Exiting Week 1...

This week hasn't been as productive as I had planned. After years of managing a back condition (relatively unnoticed by most) I had to go and see a specialist after I couldn't walk for two days. The result is that I'm on pain medication which I can only take at night, I have to get physiotherapy, and if that doesn't work I have to get another hospital appointment and possibly think about surgery...not exactly the 'new start' I was hoping for in my third year.
However I'm trying not to let that get me down. On the plus side I can finally justify getting a new pair of trainners and joinning the gym!
It has made me think about my future though. Is blacksmithing so important to me that I have neglected to take care of myself? Is it wise to continue something which could cause further permanent damage?
Well to be honest I have no idea. I have been having huge doubts about whether I want to have my own blacksmithing business. I don't think I have the right kind of business skills and I don't think I would enjoy it. I want to do metal work, but maybe having my own business isn't the best idea for me. I think I should consider this latest set back in my health as a wake up call, and maybe it's in my best interest not to pusue a full-time blacksmithing career.
I know that I want to create things (oh so many things...) but I also know that I love doing other things which don't have much in common with blacksmithing. I know that I would very much like to teach blacksmithing at some point, and this would mean that the physical strain would be lessened.
Certainly some thoughts to consider, and with my business plan looming it's good to finally put these issues into the open. Once there I can sort throught them with a clearer head.

As for the design module...I have not done any work towards this because of said back issue. I didn't even want to get out of bed this morning and had a minor break down and changed my tutorial time to Monday to give me a chance to sort out my ideas and try to get motivated again.
Looking back at my previous work has been hard. Nothing is finished the way I want it to be. The things that excited me before the summer have been forgotten. I can't feel the same sort of passion for what I was doing then. I hope that this depression is just a side effect, after all how could I have been writing such an enthusiastic design proposal and just a few short months later feel absolutely nothing about the same design?
No, it's not me I'm positive I will be motivated again.
I went through the motions today, but have come out with some positive thinking and a change in attitude.
What am I interested in?
What imagery do I keep looking at?
Well there is a huge range of different things I look at. A lot of fantasy concept work. I love the free flowing, elegant lines, simple forms and curves. I look at the curves I was drawing at the end of last year and I can imagine the music that would accompany them. There is a hand movement that describes what I can hear/see-I know it sounds crazy...I know, but it's a shape that I can begin to think about. What does it remind me of? Is there an artist or designer who's work can compare to what I can envisage?
I want whatever it is I make to have an influence on it's environment and be position in space so that you can interact with it. I want to be able to run my hand along the surface.
I still very much want to make something 'fun'. I would love to look at a sclptural, garden peice which you can touch or hit so that it rings.
Hanging bells, like buds on a tree?
Water glasses, held by elegant forged stands. When it rains they are filled and can be played?

These are some of the things I was thinking about today. I went to the library and tried to find images of something that would inspire me. I didn't know where to start as the imagery I used last year was of violins and cello's and harps. I need to look back at the basics. What is it about the curves that I find so appealing? Is there anything in nature that referances this interest? Are there objects which I can look at all day without becoming uninterested?

John Medwedeff-I actually looked at some of his work at the very start of the first year and came across some of his work in a book I was reading. He has the same linear, elagent forms that I have been looking at, so I will try to research some more of his work and find my own images of things which relate to it. What were his influences? Are they relevant?
I still want this work to be linked in with music. Is this possible and practicle?

Things to do today

• Read through books and select research imagery


• Start hard copy of learning journal


• Business plan homework


• Dissertation proposal


• Answer questions as best as you can and prepare for tutorial!

I think that's quite enough to be getting on with.

Strong research = Strong design