Seasons Greetings

Deep inside the mid winter  - It’s hard to think about emerging into the outside world.

How fortunate we are to have homes to cosy into, (I am assuming if you are reading this newsletter you are like me, privileged to have a roof over your head, and never taken for granted.)

During the winter months we spend more time in our houses nestled comfortably amongst the domesticity, no matter how outdoorsy we are, the dark evenings reduce our contact with the outside considerably. I am part enjoying this hibernation, not wishing it away, staying present, whilst part longing for the lighter evenings and warm nights around the campfire, springtime sunshine heating up the earth and the excitement of the new growth of summer seasonal produce. These of course are internal daydreams, hopeful of what’s to come in reality - on the outside.

Inspired by thoughts of the internal and external relationship. The yin and the yang.

I have been contemplating how innately humans inaugurate the inside out and the outside in, when creating their environments.

The outside is very much a part of our inside living. Equally when we spend time outside we domesticate our spaces and our experiences. Setting up an outdoor eating space. A picnic on the beach. Outdoor places become useable with chairs, rugs, lights and tables.

This ties in perfectly with a Still Life opportunity coming this year at The Croft.

This months Artist Feature is in conversation with Louise Bennett (pictured at The Croft above). Read her interview discussing her still life art themes, delving into the inner and outer realms of making and creating on a daily and seasonal basis. 

 Including her creation of a moveable studio/home in the form of a converted Horse Box.

Louise has been teaching Art for many years, solely committing to her Art Practice in the last few. 

SOOA

NEW OPPORTUNITY

Creative Gatherings

A Creative Gathering happens monthly from March and is a relaxed, informal,

self directed creative inquiry session for all.

A loose organic prompt is set each gathering so that you can develop creatively at your own pace in your own way. 

They will offer a taster into the up coming courses so that you can decide if you would like to develop certain areas further. 

Discover a supportive and nurturing environment connecting with like minded creatives.

 No pressure - just come and drink tea if you like!

Resources are made available and hot drinks on tap to keep you warm and comfortable. 

You can come for a half day or a whole day, it's up to you. Limited to 6 places you need to book in advance via the website. 

SOOA

ARTIST FEATURE

Louise Bennett 

Interview 

 Still lives and interiors are a recurring theme or source; reflecting domesticity and the nurturing environment of the home.  ‘The comfort of things’ draws me back to a familiar jug or teapot or corner of a room.  The seasons seep into the paintings with the presence of a primrose or buttercup, lighting the scene like a lamp.

Please tell us a bit about your interest in ‘Still Life’ as a recurring subject in your work.

I love the story that a still life can tell and the simple celebration of nature’s bounty and our relationship to nature through still life.Our connections to people, places and things are evident in our material anthropology.  If I paint what I have and love I can also paint what I desire, claiming a visual if not material ownership.....The good life, simple pleasures like a jar of spring flowers or a pot of delicious gifted marmalade. Cushions of security and peace are found in the universal joy brought by a jug of flowers.

Are you working on anything currently? Any challenges or new emerging themes?

At the moment I’m exploring the pots and vessels element of my still life obsession. Having painted a favourite pot over a dozen times I’m making my own pots and investigating the sculptural qualities that make a good vessel.  I like to see installations of paintings with their still life counterparts and I’m keen to develop ensembles of my paintings and pots, exploring the relationship between art and craft.

Which historical Artists are your 'Still Life' hero\heroines? 

I’m a huge fan of Winifred Nicholson.  Her affinity with the emotive properties of colour and her playfulness with paint is joyful and celebratory.  Anne Redpath is another favourite along with Ivon Hitchens.  

How does your Painting practice differ in the Winter months? 

I let my house every summer so we live outside when it’s warm and forage from the hedgerows.  During the winter I’m more housebound but I try to make the most of the light when it happens.  My studio overlooking the harbour is North facing, with a cold even light, so I tend to follow the patches of sunshine around the house and get out to paint en plein air when I can…The appearance of primroses and crocuses in the garden is always exciting and I savour each little sign of spring as it appears.

Tell us a bit more about your Horse box Studio? Any Open Studio plans this year?

I converted a beautiful old trailer into a cabin which I often paint from.  It makes a brilliant hide from which to enjoy nature and is a wonderful little home from home.

I’ll be taking part in open studios, but I’ll be making camp with a gang of fellow artists near Lamorna, West Cornwall.

What can participants expect when taking part on a “ Still life - Inside on the Outside Course” ?

Participants can expect to find their own inspiration and gain confidence when creating natural still lives which tell a story.  We’ll be celebrating nature and our relationship to nature in paint and eating wonderful food which may also be immortalised in paint…if we can resist.  Putting paint on in the great outdoors is a joyful experience and we’ll make work which reflects this.

Follow Louise via her Instagram Account 

Louise Bennett Studio 

Coming soon......

Amanda Bee as featured in the Autumn Newsletter, will be teaching a 2 day Mixed Media Landscape course in the Spring  

 Bookings are going live this weekend Exclusive to Newsletter subscribers

until Midnight Sunday.

Discover more about Amanda through her website and follow her beautiful gentle practice via her instagram account. We are so excited to be hosting this wonderful course that will involve walking and connecting to a local site. 

www.amandabeeart.co.uk

Seasonal News 

Things have been quite quiet at The Croft, so I have turned my attention to my own painting practice. 

I have a studio that overlooks the sea and I have been enjoying painting the view whilst developing my colour theory and mixing studies.

For many years I was interested in monochrome and limited pallettes and over the last few years I have been sinking deeper into the seduction of colour and the vibrancy of it reflected in the sea and the sky.

Limiting my view and with limited windows of time I have taken to quick oil studies of the fast moving light and weather and the tones and spectrum of colours it manifests. All anchored compositionally by the horizon line.

I have been fortunate to be awarded a grant from Cultivator Cornwall - an organisation that supports creative businesses in the region. Part of the grant enables me to buy a top of the range easel - I am really looking forward to getting further afield with it and continuing my plein air practice in many more locations than I can currently manage. I look forward to sharing these adventures and gems of locations via SOOA, guiding you on and sharing with you a passion for "making art wildly!"

Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

We hope to see you soon.

Find out more daily at SOOA social media accounts.

Seasonal wishes and wellbeing to one and all.

Thank you so much for reading.

Oll an Gwella