I recently embarked on an trip to India to do a 4 week Artist Residency in Vagamon, Southern India.
As well as producing 4 paintings and other Works in Progress I also did art workshops with underprivileged children at a care home.
This page will showcase my artwork as well as other adventures and the workshops.
I've also included views of my paintings in the beautiful studio on this page.
Some of my thoughts while in India: “I am using a limited palette of greens, yellows and reds on white or black backgrounds, inspired by the Keralan landscape.
The weather is so changeable throughout the day and night. There is a mix of bright and hazy sunshine, white mist, torrential rain and beautiful sunsets. I’m never up early enough to see the sunrises!!! Not that you can see much in the mornings with all the mist around. Sometimes you cannot even see a meter in front of you.
With the changing light and atmosphere throughout the day brings many different variations of colour and shade, as well as a mix of emotions.
The whole environment; the landscape, the people, the weather, the studio space, the food. Just about everything is inspiring me.”
I also travelled to a small city called Thodupuha to provide an arts and crafts workshop for under-privileged girls at a Care Home run completely by Nuns (who do a fantastic job).
I was the first foreigner to ever go there and so obviously the girls were a little shy at first and some looked a little worried. I wanted to do a simple workshop where they could be creative, have fun and have some escape from their everyday hardship.
I chose to do a Mask-Making workshop to promote Freedom and Self-Confidence. By making and wearing the masks the girls had an opportunity to become whatever character they wanted want for a while and at the same time having fun and feeling free.
As you can see from the pictures they had loads fun. They were beautiful girls in many ways and their strength of character was inspiring. They also gave me a much needed boost after receiving such sad news recently of my relative passing away just the day before.
Overall we were a huge help to each other. It was a great day.
