'The Tanglewood' by Amber Caspian

'The Tanglewood' by Amber Caspian

Saturday 21 April 2012

Creativity Ensconced

Dream House

Ensconced verb [with object and adverbial of place]
- establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place: Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom
Origin: late 16th century (in the senses 'fortify' and 'shelter within or behind a fortification'; formerly also as insconce)

Creativity needs a room of its own, as Virginia Woolf wrote - a space in which to lay down paint and pen to paper, to let ideas flow through you into tangible form.  Only after long walks during which it gets to breathe and play.  Where it has been given the freedom to regenerate, to be wild, and to knock you off your feet; will it then need a quiet, clear, almost sacred space within which to take form.  That safe place in which to ensconce oneself in peace and blissful solitude and create.

Not so easily done in our busy lives of working and family and the demands of daily life.  Often it’s snatched moments at kitchen tables, packing away the tools of our trade before the kids come home from school. Or working late into the secret night when everyone is asleep, catching their dreams in the silence.

It’s not just about physical space either, but mental space.  I feel that the two go together anyway, my room gets messy when my head feels messed up.  Living in my parents’ home has many good things about it but I am now living within their lives and all that comes with it.  I am cramped into one room full of family stuff, which is also quite dark being north facing so the sunlight rarely penetrates the window.  I find I suddenly miss my old flat so much, despite the noisy neighbours.  

Filled with this light airy space, my own things around me, a big table with my art materials laid out ready; it proved irresistible - I couldn’t fight the yearning to paint for long.   As spring really takes off I long for those seemingly endless days of the weekends there, filled with walks and writing and painting.  So it has set me thinking about creating a new sacred space in which to work.  Probably a garden shed with a  wood burning stove, that would be just the thing.

However what I would really LOVE is to have a studio like one of these amazing places...


Pitchford Hall Tree House

Storybook House, Kitsap County

Beverly Hills Witch House

Hobbit House, Hawaii 

Thursday 5 April 2012

Horseplay

This week we opened a new exhibition at my gallery, called 'Horseplay - Equine Grace'.  I am not a horsey person in that I don't ride and am quite scared of them; however I find them so beautiful that they bring a lump to my throat.  I would love to see wild horses running together in that wonderful rolling wave, moving as one with manes flying.  For the moment I content myself with sitting in a gallery amidst gorgeous paintings of them.
'Fin' by Yolande Kenny
The show is mainly inspired around the work of Yolande Kenny who paints very personal and emotive horse portraits.  With the use of unusual viewpoints - looking up from close to the horse's head or being literally nose-to-nose, she captures their unique personalities intimately as seen through the eyes of their owner.  Whether painted in oil on linen or drawn in graphite Yolande's skill is in catching the power and gentle strength of these graceful creatures.
'Stance' by Yolande Kenny
I also included Gena Ivanov's colourful watercolours evoking the wild flowing nature of horses...
'Blue Horse' by Gena Ivanov
...along with Ramzieh Baj's more primal and fantastic painting inspired by the Nart Saga (heroic Circassian tales from the Caucasus)  and very controlled print of the famous Desert Orchid....
'Lady Setenaya and the Dragon' by Ramzieh Baj

'Horse in Profile' by Ramzieh Baj
...and Sophie Howard's bronze sculptures, which speak about the strong companionship between humans and horses.
'Sitting' by Sophie Howard