Where am I? Where I am.

I keep finding my flow then losing it.  The flow of creativity isn't a constant one and I am frustrated at the moment balancing input and output.  I know that I have deadlines and obligations in September, October and December and the amount of work I need to do is overwhelming me. I know that I get my best ideas when I have had a break and I am looking forward to getting out and about during the summer. I keep trying to focus back in on myself and stay with the moment and not worry about the outcomes, to trust that they will come out.  I keep showing up in the studio and creating papers, getting jobs done, preparing for my workshop.  I am reminding myself of what makes my work mine and returning to favourite inspirations.  I recently saw an exhibition at Nottingham Castle called 'Now and Next' featuring the work of Polly Binns and Anne Morrell.  I met Anne Morrell when travelling in India after graduation.  She was teaching at the National College of Design in Ahmedabad and helped us in crossing the cultural bridge between Britain and India.  Much of the textiles of India forms a base for my own creativity.  I still love the block prints in subtle colours of Anokhi.  And the stitch I use in my work is inspired by the close lines of Kantha stitch that have also inspired Anne Morrell in her work.  Fused with those traditional textile craft inspirations are a very British aesthetic.  The artists of Mid Twentieth Century Britain continue to inspire me, Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Eric Ravillious, and contemporary artists who share similar aesthetic influences, Elaine Pamphilon, Mark Hearld. So now I have reminded myself who I am (!) I will keep on keeping on.

new collection of small landscape collages

Ben Nicholson '13 December 1947'

printed papers in my studio inspired by Indian block prints and book endpapers

Indian blockprints

Elaine Pamphilon mixes Indian ethnic and Modern British influences.

Kettle's Yard

The thing I like about Kettle's Yard is that it's so alive. A row of cottages knocked together and developed by Jim and Helen Ede, it has been preserved as if they had just popped out.  The interior has become an artwork itself.  Their's was a pared back aesthetic and they created a home that revered the natural.  Visited by artists and musicians it is a treasure trove of midcentury artists; Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Alfred Wallis, Henry Moore.  Whenever I visit I get a tremendous sense of fortune to be allowed into this place, to see the art in its domestic setting, the beauty of the vignettes as a Ben Nicholson relief shares its shelf with a few carefully placed shells.  A visit to Kettle's Yard should always be on the things-to-do list.

Ben Nicholson 1934 relief.  Kettles Yard

Ben Nicholson by Norbert Lynton

Inspiration....Ben Nicholson 1945 Two Circles

The overlapping shapes reminded me of cottages under moonlight

Inked underpainting for 'Nicholson's Cottages'....to be completed

Process

The Thoresby Gallery have been in touch with a request for some work for their Snowdrop exhibition.  A little hesitant at first, a seed of an idea planted itself in my mind's eye and I felt confident that I could create a snowdrop in my own visual language.  I've been watching the slow and gentle changes in our garden, snowdrops peeking out of their tight leaf coats, the last leaves of Autumn resolutely staying put.  I've also been hibernating, watching it all from the warmth of my home, the background to our indoor life.

I looked at the work of some of my favourite artists, Winifred Nicholson, Reg Cartwright, Elaine Pamphilon.  I really like the strong sense of shape in the work of Reg Cartwright, the compositions of Elaine Pamphilon.....and use of text, and the beautiful, spiritual light in Winifred Nicholson's work.

Cloud Cup and Daisies by Elaine Pamphilon

My favourite jugs and a still life.

I love this collage byPicasso.

After the ink drawing I collaged in the shapes.  The colours for the piece came from the Midwinter plate that you can see at the side of the sewing machine.  It belonged to my Dad.

Choosing threads to stitch with.

Sewing on my beloved Elna.

The finished piece.  One Leaf Left.