magic

A years worth of rain made a desert bloom. Look at every possible article you can on this, as this is the world just magic and unpredictable. 

atacama desert

set design

I always like meeting people who are in the set design world. I am so curious to know where they get all their props from. Simon Costin is someone to look at. Set design is defiantly somewhere I want to explore. Bit like how Hockney did set designs for the opera. 

simon costin

why the show

I had a meeting with a company in LA this year who apple set up for me. And this company works with fine art artists in a decorative way. Apple thought this will be perfect for you Lucy your work is quite decorative I can see this happening. So off I went to this meeting, where I sat and listened to this mans advice to me which was to marry a banker so I can dabble in my art on the side, also that he wouldn't touch me because I had no name for myself. Nothing to do with my work purely down to if I was famous enough to work with him. I noted this advice during the meeting and ignoring his previous sexist remark I asked so how do I create this name for myself? He said he doesn't know. Useful man indeed. I left that meeting and dumped the catalogues he gave me of his own work, that he asked to give to my big clients, in the bin and with the attitude i'll fucking show you, you arrogant twat. I decided when I get back to England i'll put on my own show. 

I kept thinking I needed to wait to get noticed by an art dealer, gallery or buyer to allow myself to have the name of artist. I know now it is a process in your own mind that you go through to build to get there. That is why I wanted to draw so many paintings. To perfect my style along the way and that if you put a certain amount of hours into your craft you then become an artist. 

So if you think about an artist you think about them selling work, having work in a gallery, and they have a unique style which is recognisable to them.

It has worked to some degree even before the show has even opened I have a gallery who now wants my work, I have already sold some of the paintings and I defiantly have my name out there because people recognise my work. 

I have to keep reminding myself that this all happened in 4 months. Only thing that is different now is that I believe in my carer as an artist and my work and maybe being true to myself has shifted things about in the universe to bring the things I hoped for into my life. 

musée rodin

typical day

I don't think I could ever be in a 9 to 5 job I am too restless, and not to mention I have an issue with authority and people telling me what to do. That's why being an artist suits my personality, It allows me to create my own day and everyday is different. It does take ALOT of motivation, anyone who is self employed knows its up to you to get your income if you don't put in the work its not going to magically fall into your lap. I do get asked what I actually do, so here is an outline of my 'typical' day. 

7am wake up mediate with OMG I can mediate app

7:30am check all social media and emails

8:00am start the day with hot water and lemon and this Porridge recipe by deliciously Ella. 

While I eat my breakfast, I either look at a magazine world of interiors, elle decoration, house and gardens etc or cruise pinterest, I like to fill my head with inspiration.

8:45am make up get dressed. 

Even though I don't really see many people during the day I still like to get ready as if I was going to an office and seeing a load of people. All my make up is from content beauty and I mainly wear things from whistles or hand me downs from my mum and combat gear don't ask why I just like the tom boy feel, and mens clothes are always warmer than women's and they have loads of pockets! 

10am I like to be at my desk, just to note I haven't taken all that time to get ready, usually procrastinate for a while. Now is when I say all the behind the scenes stuff happen, replying to emails. I take time to email everyone back and keep it personal. I never ignore an email, it is about having manners at the end of the day. Look at contracts I have got through. Write to companies I want to work with, nothing wrong with letting people know you exist. Research! research to me is key, if I have been contacted by someone or a company I will research them to the point of spying. I will look up what other artists they have worked with, have they ever done a project like this before, where they might be heading and where will this business with me end up, can I get another commission out of it? Everything is left to timing but doesn't hurt to be well equipped for the journey. 

12am I eat every 4 hours as I read in Ayurvedic diets you are meant to because it is better for your digestion. Eat and watch a tv programme usually something like gardeners world its calm informative and its half an hour. 

12:30 out the door and too the studio. My studio is about 15mins away from me down a country lane. You will not find it, its in the middle of no where.

First thing I do when I get inside is whack the heater on, it is a barn so it is freezing year round. Light a candle too lift the stale smell, and boil a kettle for some type of herbal tea. Mainly drinking matcha or Daylesford herbal teas. Then it is all down to what I am feeling that day. If I am moody or upset it will usually be a sea scape, if I am calm a watercolored landscape, and if I am meditative and want to just work it will be botanical. Botanicals come so easily to me they just flow out of my hand. 

I will stay here now till 6 or 7 depending how much I am getting done. Some will be for a commission but others is just for me you got to work and create pictures without the heaviness that it has to be good because it is for someone. 

During my time at the studio I can sometimes have a movie on, thats if I am tidying up or doing maintenance. But when i am painting it will be a podcast or classical music. I either like to be learning something or completely zoned out.

I do have breaks I go walking in the fields, or if I am cold jog round the field to warm me up. 

And throughout the day social media I have my phone on silent all the time, I hate to be constantly reminded that its there, I rather be in control of when I do and don't check my phone. 

And thats about my day, I will still answer emails and work later on when I get home, as a lot of my companies I deal with are in America so the time difference you have to work with that. To be honest I probably don't stop working till I got to bed. But I am happy. 

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life

- Confucius 

John Ruskin

do feel

I just finished watching the TED talks with Rachel Brathen of Yoga Girl. And it nearly made me cry.

I have picked out these phrases that Rachel says:

-telling the truth about how you feel will inspire others to do the same.

-talking about your pain is healing.

-sharing your story is letting it go.

-we all feel the same things just not at the same time.

-being vulnerable is how we heal.

- when bearing your soul with the world, tell the truth. 

I do feel when I talk about something a lot it is my way of coming to terms with the event that has just happened. It is true by talking we heal. When my friends talk about a certain problem constantly it is time to ask the simple question are you ok? Instead of thinking they are complaining. I know this because I will constantly talk about a dilemma I am facing not because I don't want to let it go or that I like the drama, it's because I am hurting. 

goldfinger

song of the sea

Just finished watching my film of the year. Song of the sea, its an Irish animation. Can't quite take it all in the beauty , the story, the music and the magic. I am completely absorbed into everything about it.

song of the sea

???

When is it right to let something go? 

How do you know when to fight for it?

What you let happen now is what will continue?

All questions I ask myself probably on a weekly basis. Just because I find life throws at you obstacles that make you question, your self worth in my opinion. And when your self esteem is so low a slight trigger to past events is a familiar process. Trying to listen out to your gut, your heart, and your mind what they might be telling you sometimes can just be as hard. How about if you have been treated so badly before, that this is just the past experience telling you that the same problem is occurring and you should get out now? Instead of having patience to seeing what is around the corner. The bad is usually closely followed by the good. Looking for a silver lining in each situation. That is why hanging onto something bad can become a habit because the good is so closely behind it? 

 The answer defiantly comes with a question mark.

As I haven't quite worked this one out yet.

Renee Brown