Inspiring Collections

 

I have already written in this blog, about my love of collecting things as I walk, (see the entry dated 16/09/14.) This Spring I have, unbeknown to myself at the time used this 'habit' to inspire a new working process. The collection has become a way to further connect myself to place through walking, creating art to share with others to allow them to see the spirit of place.

 

Collecting the forms, colours and textures of the local coast.

'Dancing' trees of the Bluebell wood.

I have been walking a lot over the last two weeks, in woods full of Bluebells on the North Kent Downs, and along the very chilly and windy coast where I live in Whitstable. The two environments are a beautiful reminder of the contrast of landscape that we have in Kent, in close proximity of each other.




Big skies over crashing waves.

At this time of year the differences are stark. The beach is made up of pebbles that are seen, at least from a distance, in neutral tones of grey, beige, and white. The woods in contrast are carpeted with bright jewel colours of mainly sapphire, opal and emerald.

A tiny Violet.

When I am walking along the beach, the neutral colours create a wonderful edge to the pounding grey waves crashing on the beach. It has to be noted that April showers in the UK produce amazing rolling layers of clouds in the bright blue skies, (when the rain stops!) and being on the coast, the vistas of both the wide open sea and the dramatic skies can create a sense of immense wonder. It is truly elemental and the sunsets are breath taking.

Solitary stone pebble.

Experiencing an English woodland at this time of year feels very different. Entering the woods, the sense of growth is staggering, sometimes I think I can hear the sap rising in the trees and the beautiful bright green leaf buds unfurling. The birds are singing; all is alive. The woods are full of the season, the energy pushing, coming up from the earth, gently yet urgently springing into life once more and the scent of the Bluebells fills the air.

Sheep grazing on the downs under a big sky.

Photographs can't capture the immensity of the experience of either place, so on each walk in these areas I have actually collected the colours of the season, sticking my small scale collection down, in order of discovery, onto an adhesive strip. I thought that working with the distinct colours of this time of year, in each contrasting environment, I could work through a process that connected me closer to the real experience. As an artist I know that just starting to open up and play with an idea can create valuable observation and insights later on. I trust in this creative process and I am always amazed at what it produces.

Recording a collection on an adhesive strip.

So far I have been inspired to write poetry, create colour charts for future projects, sketch, photograph, paint, print.... and as my knowledge of processes go, that is just the start, it is a path to follow, that will instinctively will take me to the finished work, the destination I could never have planned.

Sunlight on bright green growth.

For your information, my next Netwalking event is on the 20th of May 2016.

 Please call or text me on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk