Welcome to my first ever journal entry that looks back at the year that has just been (and what a year that was…) I started writing this journal entry end of December, hence the christmas tree in the picture, but come mid January its still up!
Entering 2021, I want to acknowledge and thank those who have commissioned, purchased and supported me during the tough year that was 2020.
Like other artists and designers I go through stages of doubting my work and my ability. There are huge learning curves in running a business too. It’s constant. In college, we learnt our chosen creative area, to critic our work, develop a style , but the business bit has been 20 years of intense learning and making a lot of mistakes and losses. So when someone orders a mug, a christmas card or an artwork, each order is confirming all the hard work, risks and perseverances have paid off.
Online orders over christmas made up for the fact there was no shows to attend. The learning came with dealing with the significant amounts of online orders and making sure I didn’t miss any or mess up! There was a real air of support for local businesses and to those amazing local loyal customers and friends who support me and my business, thank you! Your endeavour to support local businesses is gratefully acknowledged!
Christmas day and the days after it, were bliss. We became idle. Work stopped and I planted myself in front of the fire, watched films, read a book and spend quality time with my kids and hubby and left 2020 behind.
December 2019 I posted this image on my face book page just as we entered 2020. Little did we know what was ahead and this year has certainly given us a new perspective on life! 2020 vision? A blurry semblance of normality more like.Personally, it was quite a year, what with a pandemic, diagnoses of cancer in our family, an elderly parent getting covid and other stuff; it was a bad year. Luckily everyone is doing better now.
The beginning of every year I relish the quiet and calm after the busy-ness of December. Its a time to reevaluate, get ducks in line and create brand spanking new work. In late January, Nenagh arts centre in Co.Tipperary invited me to exhibit there. It was a great opportunity in which to create brand new work based on Nenagh itself, Lough Derg and the surrounding rural landscape and towns.
Street scene Nenagh 1 (Stitch drawing on paper; acrylic paint)
Street scene Nenagh 2 (Stitch drawing on paper; acrylic paint)
Roosting in Killaloe (Print; stitch and fabric on paper, acrylic paint)
Using stitch in my work has become a default method. Pure painting seemed really appealing and to challenge that comfort zone. The series of work begun with street scenes and work of architectural landmarks based on Nenagh and local towns; using stitch and paint together. Eventually I turned to painting artworks on canvases of local scenes of Lough Derg around where we live. During the first wave and lock down we would walk the lane everyday by our house and along the banks of Lough Derg as part of our daily routine. We passed neighbouring farm houses and sheds with lovely rusted colours and the first paintings captured 2 of these scenes.
Acrylic on canvas
‘To the shed and back’ Acrylic on canvas
The next thing covid hit our shores and everything shut down, including Nenagh arts centre. In a way it was a relief as there was still a lot more work to do for this exhibition.
Birds of course still appeared in some of the shows work. This one below is a quirky take on swimmers at two mile gate, a well known local swimming spot on the banks of Lough Derg. The lake and its exhilarating cold shock of water in the winter has lured me in too and I chase that feeling of well being that comes after a dip. It satisfies a need for adventure when our movements are restricted and is an opportunity to be fully immersed in raw nature.
‘2 mile gate plunge’
March 13th 2020 came and schools were shut, we were confined to our homes and areas. Lucky to be in the countryside with space, we educated the kids when walking the lanes, answering their endless questions.
They learnt about the hedgerows, the cycle of nature, invasive plants, space, evolution, etc, etc and maths through working out the amount of milk a cow produces in a day. We got to know each other better and had less demands and pressures. This suited my eldest, who on the spectrum has had a love/hate relationship with school and when we wondered about home schooling before, now we were thrown into it big time and had no choice. We took the self directed learning route with a bit of curriculum and had good and bad days of homeschooling like everyone else.
‘5km’
January 2021 and now we’re back to 5km and kids off school again! The year begun with lovely, bright weather so we could enjoy the outdoors, just before school work started again.
These guys below are keeping us entertained and sane since they came in October. From the Donkey sanctuary and a farm with 200 other donkeys (there are 900 donkeys in the sanctuary in total, a lot of homes needed), they came named; Noah and Pablo. Noah on the left is the gentle, quiet, compliant one who has grown a gorgeous soft winter coat. Pablo on the right is a divil; has his nose in ever thing and a real escape artist. Having donkeys as pets was always on my bucket list!
During 2020 I decided to change my approach to commissions. Over the years there have been more requests to fit in more detail into my commissions and this can compromise the pieces. it’s tricky getting that detail in with intense stitching on paper with fabric, especially into smaller pieces. Instead now stitch is an outline with painted detail in with acrylic paint.
Heres some samples of commissions from 2020, which have flown off to France, Qatar, Australia and Cavan to name a few places. I’m honoured that these commissioned art works carry great meaning for the recipients and particularly in peoples lives during difficult times. They not only mark birthdays , anniversaries , marriage, but also when someone has passed or when going through a difficult time in life.
Wedding gift
Family portrait
Wedding gift
Family portrait
Family portrait
Commission artwork as birthday gift
Irish proverb stitched on paper as commissioned gift during covid
‘When a robin appears, loved ones are near’
Christmas came and new products were developed. I over compensated with the whole festive vibe at home to try and override the covid situation and keep things cheery and felt christmas themed products would be a nice addition too. Plus it was a year and a christmas like no other and it would have to be to marked.
A product takes time to produce; making image, photographing image, photo shopping image, sending images to be processed for china ware decals and then making the product. I ran out of time with some products and delayed with covid restrictions and suppliers being back logged, but managed to launch a few new products for christmas.
‘Christmas mugs!’
‘Roosting in…’ mugs
Christmas cards
Roosting in Dublin china plate and mug gift box set
Christmas 2020 china plate and mug gift box set
Christmas dinner set order
Below is the beginnings of the first 2021 commissions to kick start the year. A rough initial sketch, this is where a commission starts and what takes the most time, thought and concentration. I’ll bounce the idea off my client first before we add any more details and then the commissioned artwork will be finally created in stitch on paper with acrylic paint. This is a first home gift. I hope it will bring them a lot of joy while marking a significant stage in their life.
2020 has been quite a defining year for many reasons; we stared our freedom, our health, mortality, so much in the face. It wasn’t easy and continues to challenge us and the next few months are going to be the hardest, but we got through 2020, we can get through 2021…wishing you all a healthy and uncomplicated 2021.
‘Distant but in this together’
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