My creating began in the summer of 2023, just before I was 57. On a trip driving near Dijon in France, to stay in the house of a friend of mine, I was quite caught by the colours, the hues in the landscape and decided to buy some paint and a canvas. I sat in the garden and painted throughout the holiday. The friend was gracious enough to take the painting and hang it in her house where it still is today.
I came back to the UK and decided I would buy some paints and canvas and thus began what I can only describe as a rollercoaster of an adventure.
I ended up in 2024 exhibiting some work in a local café, and then later in the year had a piece displayed in Venice, Italy. and then at Christmas in Ravenna, Italy. In between times some pieces went to London, UK and one piece went to New York, USA! It was quite a turn up for me.
It was very challenging for me to take my work – which sort of evolved on the kitchen table – and to embrace my identity as an artist and come to the idea that I am an artist whether or not I exhibit anything anywhere ever.
So, why painting? Well, the painting sort of took on a life of its own. I discovered a political and emotional voice that needed some expression in my artwork and I’ve created some things that I can’t even begin to imagine where they came from. This has been an intriguing process for me.
I did a course with a colleague of mine, a 10 week online course which was immensely helpful to get some of the insider techniques and some of the product information and learned how to use them. If you’re going to begin any kind of creative endeavour, do a course! It’s really helpful to work with people who know what they’re doing.
The thing I think for me that this has born is an expression of something that I wasn’t able to express through my work as a psychotherapist. It has been a difficult but inspiring journey thus far.
Zero to 50 is an exciting project, and I am really pleased to be collaborating with my colleagues on this project, and this whole idea of giving some space for people to find colleagues who are in a similar age range, and create a platform for older creatives just feels like a really good idea and I’m really pleased to be involved. .
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