My Artist Journey – Preparing for an Exhibition
This post comes as I am excitedly getting ready for an exhibition in Stockbridge with The Hampshire Artists Co-operative; a very talented group of artists from the area where I live.
I have lots of paintings that I am very much looking forward to sharing and also hoping to meet you in person at the event. In writing it here this feels like it might actually happen – but this is 2020, the year of COVID.
Preparing for an exhibition is a process of selecting and photographing work, ordering new print runs, and framing pieces. The show starts on the 9th of October until the 18th at Stockbridge Town Hall, Hampshire. All safety measures will be in place for your peace of mind following the government guidelines. Do come along and bring your friends!
Being able to share my artwork is such a vital piece of the journey for me. I love taking time to develop an idea that can begin as an impression, a question or prompt to my senses, most often when I am out in nature. As a visually mindful person I usually start by making lines, finding colours etc in my sketchbook in order to explore a line of inquiry, a way of working or a feeling that I want to convey.
What is it about this place, time, path, journey that makes me feel so alive, so focussed, so calm? The scale of the wind and sea, the continual movement of the water or barley. So how do I go about capturing that? To read my latest blog with some helpful hints at following a line of enquiry in a sketchbook visit Gathering ideas for a sketchbook.
I have been painting on some larger canvases – 70cms square, which has been an exciting challenge. Something to make a statement on an empty wall!
I usually work on a smooth wood surface so the canvas texture has created a new set of marks and some even thicker paint. Working larger has been fun too, and being in lockdown allowed me to give the time that was needed to achieve a bigger scale and some larger, looser marks. I have also enjoyed painting on some mini wooden blocks – 15cms square, perfect to sit on a shelf or hang on the wall! A perfect unique gift for someone special.
Thank you for sharing my artist journey!