Thoughts from Away

and home

As the nights become cooler I celebrate the breeze through my windows . I spread myself out on a chair outside yesterday and succumbed to the last of the soothing rays of summer sun . Less punishing more soothing . No winged biting insects to agitate.

My earphones fed me soft classical tunes and I could feel these long luxurious breaths in my ribcage as I sunk into the chair.

There is another side to me ..beyond the frustration, sadness and anger at the state of human destruction and loss. I require this other side to balance the inequities of my comfortable natural environment with the recognition of tragedy beyond. I am trying to pay attention, with gratitude, to this beautiful life . September is a time of reflection and renewal isn’t it? . It’s hard to think about much else other than the atrocities in Gaza and the ineptitude of our western leaders . Yet I am drawn to art for the healing , the mark making , the visual commentary and the release.

a sample of experimentation with dried weeds and gelli printing and wax

Home again.

I have just returned from three weeks in the UK. spending time with infant twin grandchildren and my daughter and son in law. I am grateful to have the privilege of spending time with family who live afar - . I even had the unique experience of spending a few nights in Italy.

I am reflecting.

I am feeling my age ,- worn

by time zones and airports. There is a fight or flight aspect to travelling solo. One cannot truly relax knowing that in these moments we are 100 percent responsible for our own well being. Mentally processing the experience. I recognised how stimulating mentally and physically it is to be away from my familiar. A world away that is and is not mine. I have been thinking about how privileged I am to live here - with health , creature comforts, family , friends .

While away in alone times I was fortunate to to participate in a roadside protest , meet an online artist friend in person, sketch , take notes, write , attend an art gallery opening night and tune my senses into this other world. I walked so much which was good for my body. I challenged myself with bus routes and navigation.

Stirring art in a Letchworth UK gallery -The Broadway gallery Trigger Warning by Idit Elia Nathan is a sculptural installation of handkerchiefs passed down through the maternal line, delicately embroidered with press images from the war in Gaza and artistic responses to historic horrors of war.

I was honoured to join the North Hertfordshire PSC for a roadside protest and to meet the lovely embers for coffee afterwards

A churchyard in Hitchin

a vineyard scene in Tuscany

A very rare photo of me in Italy

Travelling away from my familiar world offered many learnings

I learned

I am drawn to the peaceful and serene

To calm natural environments

to crumbling ancient bricks and humbling historical architecture

to listening to bird song and taking in the beauty of nature, flowers

to people watching in cafes

to appreciate wise and lively conversations

to revere moments alone to ponder

Sketching what is in front of me wherever I am ..

Sketchbook moments from life in cafes, in Hitchin UK and Tuscany Italy

Home

Does travel inspire you ?

Activate your creative side?

Deplete you ?

Please do comment ..I am interested in your perspective !

Thank you for reading Ageless Artist