I paint on reclaimed or repurposed surfaces as much as possible – usually wood panels.  They’re primed with gesso first and then I launch straight in.

 

The first element of confusion was the use of peripherals; the mediums, linseed oil and solvents.  I did some research on YouTube and bought as many basic colours as I could justify paying for, along with some linseed oil, medium and a few bars of soap.  I want to be solvent free, so I decided to use a combination of oil and soap to clean my brushes.  It works so, so well! I remain determined to not use any harsh chemicals and be as ethical as possible.

 

I don’t have the time or the resources to gather research of my own, but there is enough evidence already out there to support a theory that neurodiversity, depression and creativity are knitted together. That doesn’t mean that all Autistic people can paint. Or that all BiPolar people can write a love song. But it means that their unique perspective on the world can inspire something amazing. We then have to figure out how to translate that in to a narrative that’s tangible for others. Some have the environmental factors to enable this and some don’t.

I think you could also throw in to the mix, that a neurodivergent mind will process the world differently, and this in itself can produce artwork which is unique and of enormous value. This is where my curiosity really kicks in.

In fact, if I take a look back over all my recent artworks they are all reflective of resilience. And I think that’s why I adore house plants so much. As they are alive but not sentient, they rely on us to care for them. But even through that, they have a life of their own; they grow, they flower, they thrive and yes – sometimes they struggle and they need more or less and sometimes they just give up and wither away.

This vulnerability speaks to me as a person who has had the same struggles in life. I hate relying on other people but we HAVE to. From health care, to our utilities, we need other people to keep us healthy and keep us moving.

My plants are a reminder of the inner strength that we all have. And my prints are my inner sanctum coming out in a colourful display of defiance against anything which tries to defeat me.

There are endless possibilities for how you could interpret and celebrate their weirdness in your own way. I feel that it is not a subject which has been truly explored by many, which makes it an even more attractive prospect.

Personally, I have taken a decision to put printmaking on the shelf for a while, so that I can explore this in alternative media. Fabric is a deliciously tactile medium and wonderful to manipulate. I will not claim to be an expert with textiles, but as I have said in a previous blog post, I love to play and learn through doing. My results are the fruit of many days, weeks, months or even years of experimenting.