The Gypsy Spirit
I seem to be one of those people that just can't seem to settle. I think I have a gypsy spirit! If I'm not moving house, then I'll be moving studio and if I'm not moving studio, I'll be moving the set- up in my studio. I drive myself half mad with it! So, since living in this new house I've moved studio three times. Always using some excuse like, the light's not right, or, it's too noisy, or sometimes I'll say, I feel like people might see me through the windows and I can't relax! Any excuse rather than just admit I can't settle anywhere for too long! It doesn't matter how perfect it seems to be.
Recently I moved my studio again back into the studio I started off in when we arrived here. I had moved into a smaller space because I felt too 'exposed' in a bigger space. Then I just ended up feeling claustrophobic and had to move back into the bigger of the studio spaces. So, here I am again back where I started!
I've made quite a few changes to the space and bought a beautiful 'day-bed' from a flea-market which makes it more cosy. Just when I think I've got it right, I then realise something else is wrong and so I have to move all the furniture around again. Needless to say this takes alot of time away from my work. This year I'm really going to try and stop this disruptive habit so that I can actually settle down long enough to do some new paintings!
So far so good! I've stayed in the same painting position for a couple of weeks now and feel very cosy. I have to feel cosy when I paint otherwise I just can't concentrate. I like my studio space to feel homely like a lounge where I can relax at intervals and reflect on what I've just painted whilst drinking a cup of tea and listening to music. Also taking 'cat-naps' throughout the day is essential to rest the eyes and mind!
Now that I'm settled I've started working on a series of paintings using a pallett resembling that of medieval paintings. I tried this once on a commissioned piece of work and liked the end result. I also found it challenging as the colours are limited. Funny thing is, each piece looks like it's been done in a different pallett! I'll push on with it though because I like a challenge and always can't wait to see how each piece turns out. I find that paintings always take on a life of their own no matter how you try to manipulate them.
The first painting is of a very vivid dream that I had quite recently. I always write down my dreams and often do quick sketches of them. This one was so vivid though and the imagery was so dramatic that I thought it would make an interesting painting. The second one is about the healing power of the sun. Being born in July under the sign of Leo, I am ruled by the sun and am an absolute sun-worshipper. I love nothing more than sleeping under the shade of a tree in the beautiful warmth of the sun. Winter is utterly intolerable to me in every way! This painting just made me feel happy in all this midwinter gloom. I have one more left to do in this series and then I expect I'll be bored with those colours and will want to try something else.
The next painting in this series is going to be about a butterfly and an introvert, can't wait to get started.....
