I love everything about this post, Deborah. What a poignant story about art and memory and the transitions from seeing and looking to feeling and creating something entirely new. I always enjoy your book recommendations, and I will surely look into this one. That etching is amazing.
Thank you very much Carol, I am so pleased you liked it. It is very odd looking back at work completed so long ago, and although the memory remains fresh of me making it, it someone feels like a different person did it! I hope you enjoy the recommendations, the book is so beautifully written. He wrote another called "The Last of the Light" which I shall certainly read too. Robin Tanner's work is just exquisite.
These are beautiful images and such an interesting story of looking back and seeing another you in them, a different you. I was only discussing this feeling with another writer on Substack today, a disconnection I feel when reading note books from years and years ago - not really believing it was I that wrote them... Trying to understand that person I was then.
Thank you so much for your comment and for reading it. I was a little nervous about pressing live this post as I feared I wouldn't make sense! It is a very odd feeling looking back on past work, and there is a feeling of disconnect but also a sense of perspective. The distance gives clarity, but I also looked back and wished I had some of that youthful spirit! It is like looking back on a different person. But it is valuable, and am very glad to have found them. I hope you felt that way about your notebooks too .
First of all, we are hoping things are more settled for your Mum (and thus for you too). Living in France we are constantly on alert for something going awry for our mums, on in Shrewsbury, one in Ireland.
The 'roofscapes' are gorgeous - they made me think of my Mum whose favourite spot is Robin Hood's Bay where roofs gleam red. Love the warmth in yours, the invitation to fly above them and peer down, wondering what life is like under those tiles. Lovely post.
We had both mums over to visit this year and it really emphasised how much things are changing. My mum is independent but there's a backdrop of health concerns. JoJo's mum took a tumble here and went home and fell again, breaking a hip. Super worrying.
It's been a while since I was in Robin Hood's Bay but I remember it fondly (Whitby too).
I love the warmth in each of your paintings, even in the bluest one there is light - they are lovely and how interesting that they were what your mind returned to and sought out at this difficult time. I am so drawn to the concept of painting very much your own version of a place, imbuing it with something uniquely personal, and hope you can do this more and more as you go forward.
Thank you very much Lou, I am so pleased you liked the paintings as I am so fond of them and what they represent. I just wish I had images of those that went! I really hope things settle soon as it such a worry. Hopefully I will be able to get going again in a few days! xx
I hope so too. It's an unsettling time when parents are ill I really hope your mum stabilises for a good long while and you can begin to move forward with painting again.
This is such a beautiful and poignant post to read Deborah. I love how you looked for these watercolours to seek out comfort at a difficult time. I do that too, listening to children's books, spending more time in nature, and thinking back to other times in my life.
These are really beautiful paintings. It is an exciting prospect to think of making work that responds to how you feel about a place. I am glad that things are a little more settled with your mum. Xx
Thank you very much. I confess to feeling very nervous posting this as I wasn't sure what would be made of the work or the feelings behind looking for them.
I love listening to children's books too and will listen again to the Dark is Rising this year!
I love these watercolours - sometimes it’s so refreshing to look back at past work. And the memories that come up! I’m always amazed at how a drawing in a sketchbook from years ago can take me right back to the moment I drew it. Thanks for sharing. And I hope your Mum is on the mend x
Thank you very much and for taking the time to read it. Isn't it amazing how see older work can take you right back to the moment they were made? Mum is doing a little better and hopefully things will settle again x
Such beautiful work, I completely understand your need to paint what you feel rather than what you see. You must follow that path & see where it takes you again.
I love everything about this post, Deborah. What a poignant story about art and memory and the transitions from seeing and looking to feeling and creating something entirely new. I always enjoy your book recommendations, and I will surely look into this one. That etching is amazing.
Thank you very much Carol, I am so pleased you liked it. It is very odd looking back at work completed so long ago, and although the memory remains fresh of me making it, it someone feels like a different person did it! I hope you enjoy the recommendations, the book is so beautifully written. He wrote another called "The Last of the Light" which I shall certainly read too. Robin Tanner's work is just exquisite.
These are beautiful images and such an interesting story of looking back and seeing another you in them, a different you. I was only discussing this feeling with another writer on Substack today, a disconnection I feel when reading note books from years and years ago - not really believing it was I that wrote them... Trying to understand that person I was then.
Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much for your comment and for reading it. I was a little nervous about pressing live this post as I feared I wouldn't make sense! It is a very odd feeling looking back on past work, and there is a feeling of disconnect but also a sense of perspective. The distance gives clarity, but I also looked back and wished I had some of that youthful spirit! It is like looking back on a different person. But it is valuable, and am very glad to have found them. I hope you felt that way about your notebooks too .
Another lovely meditation, Deb, and I'm admiring your 'little boxes' very much.
Thank you very much and I am so glad you like them! x
First of all, we are hoping things are more settled for your Mum (and thus for you too). Living in France we are constantly on alert for something going awry for our mums, on in Shrewsbury, one in Ireland.
The 'roofscapes' are gorgeous - they made me think of my Mum whose favourite spot is Robin Hood's Bay where roofs gleam red. Love the warmth in yours, the invitation to fly above them and peer down, wondering what life is like under those tiles. Lovely post.
It is a constant concern, isn't it? Mum seems more settled but the tests are ongoing so I just hope all will be finally sorted out.
I love Robin Hood's Bay! When I went last summer I wish I had been able to make more drawings as I love the higgledy piggledy lay out of the town.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read it and am so glad you liked it.
We had both mums over to visit this year and it really emphasised how much things are changing. My mum is independent but there's a backdrop of health concerns. JoJo's mum took a tumble here and went home and fell again, breaking a hip. Super worrying.
It's been a while since I was in Robin Hood's Bay but I remember it fondly (Whitby too).
I love the warmth in each of your paintings, even in the bluest one there is light - they are lovely and how interesting that they were what your mind returned to and sought out at this difficult time. I am so drawn to the concept of painting very much your own version of a place, imbuing it with something uniquely personal, and hope you can do this more and more as you go forward.
Thank you very much Lou, I am so pleased you liked the paintings as I am so fond of them and what they represent. I just wish I had images of those that went! I really hope things settle soon as it such a worry. Hopefully I will be able to get going again in a few days! xx
I hope so too. It's an unsettling time when parents are ill I really hope your mum stabilises for a good long while and you can begin to move forward with painting again.
This is such a beautiful and poignant post to read Deborah. I love how you looked for these watercolours to seek out comfort at a difficult time. I do that too, listening to children's books, spending more time in nature, and thinking back to other times in my life.
These are really beautiful paintings. It is an exciting prospect to think of making work that responds to how you feel about a place. I am glad that things are a little more settled with your mum. Xx
Thank you very much. I confess to feeling very nervous posting this as I wasn't sure what would be made of the work or the feelings behind looking for them.
I love listening to children's books too and will listen again to the Dark is Rising this year!
Thank you very much for reading it xx
I love these watercolours - sometimes it’s so refreshing to look back at past work. And the memories that come up! I’m always amazed at how a drawing in a sketchbook from years ago can take me right back to the moment I drew it. Thanks for sharing. And I hope your Mum is on the mend x
Thank you very much and for taking the time to read it. Isn't it amazing how see older work can take you right back to the moment they were made? Mum is doing a little better and hopefully things will settle again x
Such beautiful work, I completely understand your need to paint what you feel rather than what you see. You must follow that path & see where it takes you again.
Thank you very much, I am so pleased you liked It.