So how is it going?

January 2025

I decided to kick start the year by working towards one of the aspirations I write down every year but always feel I’ve not managed to give as much time too as I intend. Drawing and painting outside. Responding directly to the landscape. Towards this end I did an online course with exercises to be carried out en plein air led by a fellow member of Connected Artists- Sam Boughton. This has had several benefits already as my studio is pretty uninviting in January. I feel if I can get out and paint at this time of year there will be no excuse later.

Walk and Draw

Aim- a layered sensory sketch, gestural, loose responsive playing with mark-making, rich full of energy, strengthening your looking, directional marks, varied in tone.

I went out with a small sketchbook and a large charcoal instead of a soft HB pencil. Predictably, it was quite messy. The efforts in the small sketchbook frustrated me at the time, but looking back some interesting marks and compositions. I noticed I wasn’t drawing shapes but lines. As I went on. I realised I was too focused on what was in front of me less on the whole experience it is going to take a lot of practice, more sketchbooks to break the habit of representing outlines of objects rather than responding with all the senses.

March 2025

Each January I set a few intentions for the year, I don't call them new year's resolutions. One of this year's intentions was to exhibit my work in some new places. I am fortunate to show my work both at the Art Hub and the Green in Newton but feel I need to find other places in addition. So I submitted photographs of a series of three flower paintings to a gallery in Torquay. The Artizan Gallery is holding an open exhibition celebrating women artists and I am delighted to report that I had all three accepted.It is a lovely time of the year to visit the English Riviera so I'd encourage you to pop in between 9th March-13th April.

Following that I will have work showing at the Spring Art Show at Newton and Noss village hall 19th-21st April.

I have another Art Residency planned for May- June and will be ordering materials for it soon.

This is my inspiration, a beautiful ever changing vista outside my door. I take endless photographs but am challenged to capture and communicate a sense of this and other inspirational views in the South Hams. I could and have, used photographs as a starting point but I want to deepen my insights by spending more time in the environment and to distill the experience in order to share it in paint.