What a troubling and often sad year 2020 has become for so many. For months now we have been confined to our homes with restrictions in place. While some have found this extremely challenging, I’ve reveled in the isolation, the need not to go anywhere except to buy food and collect /post mail. Oh, all the wonderful books and art supplies that have arrived since March and helped keep many businesses afloat!
Some of my new library collection
I’ve eagerly headed to my studio every day and one reason for this is that I’ve been part of Nicholas Wilton’s Creative Visionary Program 2020. Twelve weeks of wonderful information about design, value and color; dozens of videos and live calls from the US that saw me waking at 5am to tune in. I learned a new way of looking at my art and its importance in my life and all this within a hugely supportive artistic community.
CVP saw me step up and commit to doing the work in a way I have not experienced before. I’ve always loved creating art but I’ve found a special joy in being able to look at my work more objectively, to paint over areas, even those that seemed to be working, always mindful of Nicholas’s words about not falling in love with the artwork too soon. Having a fabulous, ever-changing view of the stunning Huon Valley from my studio and great music to listen to has added to the enjoyment. Who doesn’t feel lifted hearing people sing?
Inspiring Huon Valley views
As a collage artist, the only painting I had attempted until now was with watercolor and painting collage papers. Now I’m combining acrylic painting on panel boards with collage, layering paint and gloss medium, sanding back to create a distressed look, and adding depth with a layer of self-leveling medium before buffing the artwork with cold wax medium.
I’ve been inspired during my travels over the years by water-marked buildings in Venice, Rome’s crumbling ruins and Tuscany’s weathered walls. In Spain I’ve collected scraps of posters hanging from street posts and in India, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey I’ve spent countless hours photographing graffiti , old doors and rusted metal. it’s these I want to see reflected in my work. My love for ephemera, documents and discarded objects usually appear in my assemblages. Now I am adding another dimension to my work and it feels exciting.
I Love Lebanon collage & acrylic 12” x 12” panel
These past few months I’ve missed visiting art galleries, but compensated by completing a free online course with MoMA which opened my eyes to abstract expressionism. Probably what as been the most disappointing is not being able to travel as a European workshop and trip to Morocco were on the cards. Unfortunately both are on hold indefinitely. Still, I can’t complain. I’m part of a wonderful online community run by fabulous collage artist Melinda Tidwell. I’m also continuing with the CVP Art Academy to build on my newly acquired skills, making my creative life even richer and rewarding.
Affresco collage & acrylic on 12” x 12” panel
As well as all this, I’m educating myself through webinars and videos on social injustice, bias and inequality in the world. This past month I’ve been introduced to black and indigenous artists like Rosie Lee Tompkins & her quilts; Bisa Butler, fibre artist; Mark Bradford’s gigantic paintings; Augusta Savage’s sculptures and so many more thought provoking artists. And a plug for ‘Playing For Change’, an incredible group of global musicians and dancers featured in this video, which I hope stirs you as it does me, enough to perhaps support their efforts in their peace efforts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hGSqqhhokE&feature=youtu.be
Vermiglio collage, acrylic & gold leaf on 12” x 12” panel
I continue to see examples of human kindness and dedication by neighbors, front-line workers, teachers and others in the face of this global pandemic. All this gives us hope for a brighter and more equitable future.
It may be many more weeks, possibly months before we return to any semblance of normality, but when it happens I won’t be racing out to join the throngs. I’ll be content to continue working in my studio, producing fresh and exciting new art works which I look forward to sharing with you here and on Instagram.
Stay safe and well everyone. Meanwhile, I’ll keep mixing luscious colors on my palette.
