I like capturing the calm and peaceful yet bold side of mother nature on canvas, overlaying my emotions to it in the form of textures created using a palette knife and visible brush strokes. Painting to me is all about bringing out the deep connection we have with nature. It brings a sense of calmness, peace and joy to me and I hope it resonates with those who give it a moment of gaze.
Firstly, please tell us about your creative work
I am an artist working from my home studio in Buckinghamshire. My paintings are inspired by nature and I paint using oils primarily. Art is an essential part of my wellbeing and the process for me is about the dissolvement of my inner fears and recognition of my strength within. It gives me a sense of empowerment.
I started painting when I was in school, but my career took me on a different path. Also, after having my son I got completely absorbed into the world of motherhood that I felt the only role I played was that of a mother. As my son grew up I had more time to myself which is when I went back to pursuing my passion for art once again. I have recently started selling some of my paintings online through my website, which I am excited about!
1. Where do you work? What does your space look like?
I work from my home. I have converted half of the conservatory into my art studio. I have quite a lot of plants in there, to amplify the positive vibes. Having a dedicated space really helps so I can disengage from everything that goes on around me and focus on my painting but at the same time I can also switch to whatever is that needs attention at home (this is usually my 6 year old son asking for a snack or a broken piece of Lego!) Some key decisions around my choices have been keeping my son in mind for example, I like to paint using oils but cannot have any toxic solvents that come with it so I chose water soluble oils which is very similar to oil minus the toxicity. Also, all completed paintings must be hung high up on the wall just in case!
2. Apart from time, what do you need consistently throughout the week in order to be creative?
I feel that I need a clear mind to start a new painting. It involves lots of thinking and quality time. It is during that time I visualise the colours, the texture and other aspects of the painting. It is basically a brainstorming session I have with myself.
3. Is there a creative routine that you swear by?
Yes, having a routine works well for me. I am at my creative best in the mornings. I wake up early and have all the time to myself to let the inner creativity out. I have conversations with myself over a cup of tea. It’s very peaceful, the only sounds you hear are of the birds and you can watch the sun go up. The rest of my day is somewhat chaotic!
4. Do you have a mantra?
Keep calm and follow your heart..the brush will follow!
5. Imagine you have two hours to yourself. The house is a mess and there are fifty work emails to answer, errands to run etc. Are you able to focus and how?
This is something I use to struggle with before I had any sort of routine. I felt I was all over the place trying to get a lot of things done at once. I was not getting anywhere and I realised the trick is to focus on one thing at a time. I kept saying to myself, the priority is to use the time on hand in the best possible way and everything else can wait. This is when my routine started to work. Slowly over time I figured out what works best for me and now I can focus on my creative work when I want to.
6. Do your children participate in your art and what form does this take? Physical action / inspiration / the subject of your art?
My son’s interest in art has grown watching me paint. He likes to explore different painting mediums and surfaces. He would often sit next to me and provide feedback on my painting or take inspiration and paint something by himself. This would either be the same subject or something related. He would often try and express himself through the paintings which is such a positive thing
7. How do your children articulate what you do and what do they think of your work/art?
My son absolutely adores my paintings. He is my critic at home and gives his take on my choice of colours. He has a good eye for details. He can look at the underpainting (which is the first loose layer of paint that goes on the surface) and tell me exactly what I was going to paint. We often engage in conversations such as, how can we be better at what we are doing, be focussed and patient.
8. Is there a little voice inside your head that endeavours to knock your confidence as an artist and a mother? How do you silence it?
Yes, I have to push myself through self-doubt at various stages. I make up these questions in my head such as am I good enough and am I doing the right things for my child (Mother guilt is a thing!) You see people who are so good at what they do, and I think it’s quite natural at times to compare and feel judged. But I just remind myself those are merely made up thoughts. I try and look at it in a positive way, there is always room for growing and that helps.
9. What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Take it slow! A good friend says this to me all the time and I think that has really helped. Things can be overwhelming at times, but the key is to take it slow. You can’t do everything at once, take small steps and you will get there not feeling exhausted.
10. How could your community help you grow as an artist?
By providing feedback and sharing my work. I think it is important to be part of a community, to have someone to speak about art, to learn, take feedback and support each other.
Links
Website: www.pebblereefs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pebblereefs/
