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'Project 5'
Having spent most of my life thinking I was a bit rubbish at art because I couldn't draw things that looked like things, I started doodling during lockdown as a brain escape.
From here, I decided that I was going to do something more productive with the doodles and ideas that I now had floating around in my head.
So, in 2022, I decided to commit to producing 5 original pieces of work, all of which were to be given away. I figured that people were less likely to be honest and say they didn't like it if it was a freebie!
I had five key people to whom I intended to give away the work. Each of which had played a significant part in my life (my wife is sat next to me looking offended - she wasn't one of the 5!) and this was just a way of saying thanks.
Fractures
This was my very first finished piece. The recipient is a close friend who had stood by me over the previous, challenging few years. Coincidentally, he also loves trees! The markings represent fractures - part of the growing and healing process in life.
From an initial doodle of the outline of the tree, each branch is completed using a woven line style.
This piece was unveiled in school (we are both teachers) to a very enthusiastic class of children - none of which ever knew Mr Young could draw!
Convergence
This was the second piece in the project and the only one in this style. This was given to my counsellor of several years. The need for a counsellor came from the decade long build up of anxiety and self-doubt and she has worked wonders in helping to declutter my brain and begin to believe that I am worth 'something' and recognise that I do have a say in what I believe about myself.
The random circles to the left represent the upheaval and confusion my brain experiences, the red represents my counsellor and the organised nature to the right shows the impact of calming discussions had in my sessions.
Project '72
One
Nine
Seven
Two
Project '72 grew from an initial idea of creating a piece for my best buddy for his 50th birthday. I hate gifts that can only be used at a particular time of year, Merry Christmas mugs etc that can only come out for a couple of days a year, so I knew that this had to represent his 50th, but in a way that wasn't immediately obvious.
Each of the 2d shapes represents the value of its number of sides - so to the casual observer it is a series of 2d shapes but to those in the know, it represents the year of his birth.
I know from a long friendship that he isn't the biggest fan of receiving gifts and would also be very open to saying what he truly thought of it should he not like it! The fact they are up on the wall in their dining room says it all.
Always another hill to climb...
This was piece number four. Created to represent three cycle route profiles ridden by my friend, Dustin.
During lockdown, Dustin unwittingly switched me on to art, having tuned in to his weekly YouTube live streams whereby he created a piece of art from start to finish online - this provided people a useful drop in each week to chat and generally 'keep in touch' with the outside world.
Without realising it, Dustin had a profound effect on where my future may lie and these art streams provided me with the idea that I too could produce things other people might like.
Posting a piece of framed art to the US was always on the cards - I felt that sending just the print could result in it staying in the postal tube, but a framed one gave him no excuse not to hang it!
In a gesture I appreciated hugely, he unveiled it live to the expectant world of YouTube on one of his weekly live streams - my art was now global!
Our heart is in the hills
And so to the final piece. Created to represent the three largest peaks in the UK - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
This was dedicated to my sister-in-law and her husband (never sure if that makes him my brother -in-law!) as they set off to undertake the 3 Peaks Challenge (the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in a 24 hour period) before they had their son.
A last hurrah if you will. Their love of the outdoors and fitness runs deep and this is just a nod to that last major challenge for the two of them before the largest challenge of their life was to begin!
Project 5 was complete. All art finished. A lengthy task that has served its purpose - to pull me away from the mental strain that the day job delivers. What to do next.....
Well, I have enjoyed these larger pieces so much that I want to continue producing pieces of work in my 'weave' style. I want to be able to develop my works into a more commercial element to be able to share my work in some small way to millions (!) of others.
I am also working on adding designs to online retail platforms to allow people to delve into my other ideas and thoughts. Head over to the shop page to find out more....
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