I’ve just started my third year BA (Hons) Fine Art degree, I have spent the last few months of the Summer reflecting and looking back on my art.
Normally my art doesn’t stop when the academic year ends, a few sketch books filled over the summer and ready to start again with a clear plan.
This summer was different. Getting a job in June, I knew that my art practice had to be put to the side whilst I got to grips with my new job which links in with my art, as a magazine advertising executive for an arts and antique magazine.
By taking a break from my art I was able to give it some space, for me to then look at it with fresh eyes, I have realised how controlled it had become, that soon I would have no room for it to expand, with giving it some freedom I am able to let go of the barriers and have the chance to explore again my ideas with no pressure, to just let my art lead the way, instead of me trying to lead the direction of it.
A week holiday in Lyme Regis was the starting point of being directed back to the sea for my source of inspiration.
I found myself each day collecting sea glass and nicely shaped pebbles along the beach.
In the first year of my degree my practice was strongly based around the elements of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and I realised I needed to further explore this with more freedom and being more in nature again.
An example is a land art piece that is shown below, it was reflecting the erosion line of the coast caused by the water and the symbolism that the water is taking the land back.
I find looking at the sea and the horizen calming, but what is it that makes it this? I realised it was mostly the horizen line that I looked at when looking at the sea, I am interested in the space around the horizen line. I would like to see whether there is any research into why it is thought that looking at the sea is a calming experience.
