February: Hearts and Flowers?
February—was it all hearts and flowers for you?
Intentional Productivity
As I reach the final day of this month, I am writing this blog entry with intention rather than lateness. My time in the studio has been remarkably productive, and I have been busy creating new pieces for the upcoming Homecoming exhibition, scheduled for April at The Castle in Bude.
A Personal Connection with Cornwall
This exhibition is set to offer a personal perspective into my relationship with Cornwall. From my first visit in the late 1980’s to the present day, the county has welcomed me warmly and made me feel at home.
Life in Cornwall versus Hampshire
Living here, I experience a pace and outlook that is vastly different from North East Hampshire, where life seems to be sped up tenfold. In Cornwall, there is room to breathe, to recenter oneself, and simply to be. While it is not all hearts and flowers—there are challenges—I would not change it. After two years of living here, I am confident that I would not move back.
Evolution of Artistic Practice
I often ask myself if my work has changed since relocating here. Although my creative process remains largely the same, I find that I am becoming more intuitive in both my art and my writing.
My recent work has been deeply influenced by my experience during the residency at Truro School for Girls last June, where I collaborated with a group of remarkable artists from Prime Women Artists. Observing their creative processes, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and witnessing the diverse range of works produced during our time together has prompted a period of reflection for me. This has led me to re-evaluate my own approach to art-making. As a result, I am now allowing myself greater freedom to experiment, not only within my regular studio exercises at the easel but also in the creation of new pieces for exhibition. This shift represents a conscious decision to embrace experimentation and growth within my practice, inspired by the collaborative and supportive environment of the residency.
Collaboration is what The Homecoming is providing with fellow artist Julie Wrathall, one of the UK’s leading Encaustic Artists. She to has returned to Cornwall, where she was born and spent her formative years and so it will be interesting for me to also see the work that she has been creating. How will Julie be telling her story? Creating with molten wax pieces that express who she is, where she is from and where she is now. Though we are not working on pieces together we are hoping that you will be able to see the synergy within our work and our love for where we are now.
We will be holding a Meet The Artists on Sunday 12th April along with 3 demo days from us both. So please do come along and see how we create as well as asking as many questions as you would like. Sharing how we work fills us with joy, because we are artists that want to spark your artistic flame. We are not secretive about how we work, like some artists, but we love sharing our skills and processes.
Exhibition opens – Saturday 11th April Meet the Artists – Sunday 12th April 2 – 4pm Demo Day 1 – 15th April 10am – 1pm then 2pm till 4pm Demo Day 2 – 18th April 10am – 1pm then 2pm till 4pm Demo Day 3 – 21st April 10am – 1pm then 2pm till 4pm Exhibition closes 30th April 2pm
