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Student life begins...

The ongoing life of an art student... so far its great - tiring and a bit daunting - but I'm loving it!  I'm into week one officially, but really my second actual week at the Northern School of Art as, us direct entry students, got a fab pre class week induction.

The first modules are underway and I have had a couple of proper lectures already - in a lecture theatre!!! Its real student life!! I've even been in the student union, admittedly only to eat my lunch bait but I've had a good poke about found the library and most of the places I will need to be in the next few months.

As students we are all allocated our own work space, a bay with a desk, some wall space and space to put some drawers or such like under - its out own dedicated space and I'm looking forward to making it mine!!!

Currently its very sad looking but watch this space it wont take me long to make it feel like home.

In reality the work is looking quite complex, which I suppose is not surprising given this is a degree course, its just very different after my last experience - we have an essay to formulate in our contextual studies module,  some professional development to untangle with cv's to write and present creatively.  Alongside this we are formulating a design brief based on ideas inspired by the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle - this will potentially result in my work being part of an exhibition to be held next year in the music room at the museum.

lovely little 3d fruit collection

Exciting stuff and early days.  To kick this module off we had a student outing to the Bowes museum to explore, make sketches and take photographs to start ideas forming.  Its a very interesting place.  It was built to a french design intended to house an art gallery and possibly some living quarters on the top floor.  John and Josephine Bowes who commissioned it didn't live to see it finished but they did bequeath a very exclusive collection of art, paintings, textiles, and ceramics to start its continuing reputation as one of the finest collections in the North.  Its very traditional and full of amazing antique artifacts from all over the world.  Not all of it is to my taste but there are quirky bits and interesting shapes and colour combinations which will all fuel inspiration and hopefully prompt my creative instincts.

ceramic hare serving dish 

I have no idea how my project will develop, so over the next few days I'm going to spend some time thinking and studying my photographs and hoping for the ideas to flood in.

theres such a diverse selection of objects to draw inspiration form!!

There was also a couple of great exhibitions showing in the museum - see next blog post...

impressive gargoyle type critter

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