It’s coming down to practicalities now, as I pick away at clearing the studio ready to receive visitors and show work.

How much “mess” do I want on show? How much of the working studio do I want seen? And more importantly what work do I want seen? 

I am very much leaning towards the only new work approach. Or at least new work, and the elements of older works that it has grown from.

I am feeling this is a bit of a departure, in that at previous open studio events I have always had a heap/rack/section of old stuff that I want rid of, so it’s offered up cheap to whoever wants to give it a home. But this has given the whole room an air of T K Maxx… and to be honest not much has been sold from those piles. So I’m not doing that this time. I am only showing and selling work that I want to talk about. I am backing up what I am doing now and not harking back. The older work – especially the much older work, however good it is, or was at the time, just confuses the issue. 

This is a matter of confidence I feel. I don’t want to put out loads of stuff just in case someone wants to part with a fiver.

I don’t care if they buy anything. I want the interactions, the conversations, the interest, in what I am doing now.

So… to present this new work in the best way possible, do I temporarily load up the boot of my car with the “stuff” in order that the room is clearer? I don’t mind my shelves, but I don’t want the clutter piled in the corners and under the tables, and hung on the back of the door.

But then… once I have a clear room, will I want to bring it back in afterwards? Shall I just bite the bullet and dump it all now? Much of it hasn’t been touched for years, and is taking up “just in case” space.

This is perhaps one of the remaining traits of someone who has worked in art education. Keep it just in case… there’s always a workshop… a special project… but really? Is there now? No. I don’t work like that any more. And if I do I can source materials easily. 

Can you hear me persuading myself?