3 Things I discovered in lockdown
1. I still enjoy painting and printmaking
The day before our first lockdown in March 2020 I brought paintings and prints home from my first ever solo show ‘Avenue of Dreams’, www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/2020/01/06/avenue-of-dreams/ ,an abrupt end with my plans for follow up activities brought to a sudden halt. Strange times.
The next exhibition had been delivered to the Ropewalk Gallery and although it was about to be hung as planned it was never open to the public. Videos appeared online and I really felt for the artist who was unable to visit her own exhibition or engage with visitors. My outside printmaking activities ground to an abrupt halt but I am lucky to have a small x-cut press at my home studio which helped me enter my first ever online exhibition, The Derby Print Open, followed by another at the Old Lock Up Gallery in Derbyshire. I delivered a painting to Bassetlaw Museum for 'Journeys', and sent prints off to The Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield for 'All Shall Pass'. A painting was accepted to the Cooper Prize exhibition, which although postponed was open to the public for most of June. Here I am masked at the Cooper Prize exhibition. All good.
2. I’m much more ‘outdoorsy’ than I thought
I found solace walking down to our allotment most days or doing some gardening and felt grateful for access to so much open space which brought me to another discovery - the fantastic ancient woodland that exists in and around Sheffield. What a revelation after only being vaguely aware of its existence pre-pandemic. Sometimes digging is fun!
Weirdly I enjoyed walking in the really cold weather best…. followed by a cold shower. The chill and the smells of woodland in autumn and winter helped me switch off as I gazed upwards at the sculptural forms of the trees, their solid forms unexpectedly reassuring. After some time I started drawing and painting the trees and found a new connection between my art practice and my immediate environment. New pieces of work emerged. All good.
3. I can master technology
I have become much better at using social media and technology and understanding how it can help me. Lockdown has found me making many new friends and acquaintances online, some arty some not. I have been able to welcome more visitors to my website which I have been slowly improving. I have a new subscribers page under contacts where you can subscribe to a monthly newsletter. https://www.alexmcarthur-art.com/subscribe . I have sold some work online and last but not least I can ZOOM. Finding new pathways through an unexpectedly difficult time has been challenging and exciting…… but I am looking forward to getting out and about more and feeling more comfortable. All good.
In the meantime here are my social media links.
