Metamorphosis

Had metamorphosis on the mind today. Am grappling with it a lot. Transformation can mean so many things. From a slow meaningful change brought about by large amounts of effort focused on a goal to an involuntary change bought about by some kind of crisis.

Not sure yet which I am more interested in or inspired by. A friend suggested I read some Franz Kafta, so I will hunt that down. Wiki gives me a basic plot outline but I'd like to read it this week.

More time tomorrow to do some artist research. But my ideas at this point without any of this input are:

• Using mirrors so it depends on where you stand to look at work as to what you see - metamorphosis depends on your own views. I could see a tremendous change in someone, but the next person may just see what they saw before. Maybe nothing's changed and I've been fooled, or maybe they just don't see it.
• Showing metamorphosis in one piece inspired by the very moment Diana threw the water at Actaeon and he started to change into a stag. What would have looked like at that very moment?
• Using a pelvis somehow in the sculpture. To me it is a symbolic gateway to the biggest change ever. Be good to use it in a warped/concealed way.
• Contrasting detailed fine sculpture with something that is made out of found materials.

Cleethorpes in October

Glorious! Great day out to search out inspiration for Marine project. Decided that my connection with 'Marine' has always been the beach, so it was the perfect place to seek some inspiration. Before I went I definitely had seaweed on my mind so wanted to check some out and other stuff besides.

The tide was out this afternoon at Cleethorpes which was perfect. Loads of ripples in the sand and a chance to see some of the crusty bits clinging to the buoys and breakwaters which would normally be under the water. This was all great, but I want to twist the theme somehow.

A-ha! Found a fisherman's net washed up on the beach. The knotting and the colours have made me want to use some sort of macrame/crochet with string to form either the top of a dress or a bag. Sketched out a dress and thought about using a retro vibe as the shapes of the sand and seaweed automatically lend themselves to the shapes used in fabric and design in the 70s.

Other ideas buzzing in my head:

• small shells - like sequins - could use them in this way
• dying string - dipped or some technique I don't know the name of yet
• using something to stiffen the string in places - wax maybe?
• look at fishing net - do they use fine nets? 
• using seaweed shaped applique 
• spraying fabric with sand
• sandwich seaweed between plastic/fabric. Bind together somehow. Felting?

We do like to be beside the seaside

We do like to be beside the sea. Roadtrip Sunday.