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Collaboration Evaluation Part 2:

By Christopher McDiarmid

For this collaboration project, we were asked to work in partnership with a department that resides in the UHI. This could be any course that agrees with us producing a piece of work that can relate to their field of study. I decided, after doing my research and deciding what I wanted to concentrate my work on, that the best fit for me would be the access to nursing course

This course fits in with my current personal theme of Diabetes and how it can affect people in different ways, looking at how certain ‘things’ don’t work and why that’s the case.

I got in contact with my mother who is a current student in the nursing course and thought maybe we could do a piece together, concentrating on her preferred field of study mixed with my abstract style, but alas I was told this would be too personal and that our lecturer wanted me to go and confront a department head on instead. I used my mum to find out who to get in contact with. She first gave me Chris Lemon’s email address, as she said he is the head of the department, I wrote him an email and told him my proposed idea, he got back to me after a couple of days and told me that his field of expertise was mental health and that I should get in contact with a lecturer called Elspeth MacQueen who specialises in human anatomy and biology. Once again I wrote out an email that included everything she needed to know, but alas I never got a reply.

As it felt like I was running out of time, I gave her another email a week later, still nothing. I don’t know if it was my email that was messing up or that she was too busy to reply back, but either way I had to do something. So after telling my lecturer about this, he told me to just collaborate with my mother, he just wanted to see me try and break away from what I found easier and safer to do. I went to my mother for help, she gave me a heap of information about her course, every subject she was learning about. All very useful information that I used to help me chose my final idea. My final idea comes back to the theme of diabetes, I did an ink and acrylic paint canvas that concentrates on the pancreas, being a type one diabetic my pancreas doesn’t work that’s why I need to inject insulin into my system. Not many people know this about type one diabetics so I thought it would be an interesting topic to show and educate people on. The piece is done like a diagram you would find in a textbook, it has the certain parts of the pancreas labelled, with arrows highlighting each part. It has a nice mix of pens and paint that create an unusual colour pallet that forms an abstract feel to the piece.

Overall, I think this collaboration project was quite difficult from the get go. I found getting in contact with the actual department challenging and I felt like if I kept on emailing them it would make me feel like I was hassling them. But still I would’ve liked a response even if it was a rejection, just to have a clear mind and to move on to the next objective instead of waiting around. I think the piece I created out of the given info was a great success, the colours and line work help keep it ‘arty’ whilst the labelling and diagram like drawing gave it an educated/learning sense to it as though it is giving the viewer something to think about.

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Finished I guess?

For my last and final collaboration project, we were asked to work in a partnership that was outside of the UHI building. This could've been any person, business or organisation that resided separate from the university. Finding this outside source was quite difficult and challenging to me, I am not a very sociable person and can find it hard to start conversations never mind keeping them. For this project I managed to get in touch with Jason, who is the owner of a local, up and coming, business, known as Ellerium Games. Ellerium games is a comic book/board game shop, that sells, teaches and holds events throughout the week for different games for all ages. Jason wanted a wall mural painting in his spare room that he uses for storage but soon hopes to use it as a event/tournament room. Jason wasn't exactly clear on what he wanted, he gave me full freedom. He said he wanted a large modern piece that would be suitable for all ages to view. So I decided to do a piece that was done in my abstract style and technique, I found it hard to come up with anything straight away. I wished Jason put more of an input to the design, which would've made everything a little easier for myself, some sort of guideline to follow. I felt very awkward at times and at sometimes in the way of their business, he never said I was though. The piece it self isn't finished yet. I have spoken to Jason about this and he is more than happy for me to continue the wall mural after the course is finished, it shouldn't take to many more days to finish. I haven't had much feedback on it yet, he seems to be enjoying the piece so far and has said that many people have been admiring it. Which is good. Overall I would say that the piece is currently going well. I have had my fair share of problems with it, such as there was times I thought I bit off more than I could chew because of the scale of the wall. I also would've liked some guidance to follow at the start, some sort of guidelines from Jason on what he would like represented in the design. I think he thought he was doing me a favour by giving me complete freedom. But honestly, figuring out something different and eye catching can take time, and that's what seemed to be the case. It felt as though I spent more time starring at a blank wall thinking than I did painting. But after I got the idea in my head it was smooth sailing from there. This experience has really opened my eyes to collaborative art, at first I wasn't too sure about working with other people, be it an other artist or just another human. But now I have a little bit more confidence in the matter. It's still not something I'm sure about just yet. I also spoke to Jason about if he ever wanted me to come in to touch it up to just give me a message or phone call and I'll pop over free of charge, him letting me paint in his shop is payment enough. This type of collaboration is what I enjoy, someone providing the space and then, when finished, providing advertisement. I like working by myself to produce work and not have other people help out.

