Releasing the Collective Creativity

May 25th "Layers".

So wonderful to acknowledge that this group is now responsible for unleashing so much creativity on the world

The membership has reached 96, with some people posting regularly, while others dip in and out.  There is no pressure to produce work, but there is a great atmosphere of support and encouragement from those in the group, and it is amazingly lovely to witness, as many members increase in confidence, experimentation and freedom as they interpret the daily theme.

26th May. The theme "door" inspired images posted by 24 different people.  

There were too many posted to squeeze into two collages, so just picked a few which worked beautifully together to create this Insta collage.

For myself the challenges have been many.  Thinking of a theme each night has been difficult at times, but I have treated it as an important part of my journey within the group, and consider numerous options before settling on one which sits comfortably with my understanding of the group, and which is hopefully surprising and inspiring each morning.

The images I choose and edit to go with the post are also given careful consideration, as I take pleasure in the curation of the group, and the routine and responsibility which I have created in the role.

June 5th "Weather".  View from my caravan of the dramatic clouds with their promise of impending storms as the sun went down.  The first time I used a new set of gouache paints instead of the old acrylics I'd been using.

The work I am producing continues to be a visual diary of not only my physical surroundings, but also the state of my mind.  These are strange times.  Not only the incredible situation of a  pandemic and resulting lock down, but now the horrible death of George Floyd, and all the  emotional unrest this has produced.  

May 30th "Spirals"  Mixed media.

May 27th "Dance".  This collage expresses well how joyful I felt at the time of creating it.  It was a lengthy bit of work for a daily exercise, but one I enjoyed immensely, and collage is a medium I want to explore further.

My response to "door", May 26th. The photo I took of the caravan door open at night was really beautiful.  I found it incredibly hard to paint.

June 3rd "Reflections".  For over ten years my family have spent time in a field in Dorset with a huge group of friends.  The time we spend there is blissful, and we discuss how we'll mentally transport ourselves back to Sundowner Bay whenever real life gets a bit shit.   This year it probably won't happen because of the virus.  

June 8th "Blue".  A self portrait which reflects the sadness and confusion I felt after the death of George Floyd, which brought so much  introspection and soul searching around the issue of racism.

June 6th "Tea Time". 

May 23rd "Faceless self portrait".  The first painting I felt really good about.  A rainy morning in the caravan spent recreating my own legs from a quick selfie taken with the camera on the floor.