Original artwork description:

Painted just as we start to properly come out of lockdown for the first time in over a year. It depicts of the sort of wild garden I love most. A garden full of tumbling growth, delicate cow parsley (Queen Anne's lace) gently bending in the warm breeze, golden deep yellow cluster of Achillea & seedheads. Its warm natural tones bring a soothing energy into a room.
As always, the quiet meditative painting process slowly revealed its story. This time accompanied by an orchestra of birdsong from the many nests in the timbers of the terrace, where I painted outside. It's the first time this year it's been warm enough to paint outside & the ability to be out there amongst the birds & views brought a new energy to my painting.
The story of ‘Growth’, is about our endless capacity to open our hearts to acceptance, patience & opportunity.
In tandem with painting I’ve been conjuring up a garden project to bring an abundance of trees, wild flower meadow, orchard & wilderness garden & pond to the outer ring of the communal grounds we have here.
When I think of growth, it relates to more than the promise of abundant growth in the garden. In order to bring this vision to life there is the need to unite, mediate, negotiate, inspire & create community amongst 10 households, all with differing values, motives & issues. Cliques & factions, disputes & scars from years of misunderstanding.
The potential for growth is enormous. Growth in opening hearts to see the best of others. Growth within souls to find patience & acceptance. Growth of excitement & unity in sharing a project where Nature’s growth mirrors the growth of community & an oasis of calm & peace. Growth in letting go of being right & looking to what unites us, not at what separates us.
The process of tiny steps & celebration of every little positive. Just as each seedling & bulb needs nurturing, watering, keeping free of weeds, the relationships within groups of people need showering with open listening, letting go of preconceptions & putting aside of the past to create a garden full of beauty, variety & life.
As I painted, I kept observing the changes in my thinking process & finding new ways to be calm & focus on the bigger journey rather than the little pot holes in the road.
I can’t wait for our garden flourish in every way. 'Growth' is a painting which celebrates that diverse & amazing development both in ourselves & in community with others. It is a painting full of warmth, nature's energising tones. It brings with it a vitality for life & feeling of being outdoors warmed by the sun.

Materials used:

acrylic

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