My studio is the place where I relax and create, an area of escapism and creativity.
Having a cozy space with plenty of natural daylight is a blessing. Separate areas for painting and drawing has helped birth a plethora of new ideas, sketches, and finished works.
The 2020 lockdown, due to Covid 19, had a silver lining for me, for the sudden abundance of guilt-free quality studio time provided me with a creative opportunity that I must have needed but just didn’t know it.
Whilst many things changed, including my inability to exhibit or teach, some things stayed the same; still preferring to work from my own reference images I took the time to sort them into categories, storing them on two new external hard drives. Having since perused my huge collection (well over 10 year’s worth) I’m now spoilt for choice.
I still prefer to work on several projects at the same time too. Squeezing in sketchbook ‘doodles’ between larger, more time consuming, works.
My sketchbooks are something I rarely share, but the feedback on social media has made me realise that people want to see my sketches as much as I want to create them. So they’ll be more sketchbook posts to come
When playing in my sketchbooks, I like to experiment with my different mediums, something that isn’t advised when working on a commission or on a ‘gallery ready’ painting. It’s just nice to relax with a coffee and get the paints out. Gouche, watercolour, acrylics, oils or inks, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that while I’m ‘playing’ I’m learning, and while I’m learning I’m growing as an artist without realising.
My sketchbooks are my safe place. Mistakes can be made without hinderance, some even evolving into happy accidents.
Sketchbooks are also the place where I’m able to freely experiment with samples sent to me from art material manufacturers, such as the watercolours used to create this little cacti painting. The paints were sent to me from Jackman’s Art Materials, and I can now thoroughly recommend them.
I’m often asked why I work on more than one painting at a time? And my simple answer is: If you use air fresheners at home then you’ll notice that after a few days the scent seems to disappear, but not so to visitors, they are aware of it as though it were your plug-in’s first day! I believe the same can be said when creating a painting – work on the same painting day in day out and its ‘visual aroma’ can become stale, whereas working with two or three pieces intermittently retains their freshness and therefore my interest.
I hope that this has given you a little insight into my life in the studio. If you have any questions or want to see exactly what I’m creating at the moment then please connect with me on social media. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and now MeWe too – links can be found on my website homepage and below ⬇️ xXx