Lockdown self improvement

While this lockdown is in full force I have decided to look at the alternative view of what this extraordinary time has brought us.

Many of us have taken up new hobbies, found out who we truly care about and who Actually cares about us.

We’ve learned new skills online to keep us connected.

We have excuses to avoid socialising and no pressure to keep up appearances.

We have different priorities and in many cases life is simpler.

This simple life comes with its own different set of complications and, if we approach it properly, this new learning curve can be fun, even exciting and, if we mix it up a bit, can even be exciting... succeeding and surviving in this new and alien world.

As an artist I have been in a strangely comfortable place. I have all this time to approach projects that have been patiently waiting on their time to shine.

I have even found myself reflecting on areas and skills I’d like to improve on.

Personally this time has been ideal to explore new techniques and improve on older ones without the stress or anxiety of knowing there was something equally important that needed worked on.

Being someone that works mainly with sculpture and installation I have found this forced period of isolation to be quite liberating. No access to my usual equipment and materials I have been forced to broaden my horizons and look at alternatives to be creative.

My decision to improve on my portraits and, in general, getting a better likeness for my subjects has allowed me to dive straight in and immerse myself in producing portraits of my family in different styles and using different techniques.

Some more successful than others!

In a home with 4 kids and 3 dogs it would normally be a challenge to ‘paint’; by the time you use an easel get the paints and thinner, palettes and brushes, etc. There’s no room to do anything before someone gets in the way or distracts or smears or all of the above.

Due to the lack of practicality in using traditional methods I have been exploring the digital world too but mainly artist applications such as my personal favourites ‘Procreate’ and ‘Brushes redux’.

I will admit I have had a little experience with these applications but this only helped with the transition of using this as a creative outlet while using as little space as possible in a packed house.

Using these applications on my iPad has allowed the freedom to explore and trial different mediums, effects and brushes, inks and paints. This can all be done without storing paper canvas and boards!

The lack of normal distraction allows my imagination to flow wherever it wants as it’s personal exploration and not for a commission or confined to the parameters of a given brief.

I have also noticed how productive and sharing the arts are being during this time with free content and televised content being shared with the masses. We have songs, paintings, poems, etc. of the current climate and I hope this renaissance of the arts continues as people have had the time to notice the beauty we can produce without the attachment of capitalism. People realising there is a life outside and that we all got distracted by the grindstone and forgot about the beauty of life.

This is one artist that hopes this has been the wake up call we all need as a race to find an equilibrium with our environments and lead balanced lives removing things that aren’t as important as we once thought when we start to return towards our previous lives.

What positives have you found? What positive changes have you made? What’s your biggest change that has benefitted others? Has there been changes by others that have benefitted you?

I’d love to know, get in touch to share your story.

So get creative and have fun but above all else...

Stay safe and stay home

hope to see you as a regular visitor to the site

Arty love to all

Scott