After 19 wonderful days away, I am back in the studio.
Its interesting how stepping away from painting for a while changes the way you see things. I didn’t lift a brush for almost three weeks, but don’t feel as though I stopped being an artist. Instead i filled my mind with colour, light, architecture, people and places.
The weather was kind to us throughout the trip, and apart from one day in Florence it was hot, but not too hot and breezy when it needed to be. Ironically, at times the UK was actually hotter than where we were!
Without question, the highlight of the holiday was visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. it is a treasure trove of great artists, but the artist who affected me most was Artemisia Gentileschi. It wasn’t simply her extraordinary ability as a painter. It was her story. Working in the 17th century, Artemisia succeeded in a world where women were rarely given the same opportunities as men. After surviving a traumatic assault and enduring horrendous torture and the humiliation of a public trial, she refused to disappear into history. Instead, she painted with remarkable confidence and strength, creating powerful female figures that still command attention today. And my favourite of them all is Judith beheading Holofernese. The tension in this painting is almost unbearable. These women are utterly committed to what they are doing and their sense of purpose drips of the canvas. It is a painting charged with energy and standing in front of it is a completely different experience to seeing it in a book or on a screen. It is spectacular.
Italy itself was a feast for the senses. Wonderful food, excellent wine and beautiful spaces where every street seemed worthy of a painting. It is impossible not to come home inspired. Morocco offered something entirely different. Dusty, bustling and wonderfully chaotic, with cats everywhere and traders calling out as we wandered through the streets. Hearing men in traditional dress cheerfully shout “Lovely jubbly!”. It was a place full of contrast, colour and character. Portugal and Spain were equally enjoyable, each with their own charm, but Florence stayed with me long after we sailed away.
As I unpacked my suitcase, I realised I’d brought home far more than souvenirs. I’ve returned with lots of notes, and photographs, fresh ideas and, perhaps most importantly, renewed enthusiasm.
Now comes the exciting part—turning those memories into paint.
I can’t promise there won’t be more than the occasional struggle on the canvas, but that’s all part of the journey. Every painting begins with seeing, and after 19 days of seeing so much, I feel ready to begin again