I thought a little creative update might be warranted this week since I’ve been away for a while, and I’m focusing more on creative pursuits as of late. Luckily for me, I’ve been up to lots of creative things this week!
Papplewick Steampunk Event
Over the weekend, I attended the Sunday portion of the Steampunk Event at Papplewick Pumping Station. I didn’t even know it was happening until about a week prior, and I was absolutely sold by the mention of the amazing Professor Elemental. I had discovered Professor Elemental completely by accident whilst in my friend’s van on a wind-down during the Equinox Festival last year and a Spotify Radio playlist presented me with Fighting Trousers.
A wonderfully whimsical and silly song, indeed. Colour me even more surprised that the man himself would be hosting a rap workshop during the steampunk event, and I decided I couldn’t miss it.
The rap workshop was absolutely delightful, to be quite honest. I brainstormed a diss track for the evil caterpillar that insists upon eating my brassicas at every opportunity, concluding that they only exist to ruin Christmas.
Aside from being absolutely delighted by the wholesome musings of Professor Elemental, I also got to (finally) make myself a lumen print as part of a free workshop offered by Alan Withington of Roaring Tree Fusion Photography. I wanted to give him a shout-out and link to his socials, but could only find a Facebook that doesn’t seem to be active. I had been toying with the idea of trying to make one of these for a long while, or even exploring cyanotypes or other forms of sun printing, so I was really pleased to be able to have a go at it.
I’m absolutely obsessed with the outcome of this attempt, especially the effect of the bubbles Alan suggested I add to create some visual interest and texture.
I was then quite pleased to remember that I’ve stashed an awful lot of Ilford Black & White darkroom paper from when I studied AS photography in my teens (almost twenty years ago), and that expired photography paper is actually the best type to used for these kinds of creations. So, naturally, I chose to complete a little experiment of my own at home with some plants from the garden.
Aside from things I got to do, the event itself was just wonderfully creative, with people in all sorts of costumes and creating all sorts of oddities, trinkets, clothing, accessories, and just being very comfortable in being a little outside ‘normal’. I think I’ve definitely found a new type of event I’d like to go to more regularly.
Cafe 22 & Ashfield Creates
On Monday, I ended up running a last minute activity with those attending Café 22 at the Ashwood Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Café 22 is a gorgeous project that runs a café every Monday in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and operates entirely on a donation basis. This makes it a great community resource, and I was really pleased to be able to support them by providing a creative activity for café patrons.
As I wasn’t the intended artist for part of the Ashfield Creates Artist Roadshow and just stepped to in to cover last minute, I had to come up with something in a bit of a pinch. I settled on combining some of the principles of zentangles with the similar principles of neurographic drawing, and helped those who wanted to participate create some very colourful doodles.
A big part of why I started running workshops was to share the belief that art is for everyone. You don’t need to start with an idea for a masterpiece, you don’t need perfect lines or colour theory. You just need to create.
I’m immenseley privileged to be able to share that because of the support from Ashfield Creates, which champions creativity in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire. It’s led by Nonsuch Studios and supported by Ashfield District Council and Arts Council England, and I’m so glad that they have given me an opportunity to work with them quite extensively over the past 8 or so months.
I have a few more creative bits and pieces coming up over the next while. If you don’t want to miss an update, you might want to subscribe to the blog, or follow me on Facebook or Instagram, where I do pot a bit more frequently. Next up, I’ll be helping out with the box office at the Daedalite installation in Titchfield Park, Hucknall!
How have you been engaging your creative brain this week?
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