My Lockdown Experience

With the announcement of lockdown last March, I thought that this could be an opportunity for me to become completely absorbed in my work, now that I could paint freely from dawn until dusk.

I would of course use my time to prepare new work for exhibitions and replenish paintings sold through my galleries. I also thought that with all pressure ‘off’, I could become far more experimental with my subject matter and broaden my understanding of materials.

What transpired has been a very different and surprising experience.

With family returning, there were now seven of us once again and - with ages ranging from fourteen to ninety - life became domestically very busy. I think that much of my creativity was channelled into food and all that goes with it!

Prior to lockdown my work was mainly inspired by life within the landscape, for it is life that sparks my imagination and offers up its stories.  It was the interactions of people and creatures; the unexpected and often joyful scenes of my town and its community that would excite and move me to paint.

As if a spell had been cast, the rhythm of life changed overnight. People appeared withdrawn and anxious, and the streets were eerily bereft of human purpose. With the freedom to visit my favourite painting haunts denied, I began to lose my sense of connection and impetus.   

As the weeks passed, time seemed to play tricks and my motivation was low. Ironically, my paintings were selling well and interest in my work was encouraging. The birds sang with ever greater clarity and we were blessed with beautiful weather … so why was I making life so difficult for myself?

I can only think that my creativity comes from a fragile and complex state and this was unknowingly grappling with the enormity of what was going on in the world. It required more than space and materials and was, for me at least, a direct reflection of state of mind. It was time to take stock.

I made the conscious decision to ration my exposure to the news and social media.  I put aside all expectations of my work and began to relish entering into the world of other artists which I found hugely enriching and comforting.

I started completely afresh on a series of paintings for an already scheduled exhibition ‘Art of the Everyday’; the ‘everyday’ was going through its own quiet revolution and this period had to be documented.

Where I has previously gone out into the environment to find inspiration, I found new narratives from within. I had not painted interiors for many years, but now the intimacy of the shared space seemed to be illuminated with possibility.  I began to trust my imagination more; what I couldn’t see, I could still hear, and so the muffled voices and the clonks and clanks behind other people’s windows in turn became imagined windows on my canvas.

With the anticipation of further restrictions being lifted, and beautiful spring most definitely back in the air, there is now a feeling of renewed awaking within me. I have been inspired by so many artists who have not only produced such incredible work over this period, but have also found new ways of remaining vital and visible.

Organisers have also demonstrated tremendous drive and imagination in finding different ways to keep the world of art very much alive and accessible. Virtual exhibitions offer new and exciting collaborations and have been far reaching for both artists and art lovers.

I hope that the importance of independent galleries will be recognised and celebrated. They represent so much more than shops selling art. Behind each gallery is a wide network of artists, framers, printers and so many others supporting the creative process. 

For me, the relationship between gallery and artist is one that is supportive and evolving, and where firm friendships have been made.