I made a stop motion in my studio practice! I feel like I’m tapping into something very me with this way of working. Tapping into a sense of childlike play.
I was supposed to film this on my camera and tripod, but when I got to the studio I realised I didn’t have an SD card with me, so I used my phone instead, which is a shame because the quality of the image makes all the difference I think.
I drew with charcoal on baking parchment. I used one sheet until the video changed to photos and then a new sheet for the second bit of drawing in the video. I would draw a shape, photograph it, and then rub the drawing out with a paper towel and repeat.
I think better photography would have made a world of difference to this. As would more frames ie. more drawings.
But what was I hoping to achieve with this video? I think just play.
Where next?
I want to do another with my proper camera. I think the materials worked really well. I need to stick the baking paper down better, but tape doesn’t stick to it. Holding it down with weights works better.
I would so make another one but I am at home, and the stuff I need to make it is in the studio.
Looking William Kentridge’s work:
- Have the drawing on the wall rather than on the table.
- Use paper and just edit the bits of the drawing that I want to change, rather than redrawing it every time. Although that makes it static which is boring.
I have just spent the last hour watch ing Kentridge’s work and interviews with him. I am seeing that I don’t have to just be a painter. I don’t have to be anything. Video. VIDEO. My hands feel itchy to make.
What now?
I feel the meeting of my life and my studio. They are not separate.
Georgina Harris 