Compulsion

I’m in my studio working on my own work for the first time in months. With no reason other than to follow my intuition and the drive to make. I feel an urge that will not be satisfied until I have created something of worth. This of course could happen today, tomorrow or in months, years time. But still I continue, without real knowledge of when, but strongly with the faith that it will happen. I feel almost overwhelmed by the urge I am feeling to chase a feeling of joy and fulfilment in my work. Sometimes I get close and even feel like it is here, finally, I’ve reached the ‘Holy Grail’, and then it fades and it starts all over again. The quest to follow, to find, to search, never dissipates. And when I am tied up in life, in work and have no time for myself, the feeling is pushed into my heart like a hamster stocking up for winter. I can’t help but feel this intense pressure boiling up inside.

But today I am working, and the feeling is intensifying like no other day I have had of late. I feel like my body and mind are suppressing my heart but in the same breath allowing my hands to feel the way forward, through the dirge of my mind. It is through my hands that I must make sense of a situation. Listening to Eno, erasing all distractions of words, of form, or reason, my hands are talking and creating once more… they are home. My words flowing through my fingers, I must get back to my hands, to breathe, to create, to colour my world.

Sketching with Life

For me sketching from life means more than just drawing from a real pineapple or life drawing (memories of A-Level and GSCE Art!). It means getting out in situ and drawing, along with working from memory of the life I live, on a daily basis sometimes. As a creative I find beauty in pretty much anything. A dank day outside the studio can offer a window to a beautiful hazy light, with details of Autumn and illuminating weather systems. Along with windy woodland days when walking the dog.

The view from my studio

From memory

Sketching from memory

On the river estuary

I took myself off to sketch by the docks. Looking down on them from the road. I'm not sure I want to commit to getting permission to going right in there just yet, so I'm just getting a feel for different environments and get a range of marks and structures etc into my sketchbook folio. I hope you enjoy them as much as I loved making them. I'm even thinking of making books of them. Maybe make a Falmouth book? when I go to Paris do the same and also a Plymouth book? I love it and think this may be the way forward for me within illustration. Authenticity as it's purest. We are going to Paris with college and I will be hopping over to Italy to the Bologna book fair, to finally see my books in situ there and also to see the exhibitions and other publishers etc. A goal to get a bit of new work together maybe too, I cannot wait! So I will take my gear to sketch with and come back hopefully with a European infused sketchbook or two. 

 

I've been inspired by a walk! every morning I walk my dog for nearly an hour up to beacon just a mile or two away from where I live. I've found a walk that takes me into my work but has a lovely field and some woodland to walk through. I love it! It really starts the day off really nicely! after a mornings work I am off on my only holiday in a couple of years.. I'm going to the End Of The Road Festival in Dorset on Thursday and can't wait.. I've really needed a break this year!... it's been constant! so hoping to come back tired but inspired!... I also stumbled across a great magazine when I went up to PCAD Plymouth College of Art and Design for an interview for a part time lecture post there. It's called Oh Comely and it's worth a look. A book to pause and drink coffee with! I went to the Lizard the other day and stayed at a friends Farm.. Beautiful place with a tipi and an amazing kitchen, chickens, sheep etc and we went for a misty walk along the coast and stumbled across a farmer and his cattle Bobo chased one and frigtened me to death, thinking he'd be trampled but all was fine. We camped there and had a great weekend! in the misty rain!

Today i went to see the final year MA show.. I only had time for the Illustration but was really inspired by how good it all looked! I bought a fe

w of the more affordable pieces I loved and would love to buy more so will hopefully

buy some books when my next cheque comes in!