The Art of Isolation

Drawing, Watercolour Pencils.
This piece is of Emily, an art model I collaborate regularly with, she is based in the USA. I create this using a photo reference.
This drawing is actually from my sketchbook. I’m still a bit old school, not yet discovered digital art. I usually have a sketchbook wherever I go, I also use it at home to create sketch ideas, play with colour and composition.

Pastel life drawing

At the very beginning of lockdown I realised how important setting up a routine would be. Painting is my happy place, but blocks do happen. I set myself to start a very basic tasks: painting one little object a day for a week.
I cut (quite rudimentarily) a bit of canvas and started with the fig on the bottom right (because I’m left handed). The five still life, and my forearm tattoo, are like totems, little reminders of moments and friendships that give my strength and bring me joy.
I realised that’s one big function of my paintings, they remind me of how I felt at one time and how I decided/managed to work around my feelings.

Glass of beer , after Picasso . Part of an ongoing project to make one thing a day during lockdown from a single cardboard package . Trying to make things instead of teaching for a glass of beer or a packet of biscuits. Loving the the adventure, and the challenge. Not managing to avoid beer or biscuits.

Charcoal drawing of cherry blossom in a Campari bottle.
Picked early on in isolation during a daily walk, and drawn from life in isolation.

Oil painting on paper.
During lockdown I embarked on a self portrait project whereby I would paint daily.
My initial thoughts were to make a habit of it, to get familiar with oils. I wanted to create something quick and intuitive.
It has been interesting for me to see how these little paintings have evolved during this journey. With each self portrait, it gives me a direction for the next day’s self portrait.
I’m learning to be less harsh on myself and accepting of the end results.

Self isolation portrait 1, oil on canvas board. This was the first portrait I painted during self isolation which I began shortly after lockdown. It reflects the confusion of isolation as the situation unfolded as I think we all experienced varying degrees of that during the past few months. I’ve painted self portraits before but this was a catalyst for a burst of creativity as there was so much additional time to produce work, something positive which arose from the crisis. I love painting portraits and capturing character or mood is what really interests me, something I’m continuing to explore as I develop my work.

I got inspired by blue tits I came across when I went out for walks in my neighbourhood during lockdown. Their colourful feathers, which reminded me of the deep blue ocean and bright sunflowers in summer, enticed me to explore what makes those small birds look that gorgeous through drawing. I drew this picture wishing that people would soon be able to enjoy beautiful beaches or lovely summer flowers under sunshine without any restriction. The drawing was done by water colour pencils.

In lockdown, Zoom portrait meet-ups have been moments of intimacy and a way to draw without feeling self conscious of being in a room with people. The focus is solely on the sitter, who occasionally blinks or shuffles in their seat, reminding you that you are indeed drawing from life (albeit seen through screens) and not just a photograph. This drawing therefore feels slightly off, somewhat distorted because it’s a face I know so well, that somehow looks and feels a million miles away: flattened and reformed onto my screen and then onto the paper.