So here we are in November, the evenings are dark and the temperatures are getting low. Normally by now (what’s normal?) I would be in Spain; enjoying higher temperatures, catching up with friends and working in my studio. But its fine, I’ve enjoyed seeing the colours change, found some warmer clothes and have everything I need; my health, my husband, my family and my creativity. Time also to reflect and count my blessings as the UK goes into another lockdown.
Its been a crazy year on so many levels, and at times I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, but with sheer determination I got to my self-imposed finish line in October with a huge sense of achievement. But none of it would have been possible without you guys, and I’m so very grateful for all your support and encouragement.
Behind me all the way has been my husband John and this October marked our 45th year together. We had a lovely few days away in a lodge deep in the Norfolk countryside to celebrate. He does so much to enable me to do what I do. Not only does he cook, shop and clean, he listens and understands. I almost lost him a few years back but an amazing surgeon at Papworth hospital gave him back to me, and I will always be grateful.
I have been privileged to have been able to teach so many lovely people this summer. Asking you all to let me know what you wanted from an online course gave me a framework to build on. I ran a range of courses, and learnt a lot in the process. In particular that there’s a need for three types of courses; the straightforward how-to, the more complex but still skills-based intermediate courses, and the conceptual ‘boot camp’ with small numbers and individual feedback.
So, that is the framework that I am using to build my program, not just because its what you guys want, but also because each level gives me the opportunity to experiment, play, and reflect. To reach deep down and pull rabbits out of hats I’d forgotten I had! Thank you!
Whilst my Approaches to Abstraction will always be limited to a small group as its a special and rare type of mentoring course. (It will run again next spring!) Confident Composition will be re-launched next week as a self-paced course as I wanted to provide a course that any artist could do at anytime. I genuinely believe its a unique course, providing valuable practical instruction in a vital aspect of creating. Everyone who took the shorter version in the summer loved it. It was described it as a ‘game-changer’ and ‘transformative’. Since then I have added even more content! Although its a self-paced course I will be around for the first few weeks to answer questions, so if you want to be in at the start head to HERE and I will send you an alert.
But what of my own work? Yes, it’s taken a back seat but that’s fine. Teaching is a creative outlet in itself, and I’ve built a list of things I want to explore! I am also in the last year of my MA with lots of ideas buzzing. Currently I’m reading my way through Georges Perec and creating work about liminal thresholds. Luckily the MA is online so there has been no change! I will be adding to my online shop soon, so if you are looking for gifts for yourself or your loved ones head there.
Even though I couldn’t be there in person, I am exhibition in Spain as part of the Costa del Arte Collective at the Gallery Club in Fuengirola. Whilst we have no plans to go to Spain as planning is impossible, I’m getting used to the cold.. .have my teaching, my studio and my lovely man. Stay safe….. Sally
Hi Sally
Thanks for the update – good to know you are ok
Just the link of HERE in the composition online workshop info not showing – or is that just me?
Karen
x
Thanks!! Hope you are good too? Sx
The link was to here.. 😉
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z2a4k1
Just a quick word to thank you for helping us get through the first lockdown and I look forward to what you have planned! Lupe
Thanks Lupe! 😉
Congratulations, here’s to 50! and thanks for the update. Your classes certainly helped my lockdown go better. Now that New Zealand is no longer in lockdown it will take more discipline on my part to keep going at such a speed.
Thanks!…;)
Sally I do feel a little guilty after reading your email. We have been so fortunate in Australia but that comes with being an island and a single country. We are finally starting to open our borders to the rest of Australia after a second wave of Covid19 hit Victoria and they have only come out of their second lockdown. Nothing of which compares to you in the UK or those in Europe and how you have all endured this pandemic. Stretching precious health services to the brink has been the sad result of careless actions. Who knows when we will be able to welcome overseas visitors to Australia or when we will travel to other countries. For our generation this has been our wake up call to look to each other for support and encouragement. You have provided so many of us in the art world far from your studio with encouragement and support to develop our art. Sally you will get back to Spain, you will again fling open your doors to in-house students to see the surprise on their faces when something “works” for them and I’m sure you will still provide great tuition to us who may never get the chance to visit you. Thanks
thank you Jan, that was lovely..xxx
Thanks again for such beautifully targeted courses. I didn’t realise, when I messaged you about liminality that you were working with it in your MA!
thanks Lynn.. yes..its all about lockdown..spaces.. my apartment..thresholds..thoroughly enjoying reading Georges Perec, a new one for me
Your wonderful online courses have moved my art on so far this year and I am so grateful that you put so much effort into all of the courses you built online. I’m still working my way through Approaches to Abstraction and probably will be for the foreseeable future. I missed out on the one-to-one part so I may join again next year to get the full benefit. There’s so much content in the course that it warrants a second go round. Thank you, Sally, for sharing the contents of your head. I do hope that there will be a way for you to return to Spain before too long. Thank god for the amazing NHS both for the work they’re doing now against great odds and for the work they do to give people back to their loved ones. Good luck with your MA, you’ll get there.
Thanks Julie!!…I have plans afoot for some group mentoring for any of the the AA guys who want more, that may suit you better than starting again?…Ill have more details later in the month. 😉
Thank you Sally for your amazing classes and the support you have offered so many of us over this year.
I know that you have inspired me to try ways of working that I would never have thought of.
Hopefully the next year will bring us all happiness and good health and the opportunities to share our art and life’s together more .
Enjoy the winter colours’s. It’s one of the things I miss living on Madeira.
💖💖💖💖
Thanks Susan!… next year will be a good one 🙂
Thanks so much Sally, for all the lessons – I’ve learnt so much from you this year. Fingers crossed to be able to travel to Spain next year – have missed that too!
Thanks Caroline! xx