Yesterday was a day filled with joy and pride. I received the most heartwarming feedback from a lovely buyer who recently purchased "Watched over by the Queen of the Forest," one of my favorite paintings from 2023. He wrote, "Hi Jo, Ness absolutely loves her painting and was completely surprised. Thank you for creating such a beautiful piece!" I'm delighted that it has found its forever, wonderful home. It's moments like these that remind me why I love what I do.
Then in the evening, we had the pleasure of watching our son, Loki, perform in the musical "Annie." The entire cast, including Loki, was phenomenal. The production was brilliant, the set design was amazing, and it was clear that everyone had worked incredibly hard. We left the theater beaming with pride.
On the creative front, I've just bought a small pad of cold-pressed paper, which I've never used with oils before, and I'm excited to take on this new challenge. I plan to bring it with me to Menorca, where I aim to capture the island's serene beauty in small landscape paintings. Alongside that, I'm bringing a sketchbook for quick mark-making and color swatches, hoping to soak in the vibrant hues and textures of the island. I can't wait to see how this new environment will influence my work and bring a fresh perspective to my creative process.
Once I return from Menorca, I plan to trade the stuffiness of my Winchester city studio for the cool, shaded tranquility of the forest. During the rest of the summer, on the days when I can, I'll be working from my van and painting under the canopy of trees. This is always a refreshing change that inspires a deep and magical connection with nature in my art, which is so important.
Recently, I've been diving into a new series that's much smaller than my previous works, focusing on delicate details. This shift in my work is deeply connected to conversations I've had with close friends about Wolfy. His gentle nature has taught me to be more present and to appreciate the small things in life. I feel like his delicate essence is channeled through my latest paintings, almost drawing me back to my illustration roots. I'm having fun merging them with the fine art techniques I've been honing over the past four years. This blend is exciting and feels like a natural evolution of my artistic journey.
I look forward to sharing more updates with you soon, especially from my time in Menorca. Until then, stay creative and enjoy the little things!
Jo X
PS Don't forget to grab your copy of the Hampshire Open Studios broucher! You'll find details of where I'm exhibiting in the Romsey section.
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