I’m currently in my second year, proudly studying an undergraduate BA degree at Aberystwyth School of Art. Born in the Forest of Dean, to a mother of Gypsy heritage, I moved around a lot growing up. Home-education seemed to be the best option for me as I struggle to write due to having severe Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Practical work comes more naturally, although that too is also often met with additional challenges. Speaking about my work has also posed further problems, as the concepts are usually personal – focusing on sensitive issues. I am often confused with being a shy person. My quietness is confused with insecurity but that is not the case. There is of course elements of insecurity in everyone but my primary method of communication is through visual signage and not through vocal discharge! Sometimes people misread these images as being ‘too obvious’ but they have fallen victim to their shallowness, rejecting the invitation to look deeper.
Recently someone asked why I spoke quietly. Being unaware that I was, made me go inwards making my quietness worse. On the outside, I am usually perceived as a calm gentle person, but under the surface, there is a creative potential stocked by there fires of inadequacy. Born into an artistic family, I have always compared my talents to theirs something that always hurt when I had made something and thought it was good to then look at my sister’s work and I felt utterly useless. My artist Mother, although incredibly supportive, has also unintentionally made me feel useless in comparison. Today I look at artists that I know I don’t have the same skill set as, and I will keep doing this because it is the way I’ve taught myself so far.
A lot of people I know have said “oh! I don’t think I’ve seen any of your art” this is because of other artists in my family, I feel I’m in the giant shadow of there superior talent. I don’t like to flaunt my work at people after they’re shown me theirs. I’m frightened of casting my little shadow on another, particularly my younger brother who doesn’t want to show me his drawings because he thinks they’re not good. Having said all this, my blog is intended to be a depository of perfectly collected thoughts and observations, surrounding my passion for the visual arts, topped off with perfect grammar and punctuation of course!
Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde.
Dottie-may Aston 
One reply on “Me, Myself, and I”
[…] After an emotional weekend I decided to to help Dot with her life drawing module by being a model for her. I dedicated the whole day to her requirements which involved me laying in bed for about 6 hours without moving. Although the first few hours were pleasant and involved slipping in and out of sleep. Once the novelty of it all had worn off and I could no longer feel my extremities, the whole thing began to feel somewhat tiresome! I had a few breaks but despite being very comfortable in the beginning of the day, by the end I had become very sore indeed. I have modelled for Dot on a number of occasions but this day was probably the longest pose we’ve tried. We are both very happy with the resulting painting and I ca knot believe how much her life drawing skills have improved over the last few months. My respect for life models has of course increase since this week! If you’re interested in reading about Dot’s life as a creator she has a blog too! – Dot’s blog […]
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