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Posted
I've thought about this quite a bit since, currently, my "normal" is very different to many reading this thread. For that reason alone I have resisted the urge to add anything. However, oddly, the effects on my productivity and inspiration have been very similar to many. So this is what it is like on the other side of the world.
As many of you know, I returned to Western Australia in July last year (I can say that now) after experiencing the first lockdown and the stress of the house sale. I, too, suffer from depression although have used various methods in recent years to reduce its effect - one of the best being art. Making the journey and getting through quarantine without a +ve test was a great relief for my wife and I. Fortunately, WA has not had a community case since May as a result of state border and regional controls (which are still very much in place). Anyone reading this might think "what's the problem, sounds like the place to be...".
I don't know whether it is the fear/apprehension of an outbreak here, but it still doesn't feel real to me. It's like everyone's life has gone back to normal, with all the shops and restaurants open and many people being complacent enough to disregard the social distancing, sanitising and tracking rules. Most of the time I, too, wake up with great intentions which seem to quickly fade by the time I finish breakfast. Yes, there is a lot to do in a new house to put our "smell" on it, but my studio is all set up and there is a canvas panel on the easel and a sketch pad on another. Still no productivity though.
Next week I am off on an art course at the local Summer School so maybe it will fire me up. As expected, nothing stops. I'm just hoping 2021 is going to blossom into a good year - not just for me but for all of us feeling a little bit odd or out of sorts.
Happy New Year and look forward to seeing (and producing) great art in the year to come.
Posted
Interesting to read how things are going elsewhere in the world, Ron. You say the situation doesn't seem real where you are, that's the overall feeling I've had since this started. An odd sensation because what's happening is about as real as it gets.
As you know, we're back to square one here...worse in fact, with a much more contagious version of the virus. Last night the TV showed New Year Celebrations in China, it seems they are pretty much back to normal. Crowds everywhere. All this makes you realize just how badly our government have handled the situation. An impossible task, but the bunch we have in government now, with 'Too Late Johnson' in charge, just aren't up to it. I'm not an political type, but we have to take note now. It's different situation of course, we're a tiny crowded island.
But the anti-virus is here, surely things will move quickly now. This New Year has the potential to be a real 'new beginning' for everybody. Let's hope it happens. I'd never thought of art having health benefits before, it was just something that was a challenge and that I really enjoyed doing.
Posted
Interesting to read how things are going elsewhere in the world, Ron. You say the situation doesn't seem real where you are, that's the overall feeling I've had since this started. An odd sensation because what's happening is about as real as it gets. As you know, we're back to square one here...worse in fact, with a much more contagious version of the virus. Last night the TV showed New Year Celebrations in China, it seems they are pretty much back to normal. Crowds everywhere. All this makes you realize just how badly our government have handled the situation. An impossible task, but the bunch we have in government now, with 'Too Late Johnson' in charge, just aren't up to it. I'm not an political type, but we have to take note now. It's different situation of course, we're a tiny crowded island. But the anti-virus is here, surely things will move quickly now. This New Year has the potential to be a real 'new beginning' for everybody. Let's hope it happens. I'd never thought of art having health benefits before, it was just something that was a challenge and that I really enjoyed doing.Happy New Year to you all and my it bring you health and happiness. I’m not to bothered about the wealth bit at the moment. Lew you mention not thinking about art having a health benefits. I worked for many year in the mental health day care service and one of our most popular groups was art. People of all ages and ailments would often say how much they enjoyed painting , drawing and even those less able colouring in , we often hear people say it not like having some sort of therapy. That was the comment made , but it did have a lot of therapeutic benefits as because people did it without feeling pressured into some sort of treatment plan. I never tried to interpret anyone’s work or interfere in what they were painting, there were some talented artists. The best thing to do is go on painting , sketching etc and enjoy the benefits of your work and soak up the underlying benefits. I hope you all continue to produce whatever you are able in these difficult and different time, as the other benefit is that others gain from seeing what you have done and achieved.
Posted
I must admit that I worry about the situation here in the UK at the moment! I moved back to Orkney from Inland Spain in October due to health reasons . At that time things were deteriorating in Spain again as numbers were on the rise. Here in Orkney there have been few cases ( last one on Boxing Day) but can’t be complacent as Shetland shows where they have had 30 cases over the last week. Even so I feel a much safer here in an island community. Art is certainly helping me but at the moment it’s more in enjoyment of other artists work and the inspiration it provides even if I can’t always put pen or brush to paper!!
Posted
Yes Dixie, I don't deny that for a moment. I was speaking on a personal note. I've always drawn simply because I wanted to. But there's no doubt it's been a boon during this chaos. At the moment there's not much else I can do, and, as Alan said, if you've done some art you feel you've achieved something.
