LIFE AFTER MA

As you probably know, I completed my Master Degree in Fine Art four weeks ago, and I thought it was about time I checked in with you about what I’ve been up to since.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

As soon as my final write up was handed in I headed for the seaside! August and the summer kind of came and went this year without my noticing, and my family had to holiday without me. I stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb in Southwold, a stones through from the sandy beach, the ice cream parlour and the chippy. I booked a massage and manicure, I slept, I lazed about in my PJs watching films, I enjoyed a well earned rest.

WHAT THEN?

I worked harder and pushed beyond anything I’ve ever done before to complete my MA and now I’ve stopped I’m realising how much it’s taken out of me! To be honest it’s felt almost like recovering from a trauma. Once I’d finally managed to achieve the task of creating everything to go in my installation, the final week of installing turned out to be more challenging than ideal for reasons I won’t go into, and then once the exhibition was up and running, when I felt I had nothing left to give, I had to create 12 elements for the digital hand in (including a 100+ research logbook). All this was happening on top of preparing one daughter for secondary school, one starting uni up north and one leaving home.

One of the main things I’ve been doing to rest and refresh is take my dog on lots of lovely long walks, and one day I came across this field. Empty, laid bare, churned up, exposed - it was exactly how I felt! Reflecting on this I realised of course that this bare earth time is just part of the farming process, its doing what it’s meant to and waiting for what’s next. I saw the same field just one week later and it had turned green! 3 inch shoots had pushed their way through in just 7 days reminding me that we may feel empty but we’re not, we’re just waiting for the right time - this was a big encouragement to see.

SO NOW?

Well I’ve decided to take a break from pushing forward until Christmas. I deserve a proper change of pace and to enjoy some time off.

• I’m sorting out our house and family stuff a bit, which I’ve neglected for quite a while. We’re adjusting to being a family of 3 rather than 5 (and counting the days till Christmas when they all come home again).
  
• I’ve been making good on my promises of rewards for those who generously gave towards my crowdfunding campaign for the MA show - designing T-shirts, bags, printing copies of sketchbooks etc etc.
• I’ve signed up for Karen Stamper’s ‘Free Up your Sketchbook’ online course, which I’m very excited about - I wanted something very different to the type of art I’ve been creating recently, and someone to provide a bit of guidance and structure. To play and have fun without having to write essays about the critical theory of it!!
• I have a few other ideas up my sleeve that I may or may not follow through on as well, but this is a time for flexibility and grace, so we’ll just have to see!

Anyway, I’ll sign off for now by celebrating with you that I was thrilled to find out this week I’ve been awarded a ‘Distinction’ for my final project and for my MA as a whole! HUGE thanks for all your amazing support on this journey… (which is just getting started!!)