I used to love painting in school, but lost my confidence when the entire Art class were failed by the examination board at GCSE level years ago, after being told I should consider Art college.
In recent years, I dared to pick up the paintbrush again and occasionally enjoy painting in acrylic; usually landscapes and Angelic forms.
I add more paintings here as and when I feel impressed to paint and at the moment, it could be anything and for any reason. I’m just going with the flow.
One thing I have learned over the years is never to let your education setting and grades ever hold you back in life. I have learned many times that there are opportunities to be had, held deep within every experience in life and to always remember that we are all born with infinite potential and we are all creative and expressive as human beings.
Know your values, know your worth and shine your light bright.
The Tidal Wave of Grief / Vilomah
I created this painting after ‘seeing’ it in my mind’s eye. I kept seeing the people, the family at the front of a group of other bereaved and lost loved ones; all the families united in their grief, walking and gathering together, their loved ones simply appearing as light beside them.
There is no word, really for a bereaved parent. However, I discovered the Sanskrit word for ‘out of the natural order of things’ or Vilomah. I felt it could be a good title for this piece of artwork. I have shared Vilomah with The Tidal Wave of Grief, because this is what every Vilomah faces every moment of every day, at varying times and to varying degrees.
Girl Wearing Flower Garland
This painting was inspired by a photo of my sister. She looked so beautiful and ethereal in it; and for her big birthday this year, I decided on a whim, to paint, inspired by that particular photo. It took about 4.5 hours and I really enjoyed the colours I ended up working with. There’s something about painting that allows the mind to rest and I find I am literally transported somewhere else. It’s freedom, really. Wonderful and I’m really pleased with this piece. I presented this to my sister and she was slightly overwhelmed, but I think (and hope!) she liked it!
40 cm x 40 cm, with acrylics on canvas, March 2024
Seascape at Lepe
This seascape is inspired by a photograph my husband took when we headed to meet family with the girls and two of our dogs for a woofer walk at Lepe between Christmas and New Year in December 2023. The wind was wild and ferocious and blew away any cobwebs and almost our eldest’s pomeranian! It was epic and so blustery, leading us to walk back promptly into a head wind at right angles to the breeze to take shelter in the cafe there on the front, where we indulged in teas and hot chocolates, with delicious lemon drizzle cake. This is in monochome as was the photograph and it’s probably not finished, but I love the movement in the clouds and water and I can imagine myself right back there in the moment!
30 cm x 40 cm on canvas board, Jan 2024
Audrey Hepburn
Decided to try painting in monochrome, after treating myself to some charcoal to try on 250 gsm paper. However, while waiting for its arrival, I got out the canvas board and had a go at painting one of my fave actresses and advocates, Audrey Hepburn. I know it’s not perfect, but for a first go, I’m really pleased with it. All done in acrylic with a mix of Castle and Daler Rowney acrylic paints on 30 cm x 40 cm canvas board.
Bluebell Wood
Finding creativity in grief is what leads me now to write and paint. Painting is a very restful pursuit, gently inspiring and calming to the mind. It’s also completely immersive and allows the part of the brain that is grieving, to relax for a while and the heart is protected.
I asked on X / Twitter for ideas and a bereaved parent suggested a bluebell wood, something her daughter and she loved to walk in. This inspired me to find a photo and start painting. The result is it actually looks quite like our local woods.
Gorilla in the Jungle
When I first started painting again in recent months, for the time being, I just wanted to have fun with acrylics, pick a photograph and see if I could interpret it in some way.
Also, being led very much by intuition, I felt impressed to paint a gorilla! I love the idea of painting animals in their natural habitats. I also really enjoyed the monochrome pallet mixed with the greens, too. It’s a very relaxing pallet to enjoy.
40 cm x 40 cm canvas board.
Girl at Country Wedding
Over the summer, my sister went to a wedding and took a photograph that I felt was so beautiful, I wanted to try and create my own interpretation of the scene. This took a couple of evenings - about 5 hours.
Acrylic on canvas board (40 cm x 50 cm)
Daughter and Pony
On the occasion of my eldest’s birthday, I decided to paint her and her fave pony. It’s not the clearest photo, but it’s acrylic on canvas board and took me about 4.5 hours.
Acrylic on canvas board (40 cm x 50 cm)