What happens when a group of artists arrive in a small Icelandic town every month. New ideas, community projects and an influx of creative spirits converge to nourish and grow at NES, this remote artist residency in Skagastönd.
On falling, not failing
How to tackle fear. It’s a big one which we need to do especially as artists. This week I confronted fear of falling on my first ever glacier walk. It brought up this fear and others as I tackled a new environment in Iceland.
Inspiring artist friends
Getting support, inspiration and encouragement is vital for artists. We rely on our friends and mentors to help us achieve our goals. This week I was reminded of the importance for those friendships.
United Nations of Paper
I often think that papermakers are part of one big family and that together we constitute the United Nations of Paper. Here at the Paper Art Event I contemplate climate change and that perhaps paper can contribute to raising awareness of this climate crisis that affects us all as global citizens.
Powerful gestures of hope
Great art moves us. The simplicity of powerful hand gestures is common in both the works of Rembrandt and street artist Banksy.
No answers, just questions
How do you interpret your life through art? I use collage as a way to bring the often chaotic parts of my life together to create stories of where I stand and what I stand for.
Personal Creations
Hanging out with a group of women who want to be inspired and uplifted is a real joy. This week I got to do just that at Carol’s Place in Murwillumbah.
A Book About Death
Projects can take you places you never dreamed of. The A Book About Death project celebrates its tenth anniversary this September and my artworks have been in both the first (and possibly) the last of this projects exhibitions, as well as many in-between.
Everything old (is new again)
When you haven’t got any new work made, try looking at your old work with new eyes. Recycle, reconfigure, renew.
Why make paper?
Making paper is a very labour intensive process. So why make paper? Handmade paper can be used to embed concepts into your project, especially when it comes to environmental projects.
One thing leads to another
When one thing leads to another, experimentation can become a springboard to creating new works. Trusting in the process and listening to your materials is an intuitive process I use when making art.
Creative Offerings
Sometimes different ways of seeing can create something new by just engaging in material play. When you get out of your head and into your hands, the materials ‘talk’ to you and find new ways of being.
Learning
You never stop learning. When the learnings seem insurmountable it’s good to be able to get support and encouragement, to do it in a group wherever possible. My first online 4 week course launched and I’m pumped!
Blue Skies
Blue sky dreaming. It is real and it can turn your ideas into reality. I believe everyone ic creative, but sometimes clouds and turbulence can get in the way. My creativity course helps break through the clouds into the blue skies again.
Paper Experiments
Studio days are so precious, especially with collaborations between artists when you live so far from each other. There is a magical energy that happens when we get together to play with materials, lots of talking then ideas explode into action.
Envelope Art
The end of a creative week and the #5day envelopeart challenge which had people across the world using a humble envelope to connect with art and story sharing via social media.
Discovery and experimentation
Experimenting is a process of discovery and that all starts in the studio. Turning up to work in the job of art, often feels like its unproductive and then suddenly your experiments propel you into new forms of art making.
Daily Creative
My daily creative practice is collage. Why do I make these simple collages every day? I believe art helps us make sense of our own lives so that we can navigate the greater world, every day.
Start, somewhere
Day three of of an artistic collaboration between myself and two other artist friends where we explored print making, starting with no preconceived ideas of where the day’s making would take us.
Turning Up
Turning up to your art practice is a commitment to yourself and your art. Even when you don’t feel like it, this routine ensures you are always productive in a small way every day.