YEAR 2

Year 2. The second year is said to be the middle child in a three-year university program.

After having such long break off from studies, with all this year’s summer heat I’m struggling to put my head together to start fresh. On other hand I been looking forward to new tasks and assignments knowing it’s going to be tough. I’m on full-time course which requires a lot of attention, also in job duties, which hardly have any profit, but takes a lot of effort to run my small gallery. Additionally, to this I’m taking freelance work few hours a week to earn a bit more and finally I’m a mum of two who from now on till April will mostly be able to spend time with me only on Sundays. Life will be challenging, but I’m really hoping to achieve good results as last year and open my potential even more.

I haven’t been on the blog since spring as I already mentioned in the past I’m not a diary girl, usually I create mind maps in my head and stick to the imaginative plan. I know it’s not how it works as in studies there is a requirement for reflection so I’m back on blog where each week I will be writing about my experiences and development throughout second years studies.

My summer was quite lovely, I manage to travel up to Liverpool and embrace this amazing city’s culture. TATE was the highlight of it all, with so many incredible artworks it touched my artistic soul in so many ways. So as work in gallery let me get to know many more talented artists and their works. I had a chance to visit Belper Art Trail so as my favourite Patchings Art festival. I also took a trip back to my country Latvia where I visited some local art and craft centres, inspired by different culture.

Art world around us is very tough at the moment – there is so many talents but so less people who would appreciate that. Our modern society is driven by mass-produced stuff, fashion accessories and artworks created overseas, which sometimes not even make that much of price difference, but it’s sort of normal to have what’s advertised. Artists struggle to make a living unless they recognised by celebrities and then themselves becoming a fashion accessory.

As managing my gallery now for nine months I came to understand that it is survival business – every week I hear a new gallery been closed due expensive bill payments and lack of customer base.  I’m using my student grant to pay my bills at home and working at the gallery just for idea and willingness to help artists to sell they work. This summer I happened to sell three of my own paintings, what really lifted my spirits, but luck like this don’t come often…

My studies help and inspire me. Make me think in different directions and push me to explore more, but honestly, I’m not sure if I ever be able to work in the art industry.

Still, there is a good year ahead of me and I’m really, really excited about it. I have so many ideas and there is a need to put them in the right place.