Out of a sombre shadow... - Gigglewick Gallery

Out of a sombre shadow...

After lots of excitement and a little trepidation, Gigglewick Creations is here!

We definitely hadn’t expected to be launching Gigglewick in the middle of a national lockdown, but life is full of twists and turns…

2021 crept in quietly, casting a sombre shadow, quite contrary to the new, bright start I had hoped for.

A widespread, deflated mood was encapsulated in the dull weather, my shoulder and wrist problems and the national lockdown we were experiencing. The gloom didn’t last though, and now we are enjoying lengthening days that are full of promise.

On New Year’s Day, I rushed out of the house at 6am, hoping to take some glorious photographs from our local beach. However, the night’s darkness merely evaporated into a general grey fuzziness and before I had even realised it, the weak daylight had seeped imperceptibly across the sky and New Year’s Day was under way.

My determination to begin the year on a positive note banished my initial disappointment at the lack of a pretty sunrise. As I crunched down the pebbles, across the wet sand of low tide to the shore’s edge, the gently lapping waves washed away any despondency.

It really is quite amazing how therapeutic a walk outside can be and no matter what the weather, walking by the sea is usually uplifting and often invigorating.

The picture that unfolded before me that morning was grainy and grey, with the softness of an old, sepia photograph; comforting and soothing.

Apart from one or two like-minded souls, the beach was deserted. I was pleased that the tide was out and I could walk on the glossy, damp sand.

I found myself regularly blowing into my hands to warm them, as I can never keep my gloves on for long, due to my constant snapping of photos! Although it was very cold, I managed to warm myself up a little, wrapping my scarf tightly around my neck, pulling my woolly hat down over my ears. I wandered on, enjoying this beautiful place I have made my home.
At times, I could barely distinguish sea from sky and the hazy light seemed to absorb any detail. Strangely, it is at times like this that images for future paintings are born and I store away the memories, boosting them with eagerly snapped photos.

The screeching of the gulls heralded in the New Year, as they swooped and swirled across the sea and sand, echoing my whirling thoughts. As I embraced the scene unfolding in front of me, I began to distinguish the slight warmth of delicate blues and the palest of pinks forming a thin ribbon on the horizon, bringing with them feelings of hope for the future.

It occurred to me that this subdued morning was nature’s way of easing us, ever so gently, into 2021, conscious of the pain encountered in the previous year and with a sense of the need to tread lightly and steadily into the newly emerging year.

Now we are into February, we feel a great sense of optimism. Just a few days after launching our new art venture, we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response we have received.

 

Thank you very much to all of you who have shown so much encouragement and support - we really appreciate your positivity!

Here are some of the comments we have received…
‘ ... a shining, bright light glowing in the gloom – a very positive thing to emerge from lockdown ... ‘

Linda, Worthing

 

‘ ...professional and warm ... ‘

Jackie, Brighton

‘ ... inspiring and beautiful ... gorgeous artwork ... ‘

Teresa, Worthing
 

‘ ... your website is fab ... ‘

Nicki, Brighton
 

‘ ... visiting ( your website ) is like taking a little holiday and once left you want to revisit... ‘

Lin, Sussex

‘ ... inspirational creations ... ‘

Mrs J, Sussex

As someone who loves exploring the world and immersing herself in a variety of cultures, my options have definitely changed due to the pandemic. However, I am focussing on what we CAN do rather than what we cannot - always a more cheerful approach to employ!

Having a dog means that we have to continue our daily walks and we are very fortunate to have lovely, empty spaces around our home. It’s on these walks with Phoebe that I am so often inspired to come home and paint and draw, to convey the atmosphere and beauty of our outings.

Many of us have been re-evaluating our priorities during Covid times, as our lives have changed, more of us work from home and we all need to find ways to maintain our well-being.

One way of staying healthy is to ensure we go outdoors and experience nature as often as possible, but we can’t always do this and so bringing the outdoors in has become even more important. We are also unable to have that holiday or that meal out with friends or family at the moment ( oh, I miss that so much!! ) so we need to look for other ways to keep our spirits up.

Just popping a few flowers in little jugs and vases around the house or displaying pebbles and shells collected on walks can contribute to our happiness at home.

My art is inspired by my many walks out on the downs, through the woods, by the sea or just in my local park or town gardens.

 

It isn’t just photographs I take and collect: I am sure Steve sometimes despairs when he sees me cramming my pockets with yet more pebbles, shells, twigs and fir cones to bring home and display on our bathroom windowsill or a little corner of the kitchen!

Another way to really brighten our home environment is to adorn our walls with beautiful art, chosen to reflect our own unique style and to complement our home.
As you can imagine, we have quite a few paintings on our walls and I do often find myself just gazing at them, enjoying the vibrancy they provide!

I consider home as a sanctuary - a place that I share with Steve, Phoebe our dog and London our cat and it’s very important that we can relax and feel happy here, surrounded by beauty and warmth.

I know I’m not the only one who loves to create homely little corners to relax in, cheerful zones for activities and cooking or cosy nooks for those special dinners with friends and family - something we are really looking forward to being able to do again! I love filling our home with beauty, whether paintings, Steve’s wooden vases and candleholders, our glass pieces or simply the random delights that I have collected on my wanderings.
That holiday isn’t possible at the moment, but it is possible to have a new vista to look upon, with a new painting on the wall.

Take a look at your home with a new perspective - it’s your unique dwelling place, a reflection of who you are and your unique personality and lifestyle. I believe that the home can have an immensely powerful impact on our emotional health and offer beautiful, therapeutic spaces where we can relax, rejuvenate or dream!

We will be adding more Art for the Heart over the coming months, including wood and glass pieces. Bring the outside inside!
Have a browse in our shop, and see if you can find your ‘forever art’ to delight, bringing colour, calm or vibrancy.

Enjoy and, above all, stay safe!

Sue

This blog was originally posted on Feb 9, 2021.
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