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28th April 2017

More cleaning up, that’s what I seem to do every week. But it has to be done, the Crimson red paint seems to keep drying really patchy. Just trying to restore it as much as possible really. I also added a sandy/golden yellow acrylic paint that makes up to a outside boarder edge, it makes the piece seem to ‘glow’ which helps it stand out. The warm colours seem to flow together quite well I think. But I’m pretty sure I’m colour blind so there is that.

I’m not sure if I can get anymore done before the hand in date, which is disappointing. It’s usually Tuesdays and Fridays that I am in, but I’ve just gotten a new job that wants me to work Fridays and weekends, and I still have a heap of work to do for other classes that I think next next Tuesday, the 2nd May, I will be concentrating on getting everything sorted for my other classes. So basically having a week after today. Yikes.

8hours

Total time: 83hours and counting. I aim to finish this off in the next three sessions so near the end of May I’d say.

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25th April 2017

Hello, Today was kind of successful, I’m not near where I wanted to be but I managed to get the wall the way I want it too look. Like I said on my previous post, I was just going to concentrate on making everything tighter, smoother and just overall better looking. I kept going over the white lines that I added last time that create the inside design, they are much brighter and solid now. I decided to do the rest of the main body of the piece with that inner white edge look, gives it kind of graffiti look/style to it. Very modern.

It’s taken me ages to do this, spent the full day (8hours) just doing this white and gold boarders! Crikey.

On a plus side, my two brothers came in to say ‘hi’, my older brother said he was proud of me and my little bro bought me a Ribena. Haven’t seen those goons in a long time, haven’t had time to visit due to college. So it was nice. It gets proper lonely working by yourself.

Anyways, the piece is coming together. Super slowly but by heck it’s getting done. I don’t think I’ll get it done for hand in, but as long as I hit the 80 hours and if it’s cool with Jason, then I can carry on after.

So let’s me do the maths,

Another 8hour day, added on to the other days… gives me a grand total of… 75 hours complete. Whoop. That ain’t to shabby. Plus I haven’t been adding the time I’ve spent talking to Jason and all the other stuff. I’ve just been counting the time I’ve been drawing/painting the wall. So I’m probably over the 80 if you look at it that way. Anyways I still have a couple more days left, I’ll be way over.

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18th April 2017

Cleaning up all the rough patches, filling in more black bits of the background and also started on face number two. It’s hard when there’s no room to get in to that corner, had to do a balancing act and squeeze myself in a tight gap to paint around the head/hand. It’s all very shaky and not particularly great, I’ll have to actually move the boxes, folded up tables and chairs to start properly on that corner. I’ll leave it for today, and concentrate on the detail etc. Hopefully next session I can get in there and produce. Gah. Headaches are still getting in my way, I find myself having more breaks throughout the day, I usually grab myself a ‘Lettuce Eat’ chicken tikka on whole meal bread sandwich from next door. It’s literally the only thing I look forward too when I paint.

That’s also just a photo of my paints etc. My workspace.

2:30pm - 8:30pm ish.

Another 6 hours, give or take a couple of minutes to have a break to eat my sandwich.

Still feel like I’m going around in circles and not getting much done, but honestly, I’m making everything more solid and cleaner. Which makes it look more completed. Once I’m happy with the lines etc. That’s when I will crack on to the details. I’m not being my usual loose messy painting self, I’m being super careful. I guess cause this piece is for something important, I want to show everyone that I can paint to a high standard.

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How I am feeling...

This placement is really doing a number on me, I’m getting really bad headaches and sleepless nights, I think that might be due to starring at a wall for a very long length of time. Literally watching paint dry.

I’m not a very social person, not because I’m shy but because I think people are idiots. So having this room away from everyone should be a dream come true, but when you are painting for 6 - 8hours two times a week, it becomes a very lonely place. Mind you, I have had some interaction with the public. Mostly on Tuesdays, since that’s when they hold events/game nights. I have had the odd straggler pop in and talk to me about life in the arts industry. Honestly it’s quite nice having people admire your work.

So yeah, headaches and sleepless nights are kinda worth it when someone appreciates what you do. I’m getting soft at my old age I think…

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14th April 2017

Blocked in more red. The main body is made up of two different reds, Crimson red and cadmium red. I did this because the crimson red was drying very patchy sand the cadmium red is a lot lighted, brighter and overall dried even and solid. Also the cadmium red highlights certain areas when applied on top of the farm Crimson red. Makes the whole piece seem more tighter and put together. Bulk of the design is complete now, just have to finish off a couple of little bits, neaten up the edges and overall get the piece done. It’s coming together slowly but surely. Today was a good day.

