My Art Year 2020

"How do you do it?" said night 

"How do you wake and shine?" 

"I keep it simple." said light 

"One day at a time"

by Lemn Sissay

I love his poem which says a lot for how we all had to live in 2020. No sense in trying to plan too far ahead, we all just had to keep on pushing forward.

‘Edge of Light’ sold

I continued my painting, lucky to have a garden studio. I hoped things would open up enough to show later.  This didn’t happen, but other opportunities emerged.

‘ArtistsupportPledge’ led the way. Dreamt up by artist Matthew Burrows, he launched it on 16th March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A culture and economy in support of artists and makers. Artists offered their work for no more than £200 on instagram, then every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from another artist(s). Donations are encouraged to other charitable concerns too.

I am hugely grateful to those who bought from me - a selection of these painting shown here.

I am also very happy to own some lovely pieces of art from others, through my pledge and to have donated to essential charities.

The pledge continues in 2021. Follow me on instagram: @joangell.art
or look on my website shop for the latest available.

Bringing the inside out

Another brilliant idea lay in store for November and December.

‘Artistswalk’ was the idea of Artist Rosha Nutt and Art Marketing Consultant Holly Collier.  Their thought, can’t go in to see art?  Then bring the inside out. Ask artists to display their work in their windows and in public venues, all signified on a trail map.

My house - boarded up from the inside with a sneakily devised hanging method using foam board - worked really well. I have to admit to a sense of joy after nearly a month though, when these came down and we could let the winter sun in!  Thanks to all who came by to have a nosy during this period, and also for buying work.

Riverside…

Over the past few years I have been spending some time each year in the lovely riverside village of Wivenhoe often finding inspiration for my work whilst there.  In December, I created an additional window display there, as part of  The Wivenhoe Art Trail. We had some sunny December days and I was able to meet people on the riverside in a socially distanced way, which now feels like a distant social memory.

Filling a wall with colour

I had a great opportunity - to create a mural for a community centre in North London’s Crouch End. My paintings vary in size, so this was a good chance to go really BIG. You can see it (currently through the gates) at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Rd, Crouch End, London N8 9LP

I came up with a variety of abstract designs to show the client, reflecting the name of the centre ‘Hornsey Vale’ using the vale shapes hinted at in their recently re-designed logo. The chosen design was selected by community vote!  The painting took four days climbing up and down our ‘scaf tower’ - I had wonderful helpers. Additionally encouraging conversations with passers by who felt the bold new wall reflected a message of hope, that the centre would open up again.

Just incase, I’m beginning to sound a big smug, it’s worth remembering, everyone has had ‘stuff’ going on behind the scenes..  In my case, I got scammed on Instagram (nice!), plus 2 paintings I sent were lost by a courier service. I had a semi-happy ending at the beginning of this year with an act of kindness from a stranger, but that’s another story!

Mainly, I’m grateful to be healthy and still able to support other artists and charities in need through my work.

I wish you all the very best for 2021, Jo