We are hosting our first special ‘Critique day’ at Off the Rails. It is open to anyone who has participated on a Fraser Taylor workshop (not necessarily at Off the Rails Arthouse – anywhere as long as Fraser was teaching the course)
This one day vibrant critique will allow you to share your work with a supportive enthusiastic group of fellow artists/designers. You will receive constructive criticism, which will help you to identify strengths and establish methods and approaches on how to develop and advance your practice. Every voice will be valued and relevant in building a community and platform for discussion. Fraser will lead the day.
We need to keep our spirits up and our minds ticking over!
This project is for everyone and no previous experience is required just a bit of imagination. It is also free!
So what is the idea?
All you need to do is find a sketchbook and then fill it with things relating to a theme chosen from a long list.
The sketchbook
Over the years I have collected loads of sketchbooks that have never been touched or have a couple of pages filled in. I am sure that many of you will also have a stash hidden away.
If you don’t have a suitable book, ask friends and family they may be able to give you one, alternatively you can make up your own- collect all sorts of paper or card e.g use computer paper or bits of found paper, maps, envelopes, packaging etc. then stitch them together to make a book. Or use old diaries or notebooks.
The themes
Choose a theme from the list below…..there are some cracking themes and perfect for imaginative interpretation! If you are going to participate please get in touch and tell us which theme you have chosen, it would be good to know if certain themes have been more engaging. Please let us know your theme in the comments box on our special Sketchbook Project page here.
Fill your sketchbook with…..
Drawings, photographs, writings, collections, collage, thoughts, jottings or combinations of them all. You may be a musician or an actor and have a very different approach to the sketchbook. It is all about thinking and developing ideas.
Here are some pointers to get you started:-
Be imaginative, turn things on their head, look at the theme from different perspectives, some pages may be very simple, some extremely complicated.
Use a variety of media and techniques, even if you are focusing on the written word think about what you are writing with and how it is presented on the page. Cut out sections, add bits, fold, hide, reveal.
Work at your own pace, you don’t need to work in it everyday. You may need time to ponder the theme whilst doing something else. Time is on our side. Enjoy the process.
For many of us a sketchbook is a private place to explore ideas and thoughts and visually put them into some sort of order. It can be shared or not, the choice is yours.
If you would like to share, post on Instagram (@offtherailsarthouse), Twitter or Facebook and hashtag #offtherailsarthouse #offtherailsarthousesketchbookproject #sketchbookproject #yourtheme
And then what…..
At some point in the future Off the Rails Arthouse would like to host an exhibition of these sketchbooks, possibly at the end of the year or early next year. We will have to see how things pan out before making any firm decisions but that is the long-term plan.
In the meantime through the Off the Rails Arthouse website and social media we will encourage sharing sketchbook pages…… it is your choice no pressure!
The project is inspired by The Brooklyn Sketchbook project.
We hope you will join our sketchbook project. Our daily lives might have been put onto ‘pause’ but what a perfect opportunity to give ourselves time for some creative development!