7 hours 1pm - 8pm

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11th April 2017

Today I thought I may as well get the background blocked in. By doing this it makes me think I have done a hella lot, there’s not as much white. Tricking myself into thinking I’m almost done. Crikey. But alas, that’s really what I did today, I also kinda sketched out stuff in red in the middle. But that’s not really important. It’s getting there. It’s really taking its toll on me, I feel physically and mentally tired. It also feels like I’ve been painting for absolute ages, I’ve been spending around about 6-8 hours per session, and with that amount of time I should be almost finished but I’m not. Yikes.

1pm - 9pm 8 hours done, longer day as I feel like I’m running outta time.

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4th April 2017

Started to properly fill the main body of the piece in. I am now filling in the background black. Just trying to block everything in, get the main bulk of colour in, it will help me on the long run.

Painted over the shapes I did on the previous post/week. As like I said, I was just trying out stuff, experimenting with it all. To be honest I am just winging this whole project. Yeah I know. I really should’ve thought a head. But sometimes it’s just easier to paint without a reference… sometimes not though. I have had good and bad days, but the last week and this week, it seems to be more bad than good. Feels Like I’m not making much progress. Gah.

2pm - 9pm ish 7hours done today, I always try and start at two o'clock just to give Jason time to open shop etc, and I always try to leave about an hour before closing time to, once again, not get in his way when shutting up.

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28th March 2017 Started to just fill in the main body of work. Just kinda drawing shapes and patterns, just getting a feel for it before I start actually filling it in. All a bit of a learning process. Sketching with paint. That's all I did today. Thinking thinking thinking.

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24th March 2017

Still going on with this face/head, feels like it should’ve been finished ages ago, too much time tinkering away at each little bit at it. Crikey. Anyways, added more highlights, patterns and the sorts. Added colour and details to the other growth/face on top of the original face. Think it’s on its way of being finished, want to put a boarder of orchid yellow acrylic paint as well, but that will be the last thing I’ll do. Spent 4hours today.

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14th March 2017

Still carrying on with this face, I have gone into more detail adding yellow to highlight certain bits and pieces. I have been struggling with what to do with the space above the head, at first I thought of doing a twisted hand and arm type deal, but I couldn’t get the composition right. I then changed it to another face/growth with a face which I think will look pretty rad.

I am thinking of sticking with red as my main colour to the whole piece.

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7th March 2016

First image is from my little black book, this is what I am roughly going with with the main design. I added another face to the end of it, so it will have one face on the left, then the abstract cityscape in the middle, then finally have another face on the right to tie it all together. I have started to paint the right side face first, I usually like to work from left to right but alas there is a heap of boxes and whatnot covering that side of the wall, feel rude to ask to move them.

Using Crimson red acrylic paint with white acrylic for the highlights. Still really unsure what I’m doing as of yet. The charcoal may of been a bad idea, as painting over the top of it is making the shade of paint super dark. I’ll figure it out.

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28th February 2017

Final got in to the room, it wasn’t completely tidy, but was an improvement from the last time I was in. I can actually move. I spent 3 hours sketching out my rough idea of what I am planning on doing with pencil then went bolder with charcoal to get the outline. I want to spend roughly around 5-6hours per session. Today was just getting a feel of everything that’s why I was in for such a small amount of time.

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21st February 2017 (Almost a month later than when I first wanted to start.)

Basically I got to the shop, and the first thing Jason says to me is ‘Ahh Chris, I forgot you were coming in today. We have a bit of a problem, the room is full of stuff and we are waiting for delivery people to come and shift most of it out.’

Grand!

So I couldn’t actually do any work today, I was proper nervous and had to psych myself up to even go there. Just to be told that I can’t do anything. So I took photos of the actual space/wall/canvas that I shall be working on. It’s big, but thankfully it’s not the whole wall, it’s the space in between the borders, where I assume used to have noticeboards etc. filling it. Still a big area to fill with not much time to do it. Yikes.

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25th January - 15th February 2017

(He took a very long time to reply back to me.)

Gah! Same day I get my PVG form, figures. Just arranging a day to go in now, Tuesdays and Fridays. Said Friday, but forgot I had other commitments and now I am going in on Tuesday. At last I feel like time is not on my side at all!

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25th January 2017

The week I was supposed to start my journey of self discovery by painting a wall in a shop. But alas, I am still waiting for the PVG form, so the waiting game is still going strong.