I believe that part and parcel of
making artwork is the need to regularly be inspired. To find this, I
walk, often with other artists and it goes a long way to fulfil this
need. Walking in nature, throughout the year provides me with plenty
of opportunities to observe the larger seasonal changes and recognise
the smaller more intricate details that may be overlooked by others.
 |
| Walking upon a path covered in white petals. |
Seeing the footpath coated with white
blackthorn blossom petals, looking like a wedding path and
remembering the same path crunching underfoot last autumn as we
stepped onto a thick carpet of acorns makes me happy! I see
connections, recognise the changes and their regularity gives me
peace, hope and inspiration.
 |
| Making prints from found objects on a recent walk. |
I have been making and teaching
'Gelli-print' mono-printing for over a year now and I find walking
and picking up small reminders of that walk, the time and the place
can be used directly in subsequent printing sessions. The prints
can then be looked back on with affection and become a direct link to
another, past experience.
 |
| Earlier spring walk in Adisham, along a holloway. |
I am obviously one of many artists who
obtain inspiration through walking outdoors and connecting to the
place. Last Monday evening I went to a poetry reading and performance
by an artist who back in 2011 had a 6 week residency in a beach hut
on Tankerton Slopes, Whitstable, Kent. As a long term resident of the
area and a fellow beach hut owner, I was fascinated to hear her take on the area and see if and
how she had been 'affected' by the spirit of place.
 |
| Detail of moss upon a marker stone in the wood. |
We had unfortunately missed her
performance the previous week in Whitstable, so we travelled down to
Deal to the Astor Theatre especially to see her. She performed her
poetry dressed in an iridescent gossamer gown, which looked like the
deep changing sea that she had watched during her residency. The poetry was
totally evocative of the place. She had captured the unique essence
of this wonderful limbinal space.
 |
| A couple of books by Nancy Charley inspired by her Tankerton residency, |
As I sat listening I thought she notices everything, from recognising both the
resident crows and visiting tourists, their colours, behaviour, their
noises...and the change of light on the sea, the bounty washed up on the
beach, the promenaders, the dog walkers, the skein of geese, the
migration of swallows..all that and more was acknowledged. The performance was
entitled 'The Water Watcher', I enjoyed her work immensely. It was well
observed, articulate and inspiring. Wonderful!
 |
| The Water Watchers Blessing by Nancy Charley. |
My
next open studio event will be on Saturday the 16th
of June. It will show the new progression on from my current art
project 'Hearth and
Home'.
The
exhibition
is open to all from 11-5pm in my straw-bale studio.
The studio has a Facebook page of its
own, to look at its 'life story', look up
www.facebook.com/Green-Build-Tankerton
10% of all sales of this 'Hearth
and Home' artwork will go to our local homeless charity in
Canterbury, 'Porchlight'.
 |
| I am always inspired by the sunset. Truly wonderful. |
I
love to teach others and facilitate space for them to create, so I
run art and design workshops throughout the year. These can be
either 1:1 or for a small group and I charge from £15 per hour.
The
next ones for the exciting and accessible art of Gelli-printing are
on most Wednesdays and Fridays. throughout May and June. They run
11-2pm and cost £40 pp including all materials and refreshments.
My
own personal art page can be found at
www.facebook.com/RoseClarityArtist I
can be contacted
on 07432679164 or clare@people-to-place.co.uk
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