Posted
It’s not just art that keeps the mind occupied and the head on track. My hubby has started planting seeds and spends hours sorting his dahlia tubers and keeping the greenhouse on track for spring. My neighbour sews a lot and in fact made endless face masks which she gave away and/or sold giving the proceeds to charity. I’m also knitting for baby at present which I find relaxing and haven’t done for years. I think any sort of hobby or interest helps tick off the days while we wait for this thing to be over. I also find walking helps, and in the better weather took a little sketch book with me most days. Too cold for that now!
And yes Lewis ‘too late Johnson’ ( I like that!) probably has a lot to answer for along with ‘hesitant Hancock’ but who would be in their place?
So on we plod. Fingers crossed and prayers said for better days soon! I see that the January daily sketch has restarted with a bang. I was pretty disciplined this time last year so will see what I can do. It definitely helps.
Posted
I agree Tessa... our garden has had much more attention this (last) year than any other! We built a greenhouse, moved a shed, built a pond, moved plants around, grew some vegetables.. The garden was a stress-free zone (when the weather was good).
More recently I've been trying to wade through some of the unfinished DIY jobs around the house, (the (lack of) lights in my art room is on that long list). So far I've tiled a small section of the bathroom that needed repairing (that's been 5 years on the DIY list), painted the bare skirting in the dining room (also 5 years on the list), and next week will aim to tile the kitchen window sills (also years on the list)
Posted
Lewis, I don't think it matters where in the world you are, there are people who still refuse to do the right thing and they are the true threat. I certainly don't feel that we are prepared for a large number of cases. Even in the eastern states (NSW, Victoria) there are issues coping with the demand for testing, following a cluster outbreak. Space is one thing we have in our favour, unlike UK, and we live on the south coast which is about 5 hrs drive from Perth. I've been following the UK news since we left but probably only hearing the sensationalism.
I expect, since art is therapeutic for me, I find I have to be in the right mind to start which is almost counter-productive. Ideally, I could be using the time wisely to experiment with all the various different media and techniques that I normally struggle with.
Helen, I admire your tenacity in working your way through your list and getting all those DIY jobs done. I'll bet you get a lot of satisfaction from seeing them completed.
Gillian, just recently I have started looking at studying particular artists. There are so many favourites it is hard to choose one, though I have seen a book about the "Impressionists" that looks interesting. Books, here, are very expensive compared to UK so making the right choice is crucial. I did come across a book of one of my favourite artists, Arthur Streeton, but it's in hardback and about A$75 (£42.50).
Posted
I've reached the stage where the house has been fully redecorated, the garden has undergone a major revamp, I have walked every walk imaginable in the lovely local countryside and all I'm left with is my art.
Love it as I do I need some diversification during my lockdown hours and am about to start writing my memoirs, I intend to divide it into chapters starting with the house where I was raised which has a colourful history in its own right: a history which will be lost if not recorded. I've no intention of ever getting it published but it will be a therapeutic exercise which I am sure will be of interest to my children and their descendants.
Posted
Whether people do or do not feel or see art as therapeutic, it is done and enjoyed and things we enjoy doing makes for a happier life. Would we do it otherwise?
I haven't done any more art work than normal, but I have tried different subjects, and medium, which I find exciting and motivating.
Maybe we just appreciate it more, now.
I can't say the current situation has affected the way I live, I still go about my work, but only go out to do the usual food shopping every three weeks, now, which I will be continuing to do for ever more.
I've never craved human company so self isolation is the norm, but how I feel for those who do, and have elderly dependants, children, and have to juggle their lives around the ever changing rules, while some just don't give a monkeys fig and carry on regardless, shame on them.
Posted
Yes, all activity is good for you. Like others, I've revamped my garden, turned a broken down shed into a kind of arbour, we have two jobs to do in the house that are beyond my skills and will have to wait until I can get workmen in, so there's little to occupy my time at the moment beyond art. I like Michael's idea of a memoire. But I've been doing something like that for the past few years. It's more an illustrated family history. I've used old photos to illustrate it...these photos were very useful, we arranged them in date order as far as we could and that gave us the 'spine' to build our story on. It isn't all photos, there are pages of text where there are 'gaps' in the photos. I'm doing it in A4 size, so I can print the pages. It's going in archival photo folders with A4 transparent sleeves...they hold 120 pages. I'm on my third folder at the moment, and periodically add more pages. My family have started reading it, and often it's the odd mundane things that grab their attention. Like...'what's a coal hole?' (My grandchildren have never seen a coal fire in a house.) Purely a personal family thing. It's something I wish my own father had been able to do about his life.