How on earth did that happen?

I hope you are well and making the most of this crazy time. I have been painting, painting and … painting - with long walks round the leafy west end of Glasgow (thank goodness for the sun!) and the occasional bout of Yoga courtesy of the lovely Kassandra on YouTube. A 20 minute flow really gets my energy uplifted and my mind balanced - ready for a few hours at my easel. I don’t actually have an easel - I use a table or a wall - but I’m sure you get the idea!

The start of lockdown coincided (well almost) with the start of The Creative Visionary Programme a 3 month intensive art training with Nicholas Wilton of Art2Life. I signed up on a whim! If whim is the right word for an over-whelming sense that it would be absolutely the right thing for me to do and to hell with the consequences! It was a big investment in terms of time, energy and money - but what an investment it turned out to be. I learned so much and it has done wonders - not just for my art - but also for my belief in myself as an artist. An issue even the most experienced artists often struggle with.

I’m a big fan of the Art Juice Podcast with Louise Fletcher and Alice Sheriden. They describe it as ‘Honest, generous, and humorous conversations that will feed your creative soul AND get you thinking.’ A recent episode featured a conversation with American artist Brian Rutenberg. I’d picked up Brian’s book ‘Clear Seeing Place’ just after the pandemic had landed - and as my stress levels shot up! I’d heard it was a wonderful read and by golly it was. There are no images of his vibrant and clashingly zingy paintings but there doesn’t need to be. He is as skilful and exquisite with his words as he is with his fistfuls of colour. If you want to see what I mean by that check out Brian’s videos where you can watch him apply paint with what appears to be all the finesse of a hot hippo in a mud bath - yet with results that are jaw-droppingly beautiful! Oh to be able to paint like that!

I read myself to sleep each night - and as soon as Clear Seeing Place was finished - I went straight back to page one and read it again. And it was just as wise, funny, honest, inspiring and comforting the second time around.

Oh to be able to write like that! :)

On the subject of writing I have a couple of blog posts to share. One is about writing Morning Pages - a form of meditation designed by the ultra-creative Julia Cameron to encourage creative flow. And the other talks about the point of making art. A massive topic which I could only skim the surface of. It does go off track a little and there is a mention of a chicken - but don’t let that put you off!

And now for some art.

Here are a couple of the paintings I’ve been working on recently - yet to make it on to my website. No names for them yet. Suggestion on a postcard please!

I’ve been working on a series of paintings inspired by my conflicting feelings about being in lock-down. They are abstracts but they are not without a subject and a clear intention. Each one deals with an aspect of the issues that have been coming up for me - and no doubt many others - at this time. For me it was largely to do with a sense of not wanting to be restricted, yet feeling safer being hemmed-in than being free to roam. About boundaries and a sense of containment.

The sudden and dramatic changes to normal life were a shock and my heart aches for all the people who are dealing with the loss of loved ones, of businesses, of incomes, of education and all the other normal stuff that just stopped very suddenly. I was upset that my Airbnb and my consultancy had to close. I was shocked that I couldn’t go to work. But then again - I’m also delighted that I can’t go to work. Because not going to work means more time to paint. I know many artists found it impossible to paint during lock-down. Some for practical reasons - others due to stress. But I can’t stop! I find it mindful and relaxing - yet sufficiently challenging at the same time. And it gives me a real sense of purpose. Painting is absolutely where my passion lies. Making art is what I want to do. Well - that and the odd tree pose! Oh and I’d love to be able to go roaming in the wild and beautiful Scottish landscape again. And go dancing. And see my friends. And visit my sister. And hug my sons. And go to a festival …

I shall leave you with a quote by Rainer Maria Rilke which I found in my current bedtime read - Julia Cameron’s ‘Walking in the World’.

Always the wish that you may find patience enough in yourself to endure, and simplicity enough to believe; that you may acquire more and more confidence in that which is difficult, and in your solitude among others.

Caroline x