Lockdown Challenge

Something positive to come out of the shared experience of lockdown is the enthusiasm with which so many people have used their time to either learn new skills or to rediscover skills which they had perhaps lost due to pressure of work and the daily commute.

Lockdown meant staying at home for at least six weeks, with much uncertainty as to when life would return to normal. I suddenly found that I no longer had to work to a deadline dictated by a forthcoming exhibition, or a gallery show. I too had been given the time and freedom to explore something new.

I began by clearing out my home studio. I came across a small sheet of limewood, an offcut from another one of my projects. Playing around with ideas, I thought I might try making some miniature versions of one of my larger paintings – just for fun. Having spent the last few months painting on canvases up to 1200 cm wide, this task called for much more dexterity – using a fine bladed jewellery saw to cut out some blanks, sanding back gesso on pieces hardly big enough to hold, and painting with the smallest of brushes. After several failed attempts, I managed to create some rather interesting results which I then turned into ‘wearable art’ using silver findings – something else I had stored away until I could ‘find the time’ to use them.

It felt good to step out of my comfort zone. I found that my hands were not as dexterous as they used to be. Each piece took far longer to make than anticipated. However, the limewood offcuts turned into fifteen finished pieces, and I have rediscovered the joys of fine hand crafting.

Since 2010, I have used acrylic for all my painting - enjoying the ability to work quickly and spontaneously with a medium which is fast drying. Working with acrylics, I have become used to making swift decisions and, if it doesn’t work out, I can edit it within minutes. Even working with slow drying acrylic medium requires a certain amount of speed and energy when scrubbing back and applying more layers. Preparing for a solo show can be quite frenetic at times.

Having been away from my easel for a few weeks and with more time in lockdown announced, I decided to challenge myself once again. I had uncovered my oil paints which had been packed away for several years. Turning to my latest sketchbook and research notes into historic maps of the Dorset coastline, I began a new painting - starting with a charcoal sketch as usual but now working in traditional oil. By the end of the day I was hooked.

Unlike acrylic, working with oil takes extra time and patience but I found the process of pushing and blending the paint over the canvas to be much more relaxing and meditative. With music playing in the background, it was easy to become completely immersed in the work. Using oils, forced me to slow down, to relax, to take my time. Longer drying times gave me space to leave the studio, take a walk along the beach or spend time in the garden. Now life and art have now taken on a different, more tranquil pace.

Using this time to experiment with wearable art may have renewed my interest in hand crafting. However, it is my return to the ‘slow art’ of traditional oil painting which has proved a real joy and I have lockdown to thank for introducing me to my own personal ‘new normal’ way of working.

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