Back in the studio…
Back in the studio after returning from some much needed holidays, with a sketchbook of texture inspired sketches and drawings. I did plan on doing some watercolour sketches and despite taking a whole travel kit, only the pencils and charcoal made it out of the suitcase!
My work, generally, is about discovering and exploring peace and tranquility through landscapes, the everyday little things and the memories that we hold dear. And let’s face it, in a world that seems intent on destruction and tearing communities apart…everyone could do with a little peace in their lives. But there is also a peace to be found in the joy of exploring new places and new things, being in the company of new people, as well as quality time with friends and family and experiencing these things together. We went to Cape Verde and the island of Sal, where the motto is No stress! A fact I didn’t know until we got there. Perfect.
We didn’t get to see or experience as much as we would like…the latter half of 2025, saw both me and my husband in fairly poor health, and the whole point of the trip was some relaxation and recuperation in a little winter sun. Just the trip there was enough for me, if I’m honest. We did get out and about for a bit, and being a plant and nature lover and a person whose whole creativity is linked to nature, I was fascinated not just with the exotic plants, but the textures of them. I should point out that the island itself is quite barren, beautiful but barren. But they have made extraordinary efforts in the resort hotels and gardens, by teams of ridiculously hardworking gardeners. Being a keen amateur gardener myself… I was very much impressed, so yes, most of what I saw was manicured and manufactured… but still, I saw geckos and hundreds of birds attracted to these places.
As I am somewhat refreshed by the experience, I am planning a series of much more vibrant abstracted works, informed by my myriad of holiday sketches and photos. I am very excited by the prospect of this new body of work.
