Janine Partington

MEET THE MAKER

I am Janine Partington. I am a Bristol-based maker interested in mark making who creates hand-carved and painted leather work: art panels, objects and surfaces. I graduated with an MA in Design from UWE, Bristol in June 2018, though my leather work is self-taught. I hand carve leather using lino cut tools and then paint the marks to create interesting and tactile surfaces. I use this mark making technique to create works that communicate personal narratives that speak to wider issues in society such as dementia and isolation.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

Whilst I still have dreams, and the last six months has given me many of the tools that I need to pursue them, I have also learned that I can take my time, especially now. Making is a comfort and my sanity, but these last 6 months of business training has provided the structure and contact that has helped to sustain me during this time. I have learned that I want to move forward into a more fine art/concept driven practice. By drawing up a business plan, I now have a flexible road map for getting there, if a bit more slowly than I had hoped at the start of the year.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

•  It is important to be honest with myself about what I want my practice to be.
• It is important to share my goals with others so that I can be brave and be held accountable.
• Being accepted onto Hothouse says that I am doing something right and so be proud of what I have achieved so far.
• Being accepted onto Hothouse means that I have the right foundations but I still have a lot of work to do.
• I will not always agree with what I am being taught or shown, but if I remain open, there’s always a lesson to learn.