Update

Things are ticking along with both getting work done and organizing my solo show.

I gave up trying to find frames for my A1 prints... nothing we found (and bought) works. Anything that would hold the work (without having to trim) was not the same proportions as the work I wanted to mount. Finding frames for A1 with mounts is exasperating as the mounts only fit A3! I mean, really?

I ended up going to Art Frame Solution in Faraday Mill. I took  prints/works with me, to find out what it would cost to have three A1 works framed and mounted.

Initially I'd thought about just getting custom mounts cut for the frames we bought, but as the quote for mounting and framing was only £65 per item I just ordered them! Given what we paid for the oversized "cheap" frames in the first place?  Phfft! This way I don't have to deal with the work of getting them properly mounted - plus, for sale purposes, a professional framing job is way more desirable!

I left two works with them, and they prepare the third frame as I needed to finish that piece. We picked them up today, they framed the third print while I waited and they look AMAZING! 

So I'm happy about that.

This is the latest one I completed, which is framed now.

I plan another A1 that will be hand-embellished and mounted without framing. There is a lot of smaller work that we have frames for here, so they all need to be put together. 

I've been coming up with lots of concepts for different things using the same basic techniques -  I found my mojo again, finally, and the ideas just keep coming!

I was planning a large mobile, but I am using the work I was going to use to now make a series of framed works instead. I'll save the mobile for next year.

I've got so many ideas I want to create - need to go pick a ton of pampas grass to use in some mixed media weaving... I've four cylinders to weave around, and want to also weave a bowl. I'm  contemplating doing a large (more than A1) "tapestry" using multiple materials over a frame... But I think I'm getting a little scattered. I will leave many of these to work on over the summer and use for next year.

I know I will probably still have way more than I'll be able to put up at this show, BUT...  As I will be leaving work at the gallery for them to sell after the show I'm not concerned about having too much made. And some of the planned works will probably not be something I want to put in the show anyway and will probably end up being recycled. What we end up editing as we set-up will just be inventory for later and will comprise my body of work for next year!

I know that putting up the A1 work will eat-up the wall space so until we get in there to set-up we won't know how many I can actually include... which will change how much of my older work will be included. The concept is "my transition from visual artist to visually impaired artist" so a selection of my older work is necessary to show how I have had to change and adapt.

This is the space - I've the whole room but one wall is windows/door and the opposite contains a large screen and door... so only two walls to hang on, the window display ledge and plinths/tables to hold other displays. One wall has ducts or conduit covers - photo below, which is going to necessitate grouping in a specific way. The opposite wall is flat so that is where the large prints will have to go.

We also want a few tables and seating in the centre for people to socialize at the reception. And a table for information and sales display items. Sales will be processed by Devonport Live out in the main gallery/shop.

I've finally figured out how to get my Epson printer to work for heavy paper stock (up to 300gsm) and print in superhigh definition! Yay. So I'm doing note cards and postcards of my Anthropocene of the Crime paintings (there are 58 paintings representing 60 threatened species) to sell in the shop there. Excited about that. 

I deliberately did quite a few more species than initially planned for in that project as I wanted to ensure I had at enough to create  notecard sets - as in, five felines, five canines, five insects... you get the idea. And I'll do some larger prints of the more iconic species too. The actual paintings were 2x3" to 8x10", with one 9x12", so they work well for A5/A4-ish sized prints.

I've also got a pile of other things I want to make for sale at the show and in the shop... time management is key to getting it all done. I have things in stacks, ready to put together, all over my room and the spare room. As I finish work they get stacked in the spare room where we are putting all finished, ready to frame, things. We'll also package up prints and cards in there.

I have work in early stages of production in my room and in the dining room (where I have to cut things - the table is the only one large enough to lay it all out.)

I am prioritizing and keeping on track. If I run out of time for some of the extra things that aren't specifically for the exhibit that's not going to be an issue.

I've got promotional materials ready. Invitations should be going out in a week or two - mostly by mail - for the reception.

Lots still to get done.