To Do List

As I'm feeling motivated I thought I'd post my current to do list. I write these all the time: I find that they are a good way to keep track of what you are actually acheiving with your practice on a day to day basis and to keep yourself motivated, because as you tick them off the list, you feel as if your getting somewhere - or at least getting things done.

• book train tickets for super 8 workshop. I'm attending a workshop at Nowhere Lab in London on shooting and processing super 8 film. As I've said previously I've recently been experimenting with super 8, but without any real knowledge of how, hopefully this will show me how to use the camera properly.(www.no-w-here.org.uk)
• Prepare images for portfolio review. Also in October I have a portfolio review with Rhubarb Rhubarb's Rhonda Wilson. I dont see myself as a photographer as such, not in the way some on my MA course would; I studied fine art at degree level, so I feel like I'm coming to this review from a very different position. Although photography and lens-based practices are important to my current work (central even, as almost all my work is now done through a lens of some sort), I dont see myself as being connected to or part of any photography industry, and Rhubarb Rhubarb are very much in the photography industry. Its fine art photography - no wedding photographers here - but it still feels different to what I do. Having said that my knowledge of photography as a practice is still limited, so hopefully this review will give me some pointers as to where to go with my practice.(www.rhubarb-rhubarb.org)
• Spend at least one day per week at eagleworks. After giving up painting (maybe temporarily, who knows) the time I'm spending in my studio at eagleworks has dropped dramatically. This needs to change, as eagleworks is probably the only creative group in Wolverhampton and its a real privilage to be part of it. There is also a really good gallery space that can be used by members of the group - this means regular solo exhibitions, which I've always thought of as vital. My plan is to use my space less as somewhere for making, more as somewhere for thinking, so I'm planning to turn it into a kind of office/study space, somewhere to plan walks, think through ideas, read books etc. Dropping painting has brought about some major changes not only in my work but in the way I go about making work. Hopefully I'll be able to work through this, then when I feel as if I'm using my space like I should I can arrange my first exhibition there.(http://www.smfrancis.demon.co.uk/eagle/)
• Go on more walks/journeys and film/photograph. An idea I'm trying to work through at the moment is that of psychogeography. My walk from wolves to brum was very productive, even though my plan to make a film of the experience went tits up. I'm planning more walks: one from Birmingham New Street station to my brothers house in Harbourne, one from Birmingham city center back along the canals to Wolverhampton. I'll have to borrow an SLR from uni for a couple of weeks though, as mine is playing up at the minute.

So thats pretty much what I'm planning. Uni starts up again next week so I'll discuss all this with the group and get some feedback on it. Thats all for now, I'll try and post again soon