’ so was not included)

Hi C, Would you still be interested in participating on the project? I had someone else interested in the last vessel – but the communication is a bit lacking. She got back to me but was really vague on what she was interested in doing and then hasn’t replied to further emails. And I’ve learnt that if it doesn’t start out easy it’s only going to be trickier down the line. No problems if it all seems too much….I do have one other person in the queue ……. I was thinking we could exchange for a drawing or something. – B

I’d love to participate. If you’d like a drawing that would be perfect for me. Is there any particular subject matter or style you would be interested in?  – C

I love your cityscapes. Maybe I could send you a photo or two and you could pick something out that resonates with you….so that it’s not too prescriptive. Do you work from photos? – B

So sorry. I started this email and realised I never finished it. Yes, a photo is actually the basis of the work. I take the photos then draw, paint and collage over the top of them. If you’d like to send a few photos that would be great and then I can pick something out as choosing the composition is a big part of the work. Each piece varies a bit in terms of time but with almost 5 hours to play with, I could probably either do a series of 3 small ones 15x15cm or one larger one maybe 30×30 or 30×40. Would you have a preference in that?  – C

I hope that 2019 is treating you well. Am still here in Thailand and spending the time relaxing and catching up on admin. Just touching base on our exchange. Are the images that I sent you ok to work with? – B

I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch about the exchange. I just got back into the studio last week and it’s taking a while to get my head in order. I’ll have a look at the photos again this afternoon and see what we can do. Glad to hear you’re doing some relaxing! – C

I had a look. I think I am going to find it a bit hard to do any of the internal parts of the gallery. I think with my style of work I just don’t feel they will work so well.  Either of these two I think would work but they are quite similar so obviously best just to choose one or the other. With the time I have, I could probably do a 30×30 (or maybe even a 40×40) or a 30×40 (if you prefer the rectangular composition). Would that sound good? Alternatively, I could come over and take some more photos of the gallery (and try to work the internal parts in too) to try and come up with a set of 3 to go together which would probably be 15x15cm in size. Obviously, though that would mean delivery of the finished work would be much later as I would have to come down when you got back from Thailand. Let me know your thoughts. – C

Hello, Let’s go with the single square version. – B

Oh and actually, do you have a higher res version of the image? Thanks. – C

Just touching base re the time exchange. How’s it going? – B

So sorry I haven’t been in touch. I have started your piece but it’s not particularly close to being finished just yet. It’s been a mad start to the year for me: my kids have had tonsillitis and gastro already, Pete’s been in Perth for a week and my brother and his family came to stay for a week which in combination has meant I’ve only had one or two days a week in the studio since the start of the year and everything is piling up around me. I’m finishing off a big commission now and then yours is next on the list so I hope to have it on the board next week and then be putting resin on it the week after so looking at around 10th March to send to you all being well. Does that sound ok? Let me know if it is more urgent and I can try to speed things up. I’m sorry I’ve not been better at communicating with you about it all. To be honest I’m struggling a little with life in general at the moment and am a long way from the best version of myself. I hope all is well with you and you’re feeling recharged after your trip away. – C

OMG I hear you! No I am still absolutely exhausted and finding it REALLY hard to motivate myself. I like your comment ‘a long way from the best version of myself’  – I can soooo relate. Luke is finally back after nearly 5 months away….and has decided to get sick just as I handed over the parental and household reigns so I could focus on my practice/business solely for a bit (am hoping it’s not malaria). No rush….that dates fine. I was just touching base….. and tying up a few last exchanges while attempting to lethargically update my website with the mountains of documentation around the project as the next issue of Garland (all about Sydney stuff) will have something written about it (Tracey Clement has been commissioned by Kevin Murray to write the quarterly essay) Sending you lots of energy and iron and power and sleep…..B

Hope all is well down there. I finally finished your work. Here are the process photos. Do you want to see a photo of the finished piece too? I think it came up really well. Slightly overtime at 5 hours 52minutes; I think I underestimated the time it would take to draw the beautiful tree but it was worth it. I was going to book a Sendle courier to ship it down to you tomorrow. What address should I send it to as I can’t do PO box with Sendle? – C

Hello! Time is such a loose and tricky thing isn’t…..sometimes hard to contain. Thank you so much for being a part of my project. If you’re a member of Garland online craft mag (run by Kevin Murray and well worth joining and supporting), the current Sydney issue has a short essay written by me about the project and it is also written about in the keynote essay by Tracey Clement. Please send to my home address and let me know your address to post to as I will also use Sendle. – B

Yes, absolutely! I found it very tricky actually to really time myself. It made me realise how often I am multitasking while I work so I could only do this piece on certain days when I was on my own in the studio to avoid interruptions.  I was so pleased to be part of your project ?? thank you for inviting me in.  I’m not a member of Garland but it does sound like a good thing to join. – C

I received your beautiful work today. It is special to me in so many ways. Not only as an exchange and memory of your part in the Year of Time project, but also as a tangible memory of my time here in the physical space in North Sydney. It’s something I’ll treasure. Always. I can also use it as a promo image for your show later this year – BONUS! If you can send me a pic of the finished work, that would be great (if you have one). I tried to take a pic this morning but it was tricky with the reflective surface. Now, as I pack up your work, I realise that I’ve stuffed up. It’s surprising it hasn’t happened earlier in the project as there has been so much admin around it all over such an extended period of time. I inadvertently sent you the details of the wrong vessel. The one I meant to send you is very similar in colour way and time. Although 27 minutes shorter – so I am sooo sorry, particularly as you already went over time. 🙁 I hope you’ll forgive me. Re the Garland essay, let me know if you’re not going to join up. It’s a bit naughty but I copied the whole essay for my own records and can send it to you to read as long as you burn/delete all record of it afterward and tell no one that I did it :)!!! It’s a well-crafted essay by Tracey and well worth a read. – B

I’m so glad you like the work. I do think it worked out really well. The nature of my process means it’s always a bit heart in hand until it’s done but I was really pleased with this one! No problems about the vessel and the time, of course, I forgive you 🙂 I haven’t looked into Garland yet but I’ll let you know if I’m not going to join and I appreciate the offer to read the article, I’ll definitely take you up on that! and fair enough when it’s about your own work to have a copy. Yes, so very hard to get good photos with the reflections! I’ve set up a corner in my studio where  I can normally get good ones but I have to move in a couple of weeks so God knows how I’ll get it working in the next space! – C