A rest and a return…

After a pause and reflection I’m enthusiastic about starting some new work….

My last blog back in June was about my experience of doing my first group exhibition with two friends and completed my series of posts about being an early career artist doing exhibitions for the first time. I said I’d start on something new in July, but I did not. I needed some time to reflect and refuel. Now I’m back!

I have heard other artists talking about fallow periods creatively and this is the first time I have had that experience myself since I started painting more seriously in 2020. I think it happens as part of the process of making things. Has it happened to you?

Over the summer and early autumn months I had a break from making art for a while. To begin with, I was tired and emptied out creatively after all the preparation for the exhibitions I did in April and May. Also, I had a lot of life admin to catch up on: some DIY and home upkeep, catching up with family and friends, my day job was busy, and I had some personal stuff I needed to attend to. I also did quite a bit of outdoor swimming this summer. It was good to be able to do all that.

And when I returned to creating in mid July, I spent some time out and about sketching outdoors which is a lovely way to enjoy the parks and gardens of Scotland in the warmer months. In August I went to an exhibition in Edinburgh with my Mum and sister and I came home and was inspired to start painting again. No plans, no subject in mind, just begin. And Begin I did, back to an old favourite subject of trees in late Summer. Ive been back in a practice for about 5 weeks now and I’m really enjoying it again, with momentum to keep me going for the first time in a while. It feels really good!

I have wondered about my creative life over the summer: do I want to keep going with it?, maybe I will only just paint for myself from now on, and chuck the business side?, will I ever get the energy for it back I have had consistently for the last 4 years?

Turns out those were just worries. I’m back into painting and I’m starting to think about ways I can show my work in future again too. Happy Days!

What I have learned about me and my process over the summer:

Its hard to seriously make and exhibit art, especially on top of a day job, and sometimes I need to rest from it
I can rest for as long as I need to and come back to it
I need a regular practice in place to really enjoy creating
I love painting so much. I like drawing too but painting is “it” for me
Balance in all things is necessary for me as a human

Here are some pictures from my summer…