Self Isolation Silver Linings

Last Monday I was pinged by the NHS app and told to self isolate, it was annoying timing as my partner was going to be off work for a few days and we were planning on having a few little adventures - since moving home in June we’ve been so busy with unpacking and decorating that we’ve hardly explored our new town together or spent much quality time together as a family.

I took a rapid lateral flow test which came back negative and then after sulking for a bit I decided to turn being housebound into a positive by getting my pens out.

A few weeks ago I was invited to exhibit with Chalk’s Gallery in Lymington in their exhibition Art Alchemy set to take place in September. I agreed to take part but hadn’t had the time to get started on the work to be exhibited, being told to stay at home for 10 days with my partner home to share caring for our toddler was the kick I needed to stop procrastinating.

I decided to make work inspired by landscape in the New Forest as this is where the gallery is based. I scrolled through the hundreds of photographs I have from day trips over the years and settled on some beautiful woodland scenes. I made two detailed drawings in the style of my woodland studies series, focusing on the sparkling dappled light and tiny natural details.

I’m out of isolation now and my partner is back to work so the duty of caring for our little boy is solely mine again, which means drawing is relegated to an hour at nap time if I’m lucky and evenings once he’s gone to bed. I will make two more pieces to be displayed at the gallery alongside the two ‘Brockenhurst’ drawings.

Brockenhurst I, 21cm x 14.9cm, pen on paper

Brockenhurst II, 21cm x 14.9cm, pen on paper

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Argentina's Lake District Immortalised

While browsing Khadi Papers online shop one day when I needed to purchase some more cotton paper I came across some beautiful looking paper which was handmade in Bhutan. I decided to buy a couple of packs in two different sizes to experiment with. When the paper arrived I admired its unique surface; smooth to touch on one side and slightly rough on the other side with flecks of natural material and a deckled edge. I thought that ink might work well with the paper so I took out my pot of black Indian ink and a selection of fine brushes. I decided to use some photographs from my trip around Argentina’s Lake District as inspiration, the flora of the area combined with the lake shores, water and mountainous landscape seemed like it would work well with the materials.

I used a watered down ink wash to depict the water of the lake with concentrated ink to draw the trees with a super fine brush. With each drawing I tackled a different viewpoint, mountains with trees bordering the lake edge, beautiful wild trees with boulders, delicate grasses and flowers, rickety old gates. The paper gives the drawings an antique feel, as if they’ve been stashed away inside an old book and left inside a cabinet for a number of years.

The first couple of drawings were quite restrained but as time went on I allowed myself to be more expressive and to embrace looser marks. My pen drawings are so tight and so detailed that I relished letting go a little bit, allowing the ink to splodge and utilising dry brush technique to create interesting textures.

This is a series that I really enjoy working on between making detailed pen drawings and watercolour paintings. There are several original drawings from this series available to purchase at claireleach.com/shop.

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2020: In Review

Well, where to start?

It has been such a challenging year and I’m saying that as a person with privilege. I cannot begin to imagine how hard this year has been for those working as nurses on the frontline of the pandemic, the essential workers, care home staff, those already in financial constraints who have had to face job losses. Those that have lost loved ones. My heart really goes out to you.

I usually do a round up of my year, the positives and the negatives but this year it just doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve continued to make work and I’ve managed to care for my beautiful son full time too. To me that’s a huge achievement and all I really want to focus on.

So, if this year has been difficult for you and you feel guilty for not doing or achieving everything you wanted then please, let yourself off the hook. You’re still here and that’s enough. If you can, try and think of the positives that this year has brought you. I hope there has been something. For me it’s meant more time with my partner as he was forced to work from home. But it’s also totally okay to feel broken by this year of never ending bad news. Be kind to yourself.

As always, I’m here if you ever need a friendly ear. Just send me a message or an email. And remember you are not alone. None of us are alone. I’m wishing you a lot of love and I just hope that in the not too distant future we can see and hug our families again. If this year has taught us anything then surely it’s shown what is really important?

Best wishes for 2021 and I look forward to sharing my art and life with you then.