Volunteer Pattern Discovery Reading
Reading the Work is an independent, artist-led research project developed through observation, artist participation, and ongoing framework refinement.
From time to time, artists are invited to participate in a Volunteer Pattern Discovery Reading. The Reading looks across a submitted body of work for recurring visual behaviours, relationships, structures, rhythms and spatial tendencies, while also paying attention to meaningful differences and exceptions.
Participation helps Reading the Work examine where Pattern Discovery provides meaningful value to artists and where the framework may need further development. In return, participating artists receive a complimentary written Reading of their submitted work.
If you've arrived here after receiving a personal invitation, the information below explains what participation involves, what you'll receive, and how your artwork is treated
About the process
Reading the Work uses AI-assisted tools within parts of the Pattern Discovery research, analysis and editorial workflow. Your submitted artwork will be examined using these tools as part of preparing your Reading.
Reading the Work takes steps to prevent submitted content from being used to improve the AI models used within its workflow, including opting out of model improvement where those controls are available.
Please only apply if you are comfortable with this use of AI-assisted tools.
What Artists Have Discovered
You'll receive
A written Pattern Discovery Reading (PDF)
Observations on recurring patterns and visual coherence across your work
A positioning statement based on recurring visual behaviours
Reflections on what consistently holds the body of work together
Volunteer Readings are currently offered free of charge while the Reading the Work framework continues to develop through artist participation and ongoing research.
Your Artwork remains yours
Your submitted artwork is treated confidentially.
It is used to prepare your Pattern Discovery Reading and to support the ongoing development of the Reading the Work framework.
Taking part does not give Reading the Work permission to publish your artwork, Reading, name, or feedback.
Your artwork will never be published, shared, or used publicly without your explicit permission.
Any observations used for framework development or future research are anonymised unless you explicitly agree otherwise.
If Reading the Work would like to feature your work, feedback, or experience publicly in the future, you will be asked for permission separately.
You can participate fully without agreeing to any public use of your artwork or experience.
Before you apply
Please submit approximately 8–10 artworks that provide a meaningful view of your practice. If your work spans different subjects, collections, periods, or approaches, some variation can be useful. If you would prefer the Reading to focus on one particular body or series, you can submit a more closely related selection.
The Reading is based on the artworks you submit, so its observations will reflect the body of work made available for examination.
A website, portfolio, Dropbox, or Google Drive link is perfectly suitable.
No special preparation is required.
Reading the Work
Helping artists recognise recurring patterns across their work.
Created by Toks Agosu, artist & founder of Northwind Illustrations.
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