I teach 3 or 4 classes to adults in different media each week. I belong to a local art society, and another photography group. I sell off my paintings about 3 times a year to raise funds for more art supplies & new techniques.
I’m primary carer for both my elderly parents too (I live next door to them now!) I find that the creativity & diversion art brings is great therapy for myself & my students too!
What does mixed media art mean to you?
For me mixed media art is where at least three different mediums and materials have been combined to create the finished picture.
How long have you been a mixed media artist?
I make & teach mixed media art, and art in different media. I became much more immersed in art during lockdown.
How has art impacted or enhanced your life?
At the start of Covid lockdown, both my parents suffered a stroke
within two months of each other, which required me to become their full time caretaker, as I have been since then. I now live next door to them!
Art has so many different ways of healing, expression, contemplation & time to relax. It has become great therapy & fun for me and my adult students.
Tell us about your creative process.
Everything starts with an idea, and I have so many ideas! I think about what materials, colours, tempo, size etc. would best help express those ideas, then go for it! I’m always experimenting, some pieces don’t turn out how I imagined, but that’s ok… I learned something in the process 😃
What inspires you?
Nature, the outdoors, flowers, reflections, texture, travel, crazy colour combinations, photography, oriental art.. I constantly find inspiration all around me, I really ‘look’ at things & take photos at weird angles & keep them for reference, such fun!
What do you do when faced with a creative block or rut?
Creative block can happen in life, particularly when you’re feeling sad, angry or unwell. I tend to see everything in black, grey & white, when I feel like this. Allowing the feeling to wash over me & ‘take a day off’, I will often end up flicking through a magazine & spot something that sparks my imagination… oh and food, yummy food cheers me up 😉
What are a few of the mixed media art supplies you find yourself returning to?
Molding paste, acrylics, cardboard, gilding leaves, Gelli plate, palette knives & sumi-e ink/brushes.
Who are some of your favorite mixed media artists?
Don’t know.
Where would you like to go with your art? What are your goals?
Apart from teaching all sorts of art to Adults already. I would really like to have an exhibition of my own work to sell items. I would like prints & cards made for selling online. I would like a website or social media presence. My downfall is that I am not great with technology!
Aside from art, what makes you giddy in life?
Apart from art, I love walks, gardens, photography, food, family outings & travel.. anything I can get my Mum & Dad to come out & join in really!
