“Do you have a body of work?”

I make art because the process of making makes me happy.

I was recently asked the question: “Do you have a body of work?” And I found myself saying no, not really. That got me thinking about why I don’t and should I really do anything about it. So I thought I would talk about what I found when I researched this question. I will talk about art in general, as I work in both textiles and paint.

A body of work is a unified, cohesive, coherent collection of an artists work.  Usually it is about 15 – 30. It can demonstrate a mastery and expertise in a particular style or subject or media. A body of work draws attention to your art instead of showing how versatile you might be. If I’m going to exhibit my work I will need much more.

So I asked myself a few questions.

• What is the one thing you love to make?
• What subject matter interests you?
• What style of art interests you?
• Does it matter to me as an artist?

What I found out was that I love making representational quilts and I love painting people and landscapes. I am very interested in the beauty left behind after something (usually a manufactured thing) is abandoned and left to decay. I’m also interested in making my painting more loose and intuitive and exploring painting the landscape.

So the thing then is I might need to work in a series. A series usually has a very obvious something that ties all the works together. You create a collection of art that has a common theme. That might be colour, subject, message – environment- politics, whatever you decide it will be. Then you set some basic rules for yourself and you get started. The only way to develop a unique voice is to make lots of art.

Making rules for yourself as you tackle a series of works doesn’t mean that your “creative flow” is imprisoned. Maybe we need a better word than rules, but I can’t think of one. They will keep you on track and focussed. You’re not tempted then, to pursue every interesting new thing outside your focus area. (rather like Dory – “ooh shiny”. That sound so like me!) Rules are simple things like – the format of the works, the size, the materials you use or the subject matter. It might even be that you will make something every day.  From what I’ve found in my research is that having no rules leads to a fragmented, disjointed body of work.

Many famous artists worked in series. Monet painted water-lilies, haystacks and the Rouen Cathedral. Picasso had his blue period. Degas drew ballet dances and jockeys. Rembrandt painted self portraits consistently over time. Ruth de Vos‘ textiles are all about children and eucalypts. Pat Forster’s textiles are all about fractals. I am finding it helpful to study other artists work and see what rules they may have applied.

The idea of working in a series is not boring sameness and repetition. In fact its the opposite. The process, I believe, is about exploring, investigating, examining ideas, themes, techniques, issues. It’s not the same exact thing done over and over again, but rather stated and restated in different but connected ways.

I really believe that there is no right way to make art. There is a wrong way and that is never trying, never doing. Sometimes I find that I have put barriers up that are nor there and I need to just get to work and make something. And now I will make a series!