Norwich University College of the Arts   2008/2009

Tracy Leech-Williams

Recent developments in my work can be partly attributed to the drawing workshop at Norwich University College of the Arts. The AA2A scheme has enabled me to have access to many workshops and facilities and this has given me the opportunity to reflect and begin to resolve one particular area of my practice. During the residency I embarked on a series of work which I entitled ‘Templates’. This title epitomizes the subject matter and technique by which the drawings evolved. The images were created by using repetitive marks and involved the paper being pierced, stitched, embossed and inscribed. Using a grid system as a device to dictate shapes, patterns emerged with the potential to be replicated onto a larger format. Since completing the residency I had the impetus to continue with this line of investigation and have created six further drawings in this ongoing series. The recent drawings concentrate on using a repetitive embossed mark whilst introducing a band of colour. Precise indentations accumulate to form symmetrical forms allowing subtle motifs to emerge. This methodical approach implies acute precision but upon closer scrutiny tiny blemishes are apparent as are shifts in the tension of the drawings. These slight variations lead me to question whether these images are born of imitation rather than that of replication.

This work is highly influenced by an artistic collaboration, which I am currently involved in, with artist Eleanor Wood. At present our research is concerned with ‘differences and similarities’, ‘distance and suspension’ and the ‘construction of duplicates’. I feel the residency at NUCA and the continuation of my collaborative project is having a profound affect regarding my individual practice. The AA2A scheme enabled me to acquire considerable advice, support and time from the Drawing Workshop. Mixing with art students has also been invaluable and I wholeheartedly advise artists/makers to consider this scheme which will no doubt enrich their artistic development as it has mine.