since the winter solstice
My creative output has suffered recently. Partially, I think, due to seasonal changes, but also due to my freelancing picking up quite a bit. I’ve also been training a lot lately, which has eaten up a lot of time!
Going forward, I have begun collating an infographic for my Vaporscapes. I am considering exhibiting this alongside my series for exhibitions. This is my first draft:
Smaller condensed version on A5 may work better for exhibitions. The creation of this was so I wouldn’t have to flick through sketchbooks to find my original colour studies, but I think this will be a good reference for myself and an accurate artistic representation for seasonal changes over the years (and cycles) of my work.
Now that I’ve had a small gust of double digit air and sunny days - my brain feels like it’s getting back into creative gear.
So this post is a sort of reflection on my winter - enjoy!
If you want a quick intro to my process click here or take a look at one of the posts below to get up to date.
approaching spring equinox
Living in Cambridge has it’s disadvantages: rarely does it snow here (to some this may be an advantage). I’ve missed those quiet days, the landscape being blanketed by snow, sounds dampened. This winter it’s felt mild, wet and loooong. We’ve had a few frosty mornings - which have been lovely - but a few of my first sightings this year are testament to the milder weather we’re getting in winter.
First sightings:
Snowdrops — in December, they couldn’t even wait until 2025!
Daffodils — 20th January
Hearing a Song Thrush — 2nd February
Grey Wagtail — 2nd February
Bumblebee — 2nd March
Butterfly — 4th March
Bats — 6th March
Of course, it’s wonderful to see these pops of colour and hear the birds singing, particularly when the winter feels especially oppressive, but these changes are alarming. In the few years I’ve been actively creating responses to the seasonal changes, I’ve had a more acute awareness of said changes. I’ve become more interested in birdwatching and native plants and therefore more in tune with the changes. Simon Barnes makes a good point frequently in his book, “How to Be a Bad Botanist”:
“Have you noticed them before?” he asked.
”No, never before,” she replied.
”And now you will always see them.”
That seems to me a kind of magic.- Simon Barnes, “How to Be a Bad Botanist” p.38-9.
Book recommendations
“How to Be a Bad Botanist” by Simon Barnes
Great for learning about native plants and wildflowers!“The 10 Birds That Changed the World” by Stephen Moss
I’m currently reading this one - and loving it so far. Stephen Moss has a great audible podcast (BBC R4) on learning to listen out for birds called, “A Complete Guide to British Birds” with Brett Westwood.
winter 2024 vaporscapes
These above works are inspired by the same colour studies as my winter 24 minis. As they are only WIPs, there are quite a few more layers to go.
As we go into spring, I am cognisant of my free time (or lack of) to write. I feel a seasonal or astronomically issued newsletter will suit my creative output and availability well. So keep an eye out in spring for another post like this soon.
Thank you so much for reading.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for how my projects evolve,
M.C.