I love January
I know it's an unpopular point of view but ...
January is like a much needed exhale after the December whirlwind, isn't it? The hush that settles in feels like a balm for the senses. After the Christmas cacophony and the dazzling sparkle overload, I crave the calm simplicity of January and it suits my introverted nature. It's a month where silence feels like space for my brain, and I can finally take a deep breath without inhaling tinsel.
While the world is still in its hushed post-sparkle state, my studio is buzzing with a blend of deadlines and workshops. I've got the usual suspects—tax self-assessment, a hefty dissertation about how picture books can help with stroke rehabilitation, and a project on the enigmatic Russian Clown Slava Poulin.
Oh, and I must’nt forget the Fantasy Exhibition deadline looming in a few days. In preparation for my entry, I visited the British Library current exhibition “Fantasy: Realms of Imagination” that showcases the history of how fantastical imaginations of magical lands, languages and creatures materialise. The traditions of the genre, and the journey from fairy tales to Studio Ghibli are explored.
It was very popular as folk poured over original sketchbooks, artworks and costumes, which made it difficult to see everything as a queue formed around the displays, but I gathered enough inspiration to attempt an entry to the exhibition that will be held at The Hive Library in Worcester in 2024 - I’ll let you know how I get on!
Ohhh - There’s a final “Pay what you can” day happening on 21 January 2024 - British Library, London (Kings Cross).
Back to my ‘shire there’ll be fantastic folks visiting my studio to join my painting workshop days. This month's lineup? How to paint your furry friends—dogs, cats, cheeky chickens, and the beloved cow. Not to mention my online community of “Inside the Studio” tackling a charcoal painting as this months creative project.
The workshops are a real tonic to the heavier deadlines and the mini creative confidence transformation that folk go on during a workshop is the stuff that fuels me to do more! It’s a mix of chaos and creativity who are fine bed fellows but they do their dance in the calm sanctuary of my studio protected from distractions.
It's not just about ticking off tasks; it's about the sweet rewards of hard work revealing themselves in delightful surprises and I don’t know what surprises 2024 will bring but I’ll do my very best to be prepared for the opportunities and share them with you.
Right, I’m off to get messy, type stuff, paint stuff, do stuff! “til next time
❤️ Sam x