'Materiality, The Quality of Being composed of Matter’ had a fantastic launch at Larne Museum and Arts Centre. 


We even had an official opening with red ribbon cutting by Alderman Maureen Morrow, it was all very fancy pants...you'd  never have guessed that just half an hour before we were eating chips on the steps outside the building, nattering away! 


The idea for this exhibition came about through a random chat like this - we all decided that we needed a way of balancing making a living from art, and making art for a full living.


A subtle but important difference. 


You see, when you or your art becomes a business, it can be a balancing act to continue to carve time to support your own creativity, to make art for yourself, purely for art's sake.  
 

Materiality, a touring exhibition was set up to facilitate this balance.

Made up of myself and 3 of my closest colleagues, we each make a living from Art and are actively involved in working with various communities, hospitals, schools and groups, connecting with a wide variety of people daily.


One aspect of this exhibition touches on how this feeds into and impacts our artwork, both consciously & subconsciously - through the people we meet, the time we spend and the ways of working we implement.


It combines the common themes that run through each of our art practices asking who we are physically and mentally.

Creative Visual Storytelling documented this conversation about ways we each find this balance between making a living creatively and making art.

This video project follows the development of the work of four artists preparing for Materiality exhibition as the practitioners seek to balance their artistic practice with creative livelihood. Filmed on location at Conway Mill Studios, Blackstaff Studios and Larne Museum and Arts Centre.

"I think there is this line between either becoming a starving artist, doing it for the sake of it. Or you have to become a creative entrepreneur and create your own product, or services that fund the time in the studio. You have to define your own success."

P.S. BONUS!!!

I've a free guide filled with insider tips for how I make my mini figures, just for you! 

Because working small can be difficult as it's fiddily and every mark or movement you make matters.  But the results of making a little figure to hold in your hand is super special and rewarding. 

If you'd like to take out some of the fiddly frustration, I've put together ten methods I've tried and tested to make mini figures.

To receive it, fill out below where you'll get instant lifetime access to this guide and be a part of Studio Notes -  roughly 2 emails a month packed full of creative tips, insights and discounts kept exclusively for you