Conall

The NHS Hero of this story is Conall who works on infectious diseases and truly does an incredible job, pandemic or no pandemic let’s not forget. The belief and support I received from Conall was truly heart-warming…and her patience with my moving target date for completion! Finally the painting is with its owner and I am so glad that Conall loves the result…truly a wonderful challenge and even more, a privilege to be part of Conall’s journey during this Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you!

Portraiture. Ah, the word itself sounds tough to an emerging artist like me. I’ve been on a few courses learning this subject in different mediums: pencil, charcoal, pen and oils. The last course was a self-portrait in oils, which I have yet to complete but that’s for another time and for another blog.

Still, portraiture is a subject I best avoided until I read about this initiative started by the artist Tom Croft, to offer a NHS key worker a free portrait. Immediately I thought I’m going to do this and it’ll be my way to show support and appreciation to all the amazing NHS frontline workers. A few easy instructions to follow and my ‘green’ post was up on Instagram. Within a few hours of posting, my offer was taken up…oh my gosh, so excited that someone chose me and petrified if I could do them justice!

Oh the days I spent looking at the canvas and thinking (OK talking to it), do I know what I’m doing. From choosing the composition, to the drawing, to the painting and to the finishing touches. Yes the composition is key, how to decide…from the photos I received the decision was easy and crystal clear for me. I wanted to represent Conall both at work and out of work (loved the pint) and started merging a few photos digitally to get an idea and feel of what works well. Now the complexity to paint two portraits didn’t even occur to me until I started on the drawing.

Ah yes, more days staring at the canvas indeed. This became quite a common habit but it’s my way of stepping away and re-assessing and figuring out what needs to be adjusted, retouched or fixed.

To consider changing the composition was a fleeting moment…it wasn’t even a discussion with my canvas or with myself. The chosen composition felt right and I had to give it my best, all the while learning through the process. The photos on the right show the stages and that’s the closest I know of how to share my thought process, as this was my very first independent portrait in oil painting.

A steep learning curve indeed but at least next time I’ll be a bit more experienced.

Yep you heard correctly, from a subject best avoided I’ve moved onto a ‘next time’…that’s growth in itself, wouldn’t you say!

Once again, a huge Thank You to all the NHS and key frontline workers for all you do and give.

Stay inspired, keep learning, continue growing and keep creating!

What does good look like?

There are moments when I do ask myself “is my art work really good?” and I’m sure you too have asked yourself, well not about my work but about yours, mind you it might be about mine too, hmmm! Well I say one thing to that, define ‘good’?

In this era of technology and social media is it superfluous to define. Take a look at good ole social media and how does ‘good’ look like here. Is it the number of likes, number of followers, number of comments, number of reposts, is it a numbers game! Or is it the amount of exhibitions or features or is it just plain ole number of sales…you get the gist! This isn’t about using social media to showcase your portfolio or to promote your work as this is the best part of technology and engaging with an audience you never knew about. I was going to mention by comparison but that’s just one long slippery slope and not even worth entertaining…please don’t go there, at all.

It was an honour to have three of my art works accepted and exhibited at the Erotic Art Exhibition towards the end of October 2019. A wonderful opportunity not just for me but also for all the artists, whose works were amazing. I noticed we all have a place in the creative world, we all create our own unique pieces of art and we all have our own interpretation and style. I spent all the four days at the event wandering around and each time I returned to my framed works hung against the raw brick walls it dawned on me, it’s me that likes my work.

That’s what good looks like…I like my work !

It’s not about arrogance or confidence, it’s simply about being happy and pleased with the creative process and the outcome. You create art based on what inspires you and unless you’re a perfectionist (which I’m not kind of, well I know my limits let’s say) you stop when you can stand back and say “I’m happy with that”. What I realised from listening and conversing with fellow artists and visitors about my art at the exhibition was that people either connected with my works or they didn’t. It wasn’t necessarily about liking or not liking, it’s about making that connection which you can’t produce during the creative process. Sometimes your creations will resonate with others and sometimes it won’t but it should resonate with yourself, the creator.

Moral of the story (or of my experience) is, create what you like, for yourself and enjoy the process. Please yourself and others may just come on-board your journey too and that includes those elusive collectors/buyers who have yet to encounter the genius that is you…and me!

Stay inspired, keep learning, continue growing and keep creating!

Are you ready?

Hey, welcome and come on in to my world of travel and art…relax, make yourself a cuppa and let’s get going! 

Exactly what this will involve is still a mystery to me which I am slowly demystifying and will evolve over time.  My initial thoughts were to write about my travels, but my story telling skills are, well, questionable (one to work on for sure).  Travel is both my passion and hobby with art being the recent addition thus a travel and art based blog.  I will keep my blog posts to the point which is my natural behaviour and thus impart my tips, advice, wisdom, art news, art updates…my life in general, as captured in my drawing to represent the days prompt ‘Slice’ of the Inktober 2018 challenge.

Cheers x