I can’t remember the exact request, it was a message on social media, sent within a collection of artists, asking for help with an arty advent project in the middle of Peterborough.
Always wanting to be involved in art projects, I didn’t hesitate and was a bit shocked when my offer was accepted so readily. The artist in residence for St John the Baptist Church, in the middle of Peterborough, thanked me saying ‘looking forward to seeing what you produce’ my immediate response was ‘me too.’
It’s got me thinking. How much thought do things need before they come to fruition? What’s the difference between jumping in and letting things mulch or ferment a little? How often do we say yes to something, only to then have a moment when we doubt ourselves that we can deliver our promise?
sketching
For the past four years November has been when I write, write like the wind.. this year was no different. To have a deadline of another creative venture on top of writing 50,000+ words of my latest draft novel put the pressure on my personal life a little. Add in lots of invites and friends dropping by and before you know it you’ve got a deadline looming.
What? I’ve not told you about the project? Give me a chance.. I’m still fermenting.. tee hee.. 25 days 25 artistic creations covering 4 themes of advent as provided by the Canon. I chose commercialisation, was given the 17 December then I thought about it a lot, looked at the shops and people as they went about researching the best gift for those they love. I’ve not always been good at sticking to my budget at this time of year. The piece, which gets shown on day 17, has emerged from many thoughts of love and debt, of material goods, parties and more debt, of expectations and unloved presents all underlined with more love. By the time I stopped long enough to paint it I’d been mulching and fermenting for what seemed like forever.
Using an old canvas that looked unloved and unused paints bought for another project I enjoyed making this. What I’ve produced may not look like it needed much thought, and maybe it didn’t, but every brush stroke and shape came with a lot of emotion formed from ideas bouncing around my brain over previous weeks.
Here’s my offering as it looks today before it get’s wrapped.. literally.. My current thought to finish it off is to wrap it.. I have some ideas for the wrapping paper which may take a while to produce.. when was the deadline again.. we’ll see.. I don’t like to finish things too much. I prefer the rough and hand made look. Even when it’s ‘finished’ it may not be finished or perfect in many peoples eyes.. It will be ‘finished’ to me.
Ps..Why is it that acrylic doesn’t dry quickly when you want to use your table for guests..
lynnelives 
Congrats on being selected for the art project! On top of NaNo too!
Thanks Ruth. Yes.. Both have been challenging and fun.
This sounds fantastic and your piece looks wonderful. I’m almost tempted to jump on a train and come to visit it in person!
I know what you mean about projects fermenting. It’s a combination of letting the brain work on it, and then getting down and putting the pen or pencil or charcoal to paper. Sometimes the brain gets the right ideas and you think “I wonder if I can do this idea justice” and other times the brain says, “no, let’s see what the hands can come up with”. I usually need two or three days to come up with my flash fiction thing each Friday – and sometimes it’s a ‘now or never’ on Thursday when nothing’s come up and I just have to write to a title. Same with my illustrations for my books – which is why there is nothing better than a deadline!
Hope your piece gets the recognition it deserves, and have a lovely Christmas.
Thanks Jemima. some of us like those deadlines don’t we..