My utmost wish in creating the art that I do, is that it will bring joy to those who look at it and will encourage those people to take greater interest in the natural world. My work is quite detailed and I always hope that something new and intriguing is found every time its looked at. I’ve always felt that this works best when the physical artwork is present - when you’re able to pick up the calendar, or book, or greetings card, and get lost in the illustrated world of plants and creatures. But then, I’m not so literate in the virtual as others!
Normally at this time of year, I would drive around the Borders delivering calendars to shops and other venues where people can pick them up and look at them before they buy. But this year, due to Covid, it’s not possible for people to see my work in person and I’ve had to adapt hugely to presenting my work online.
Recently my daughter has convinced me that showing my work via video would be worth trying. She’s encouraged me to talk about the countryside and traditions that inspire my work, and to tell the story of how I create my art. The best way to do this, I’m told, is to have a few short videos on YouTube and Instagram, so that’s what we’ve been doing. I must admit, I am not a huge fan of being on camera, and the first few interviews Charlotte did with me were less than successful. We had a lot of hysterics and even the videos we counted as ‘success’ seemed dreadfully unlike me!
We’ve decided to do more interactive videos showing - rather than telling - what goes on when I paint and create. I hope that it’s of interest to some, and that it helps shorten the distance that I’m feeling between myself and those who are taking my art into their home! Already, having put my art on Instagram, we have been receiving orders for the calendar from the US, Turkey and around Europe. What a marvellous thing!
My YouTube account can be found here, and hopefully there will be some good videos (where I don’t have a giggling fit!!) soon.
My daughter and I quickly discovered that I can’t just 'wing it'.