One of these or possibly both are about to go into the Lockdown Art exhibition in the Rochester Art Gallery (downstairs at the Huguenot Museum and in the Tourist Information Area). Exhibition runs from August 15th to September 26th. This exhibition has been organised by the energetic, tireless artist Luna Zsigo who runs the wonderful workshops #exploreanddraw.
These three are at the Summer Exhibition @halperngallery Chatham until the end of August
This is finished now.
I added a bit of hope and light around midnight a few days ago. It’s Acrylic on canvas, 70×70 cms.
We’ll make a page of browser pieces as we are not supposed to have things that people can leaf through and handle. So once we’ve put the images up if you were to see something you fancied we can get it ready for viewing or post it.
Local artists usually taking part in Medway Open Studios have been asked to contribute to an ‘online festival’. It is also possible to arrange a real life socially-distanced visit, order cards online and even buy work online. I have yet to make a video of unframed browser work but here’s the link to the online Google virtual visit :
Difficult to get going some days finishing these off…
So many things happening and yet so many things not happening that one’s emotional state varies (mine does anyway). It’s all this : sometimes anger, anxiety, detachment, moments of peace and quiet and reflection, painting and drawing more, rediscovery of skills, sewing, cooking, taking more exercise than ever before, learning a language, eating more than ever before and putting on weight, trying to source basic shopping items (just what ARE people doing with the yeast I usually buy…how dare they, these ‘bread-making arrivistes’) reading more, saying “hello” to strangers in the street, speaking to friends more, walking to their houses and shouting and waving, speaking to friends on Zoom…then whomph, some days all of the energy just drains and even daily meditation or a ‘wellness walk’ or taking care is just another chore. I know intellectually that if I heave myself out and walk that I will feel better or if I get up and do something constructive but not too challenging then I will feel better. So I have finished off some pieces of work that were hanging around. I’m still enjoying sharing ideas and art work on Zoom with workshop friends and enjoying looking at other artists’ demos on YouTube, on their websites or on TV. Grayson Perry’s Art Club is great, Bob Ross fans can see loads of his demos on TV and there are the live Life Drawing sessions on BBC as well. Jean Haines has started her online tutorials and they are great. She’s really clear and helpful as she paints, and gives feedback if you join up. So I’m off for a walk in a minute but I’ll just put up some images of what I’ve been doing; the good the bad and the ugly and wrapping paper I painted for someone’s birthday present from her daughter…
Strange days, I’ve been trying to do what I can to keep active within the strictures of what is permissable.
We’ve a What’s App Art Workshop group which is fun and we’ve had a couple of Zoom ‘coffee break’ meet ups so we can wave and catch up. I started off really quite motivated but have on some days lost momentum. I made a schedule of things I wanted or needed to do every day but I realise it’s important to cheat a bit too and cut oneself a bit of slack.
I did some’ loosening up’ exercises and made them into bookmarks when I felt a bit ‘meh’. I am trying to finish off pieces that I had started as demos in workshops. I’m looking forward to getting on with acrylics and oils with these open days ahead. Stay safe and well everyone.
