September....

It turned out to be a month of many things – the best of which were relaxation, new experience and new connection.

As our holiday ran into the first week of September and was our first visit to Crete I have to mention it ….we stayed at the most relaxing hotel ever. The staff were great, the food delicious and the surroundings calm and classy. Nothing was rushed and no tensions about seating or sunbeds. We explored parts of this large island too. The gorges are dramatic and stark, the sea crystal clear and full of life, the historic Venetian architecture so beautiful. Although we were relaxing it made the mind whir a bit with the senses almost over-stimulated and I came away with several new ideas.

No spoilers but the first involves collared doves and palms – quite tame really considering those dramatic views!

Before we went away I prepped for the September Herts Open Studios; wrapping artwork and checking I had cards and prints and some info about my work etc. It was my first time taking part and I shared a venue alongside two amazing artists; Gillian (pet portraiture) and Bea (oils and linocuts). Dipping my toe into Open Studios via a venue setting meant I could exhibit but also spend time with the other artists, venue staff and visitors. The venue dealt with sales and has perfect facilities for visitors to drop in with volunteer staff present at all times . There was no pressure for the artists to be there for the whole of the open studio times but once I settled in that first Friday and Saturday, I went along every weekend….

If the holiday covered relaxation and new experience, then Open Studios covered new experience and new connection. Just chatting with similarly minded people is so valuable. To talk about ideas, colours, textures, experiences with different media types and what inspires us to create is revitalising and reassuring. I expected to have some things in common with Gillian and Bea but what I hadn’t considered was the wealth of connection with members of the public who visited.

It feels exposing having your work up on a wall and then being within earshot of people passing through and it was a new and initially uncomfortable experience for me to be sure! People asked lots of questions; if I was the artist, background to a particular piece or shared which ones appealed to them and why, spoke about their own love of some of the animal subjects matter and so on.

Bea and Gillian were drawing and painting at the venue and I could see first hand how intrigued visitors were so I eventually sidled in one day with an ongoing work and for the first time felt ok with being observed too.

From engaging with visitors I learned that the work I think will appeal to others isn’t necessarily right. The pieces that have meant the most to me during the creative process are the ones others are most drawn to without exception. There’s nothing tangible to see like a difference in quality or finish, there is just that something conveyed in the mark making or composition of works that I’ve had a deeper emotional connection to that somehow draws others to them.

There’s a universal lesson there: stay true to yourself – what you put the most heart into is what others connect with.

Bit of a long communication so thanks if you reached the end!

Until next time,
Warmest Regards
Deb

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