Opening my Creative Space

MAY IS HERE and I’m opening Mays Barn Studio, my creative space, to exhibit a new series of silhouette paintings and prints. I do this every year as part of the Caversham Arts Trail.

Creative Space

Earlier this year (see last post) I cleared out Mays Barn. I gave away huge quantities of old and unsold art. It was a strangely satisfying process. I did it to open up my creative space for new work – as much in my head as in the studio – and the result was both spectacular and chaotic.

Over a period of days hundreds paintings and drawings left Mays Barn, some in frames and others in folders. Several people asked me to send folders of work around the world (a rather hit-and-miss process as it turned out – apologies if you were one of those who didn’t receive quite what they expected…  ). At the end of the month the remainder were ruthlessly consigned to the council recycling centre, where they may at least do the planet some good.

Some fellow artists felt this was too drastic an act, yet I felt several immediate benefits. Firstly, I was able to reconnect with a number of past clients, wonderful people and all fans of my work. Secondly, it was great to see old work going to new and appreciative homes. However, the major benefit was that the process was unexpectedly creative. I got to physically look at work, one last time, which I hadn’t seen in years. I was surprised at the quality of some of it.

In all, it was a huge confidence boost and soon my mind was spinning with new ideas for creative exploration. I still feel that some kind of big change in my art is just around the corner, although I cannot tell what or why.

A Riddle of Creativity

Sooner or later all artists ask themselves about the nature of creativity: What is it? Where does it come from? How do I foster it?

For everybody the experience is different. For some, creativity is a collaborative act, while for others it’s deeply personal and private. However, all seem to agree that creativity is a process; there are steps one can take to set the process in motion. For me, one of these steps is to define and cultivate the creative space.

In my own case, when cutting silhouettes, the simple act of donning my long, blue jacket defines the creative space. I’m fond of showing people the arrangement of internal pockets and telling them “This jacket is my studio.”

As a painter, my needs are different, Mays Barn has long been the private, creative space I need. Every year in May, the private space becomes public. I invite the public in, along with other local artists.

An Argentine Sketchbook

The invitation to this year’s Open Studio event features a silhouette of two Tango Dancers (top). It’s an image from my Argentine sketchbook, where I went on a recent holiday. The private view is this Sunday and the studio is open to the public over the next two weekends.

This year, the studio is open as part of two Art-Trail events happening at the same time, the Caversham Arts Trail and OPEN Studios WBNH (West Berkshire and North Hampshire). It would be great to see you in the studio, but of course, this time you will need to buy the art in order to collect it!

Whether looking or collecting, or just visiting to talk about silhouettes, Sundays are best if you want to see me (I tend to be cutting silhouettes somewhere on Saturdays). On other days Lauren will be there, as well as other artists sharing the space. If you have visited my studio before, either during the clear out event or at a previous Open Studio event, please do leave a comment below with your impressions.