A Hiatus:

a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity, or a space where something no longer is...

Winter Solstice:

“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year's threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future: the place of caught breath.” Margaret Atwood

“The place of caught breath,”: that moment of stillness, perfectly balanced. As we look back and as we look forwards. It’s as if the veil has lifted between two worlds, and there is a hiatus, an expectant hush…

The spirit-world around this world of sense

Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere

Wafts through these early mists and vapours dense

A vital breath of more ethereal air,’

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

However much I’m taking my time, hunkering down and hibernating, enjoying the twinkling Christmas lights and flickering candles, on reaching the solstice, a small, internal voice cheers…

And, although I’m fully subscribing to this sentiment by Brianna Wiest in ‘The Pivot Year’:

…there’s still a sigh of ‘at last, longer, warmer days are coming…’

As we’re nearing the end of the year, it’s a good time to reflect. Twelve months is a long time. Life happens, experiences good and bad; we’re no longer the same people that we were in January.

I always like to have a look through my camera roll - it never ceases to amaze me how much I forget! I’ve made a short video of some of my year’s highlights, both in my art and life in general; I’ve been very lucky, and that’s not something I take for granted…

I also like to take a look at what has been inspiring me this year:

• As referenced in the above video, both Janette Phillips…

  

  …and Sam Boughton have greatly inspired me this year; new ways of looking, new brands, new processes etc., but probably the biggest takeaway from them was to just ‘have a go', to ‘keep trying and experimenting’…something I’m looking forward to continuing in the coming year.

  

• The landscape always plays a huge part in my life, both for inspiration, for relaxation and for ‘grounding’ me (no pun intended!) and I’ve been lucky this year to visit some fabulous places…

  

  

• The limited palette of Andrew Wyeth:

Wind from the Sea - Andrew Wyeth, 1947 (NGA)

and the aesthetics of countyroadliving and mardibusby_artanddesign , all of which reinforce the idea that bright colours aren’t everything!

• The poetry of Samuel Hurley…his use of such evocative language to convey thoughts and emotions is ‘a place of caught breath’ - to borrow from Margaret Atwood. And his voice is fab too!

• Being a member of The Connected Artist Club run by artist Alice Sheridan. Working at home, can be a lonely business, so it’s great to feel part of a community of like-minded people, as well as the club being a wonderful source of information and inspiration.

• Without wishing to appear too morbid, growing older, acknowledging my own mortality, has, in a strange way, inspired me. Admitting to oneself that your time is finite, is liberating. I find myself caring less and less what strangers think about me. I find myself saying yes to more things. I’m finding that I’m much more focussed on what’s really important…

“In the end, we'll all become stories.”

Margaret Atwood

What’s inspired you this year? What’s your story?

Finally for today, amongst all the hustle and bustle of the approaching Christmas festivities, I’m going to pause, to take a moment - to cherish and cheer…

‘No more hurry, hurry,

time now for firelight and for dreaming,

for church bells mingling

with the cold quiet sunlight

And somewhere deep inside of you

a kernel of courage – unfurling

each day, more light,’

Irene Latham

Until next time, happy painting!

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