Lockdown London
A year ago - last time I wrote here - I had invited people into my house for Crouch End Open Studios for the first time. I was looking forward and creating work for this year’s event again, with all the buzz which accompanies Open Studios. Not to be.
This previously named ‘Blog’ area on my website is now ‘News and Events’. From March, there has certainly been an overwhelming quantity of news and plenty of events, but not in the way I’d imagined in my wildest dreams.
Here’s a tiny slice of my life reflecting my lockdown. Continue reading below…
I found myself in the lucky position of having a home studio to continue to work in and a garden. My regular gathering of inspiration became localised, with additionally more time to think, read and listen to radio and podcasts. I thought a lot about ideas of shelter and made paintings on this theme. It's been poignant seeing images of people sheltering in their homes during lockdown.
I had started to notice something called #artistsupportpledge on Instagram. The notion was a simple one, artists post an image of their work they are willing to sell for less than £200 each, and when the artist reaches £1000 of sales they pledge to buy another work from one of the artists also posting using the pledge. Read more about it here. It’s a circular economy which allows artists to continue making their work. I joined, met and sold to some lovely appreciative people. This also urged me to spend some time working on my website and online shop where I continue to sell new work. And, the fun bit was I was able to buy work from 2 artists who’s work I’ve admired for a while :)
Continuing to sell my work has also enabled me to donate to these, now more than ever, amazing charities:
Details for pics above: Yes, I did get obsessed with gardening ; the wondrous Grayson Perry on TV ; my Birthday when I asked people to send me a letter - I’d highly recommend this, lovely words and pictures ; birthday Japanese paints ; birthday crazy handmade present, thank Merrill, love it ; zoom with artists after day of sketching with @firstwednesdaydrawing , my tomato paintings ; Joe Wicks, yes I did try it…once ; rainbow over my studio after clapping for carers ; family zoom ; Lara on a socially distanced walk tree hugging ; Shelter paintings and sketches ; mini sculpture made during an online course with juliaclarke.org.uk ; spring sprung ; painting utility garden bits for more firstwednesdaydrawing ; ‘I am not your negro’ amazing film; Cover of The Economist; ‘So hot right now’ podcast; ‘Cuba’ painting donated and sold to support feed-nhs ; nettle soup making in Essex on brink of lockdown.
If you’d like to see my current paintings, they’re here
My new stuff is usually first up on instagram