Nature connection & creativity
I am qualified as a forest therapy practitioner. Facilitating sessions with a holistic approach, I believe in the power of creativity and nature to impact on wellbeing. I am passionate about supporting others, to express creativity and connect to community.
Forest therapy, or Shinrin Yoku, is a nature practice that involves immersing yourself in the forest to improve your mental health and physical wellbeing. It's a conscious and contemplative experience that involves slowing down and using all your senses to appreciate nature. The connection between forest bathing and human immunity have been measured to show many beneficial effects. And has been scientifically proven to improve both physical and mental health.
Photography & fired Enamel
This image is one of my first photographic experiments with photographic layering-screen printing my own photographic decals back during my Masters degree in Multi Disciplinary Printmaking. I explored both using a single image and this more technical and time intensive method of colour separation. My thoughts are I much preferred the space for the experimental single firing of the image where I could play with process - over firing and the exposed metal - allowing the copper surface to be an intentional part of the design.
Reciprocity & shared experience
Co- creating and the shared experience with simple printing, stamping methods using the unbound book form. I enjoy how this method is so accessible to all and can be a really lovely way to begin a visual journal in a shared group working in a collaborative way to free up ideas and work together to watch things unfold
Wet process enamel
Unpredictable process of wet enamel
Further experimenting with the mystery of wet enamel process. Sometime ago, I made a series of enamel/copper landscape samples using this unpredictable medium. I failed to make notes on my findings - I am returning, like a beginner to this fascinating process with renewed curiosity and a lot more patience with myself. This time jotting down notes and reflections, however messy they will be there.
Inspired from my recent visit to The Japan House, London - showing the incredible Hyakko exhibition, 100+Makers from Japan. To begin, I will focus on using a limited palette of Royal blue, Black/White + transparent and recording the before and after with a photo - so much change happens in the firing that this visual diary will be a invaluable reflective tool for learning.
copper
The ritual of cleaning the copper
Preparation of the copper before enamelling can feel quite therapeutic, grinding the edges with a pumice stone and washing to de grease the surface reminds me of the cleaning of specimens after an archaeological dig. I love the potential that copper allows when fired, the beautiful oxides that occur when fired to a high heat, the over firing and the charcoal coloured matt- black tarnish that is the fire-scale. Then the reveal of the bare copper, a salmon-like warm colour when dipped back in to the pickle bath afterwards. It is a transformative process that requires me to observe, reflect and respond in equal measure and for me a constant source of challenge and change.
