Work From Home
Work From Home
Responding to the challenge of Covid19
We hope that this page will be an inspiration; to show the value of being creative and the sense of wellbeing that can bring. It isn't intended to be an opportunity for selling work; it is more of a celebration of the joy and pleasure that engaging with creative processes can bring to everyone. There is something about sharing for the sake of sharing. It offers a valuable opportunity to reveal the potential that creativity can contribute towards developing a greater sense of wellbeing.
Thanks to everyone for taking part and sharing images of some of the work you have created, and also the words you have shared. By being open and sharing our own work, (the outcomes that have been achieved through the action of picking up a brush, a pencil, a pen, tube of glue, any number of materials), we reveal the enormous variety and potential of having a go. It is through doing that we learn to do. In art, as in many things, it is in the doing of it where the real value lies. But in the words people have generously shared, many ideas and feelings are expressed in ways which may help to
conjure up some of the potential benefits of engaging with art and creativity for everyone.
Jean Harrison
The great joy of isolation for me has been having time to investigate. I've looked at different media, colour combinations and techniques. Some things have worked and others have been a disaster but it has all been positive and now I know a lot more than I did before.
Catriona Stamp
Catriona Stamp & Forgebank Cohousers.
Inspired by Alice Kettle's project with refugees called Stitch a Tree, I asked my neighbours if they would like to make tree on an A4 piece of cloth. It was a wonderful way to feel connected with each other, (zoom workshops included) and when it was complete it was so interesting to see how differently we each approached the work; knitting, proggy rug, collage and embroidery, using beads, sticks, paper, milktop caps, recycled Tshirts, as well as wool and thread, and what different images we produced. Mine (Catriona Stamp) is the autumnal one. Others by Forgebank Cohousers.
Sobia Khan
In today's world; full of depression and anxiety, being creative helps you to overcome these problems. Depression and despair is always there, it allows to convert negative to positive and get motivated from this. It helps you in solving problems and bring positivity. It also helps you to think optimistically and teaches you how to deal with the uncertainties. Creativity is a therapeutic process which allows adaptivity with all situations.
Rosa Mackinder:
At first, despite all the spare time suddenly available, I couldn’t settle to making art.
After some time, I now find that my art has a place and I am getting into a rhythm and am finding the ideas flowing, despite the apparent contradiction of the restrictions imposed on me. I’m in my own little world and making the most of it.
Jared Joao Alexander:
Sometimes when I am sketching my mind gets quite concentrated, and this gives me some some mental space because most of my other thoughts disappear at the time. This was particularly helpful during lockdown, since I had a way to enjoy myself that I could tap into in quite a simple way.
Bert Green
Here is a scratched slate pic, typical of my 30 minute efforts during covid idleness. With slate on slate there is almost no pressure to make a likeness. It is perhaps just revealing an ambiguous likeness or lightness just under the surface of the dark surface. Take a snap, just rub it out with the sleeve of your jumper and it's ready to go again.
Michelle Martindale
Being a working mum of 4 art is my 'me time'. It switches me off from the stresses of life and I get engrossed in what I am creating.
It was amazing during lockdown. Being at home all day everyday it really helped me mentally and kept me busy in a way that was just for me. I also enjoy and love the joy my creations can bring to others.
Thurnham WI
The making of A Wall Hanging
Thurnham WI
The making of A Wall Hanging
Committee members have tried to keep connected with all their members through lockdown, by phone, text, emails, monthly newsletters and various challenges and projects we have come up with for members to join in whilst still keeping safe and socially distanced. Our aim being to keep us all in touch with one another, to keep our minds active and to hopefully bring new ideas we could all choose to join in as and when we wished. One of the many projects we have started is our 'Lockdown Wall Hanging.' The idea originated from our secretary Susan who suggested a quilt for members to all add pieces to, but as we tossed ideas round we came to the conclusion that a wall hanging would be more visible and we could display it at our meetings, etc. We wanted to be fully inclusive of all our ladies wonderful talents, as not all sew or embroider which is the obvious first thought for the medium to be used. So we asked ladies to do whatever they felt happy doing and we got all kinds of amazing things back, such as poems, map of dog walks taken, photo's of gardens, friends and family connected to by phone, etc and in turn we were able to put these pieces of work onto photocopiable fabric paper which we can then incorporate easily into the wall hanging alongside sewn and embroidered pieces. Some ladies took their fabric photocopy back and then added a few personal stitches to it as well. We are now at the stage where we shall start to bring these individual pieces into one large hanging and further detail will be added, Clare has made porcelain buttons to be stitched on and Helen has lots of details of birds she has been able to appreciate in lockdown to stitch to the final piece and Mary is adding her own personal touch of a christmas stocking which she makes each year. This has been a project that ladies have all been so enthusiastic to join in and right from the start, when we discussed ideas, we were amazed at how motivated and inspired everyone who took part was. Ladies have commented on how much they have enjoyed doing their piece of work and to be able to contribute even though they didn't sew. We're looking forward to seeing the finished piece, which will be a 'treasure' for future generations to recount our personal stories of lockdown 2020."
Moira Peelo
This is one of my lockdown masks - feral hair - acrylic on cardboard, textured, part collage including odds and ends such as beads.
Charlie Holt
The armchair traveler: part of a series created during lockdown... journeys in time and memory .. no passport needed, no quarantine.....never leaving my house
Thank you for taking the time to look through the work from the project:
Work From Homework
Responding to the challenge of Covid19
We hope that this page will be an inspiration; to show the value of being creative and the sense of wellbeing that can bring. It isn't intended to be an opportunity for selling work; it is more of a celebration of the joy and pleasure that engaging with creative processes can bring to everyone. There is something about sharing for the sake of sharing. It offers a valuable opportunity to reveal the potential that creativity can contribute towards developing a greater sense of wellbeing.
Thanks to everyone for taking part and sharing images of some of the work you have created, and also the words you have shared. By being open and sharing our own work, (the outcomes that have been achieved through the action of picking up a brush, a pencil, a pen, tube of glue, any number of materials), we reveal the enormous variety and potential of having a go. It is through doing that we learn to do. In art, as in many things, it is in the doing of it where the real value lies. But in the words people have generously shared, many ideas and feelings are expressed in ways which may help to conjure up some of the potential benefits of engaging with art and creativity for everyone.
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