Working to a Theme: 'Change of Seasons'

I create best when I have limitations.

Maybe it's being an Art teacher who's used to working to themes for schemes of work or set GCSE / Alevel exam projects, or maybe it's the thrill of finding the loopholes, the unexpected within the constraints. I can generate ideas and form whole worlds once I know the topic, I guess, and after lots of reflection and planning, I thought this would be an interesting way to build a workshop, gathering people to create something all of their own, yet all working to the same theme.

Maybe being a November baby has made me obsessed with Autumn, or maybe because it's when we really see nature's power of letting go (something I'm not that great at). Regardless, after lots of walks recently outside with my daughter, foraging for acorns during this bumper crop of a mast year, I've decided to set the first theme for myself and for my next Stryx workshop as 'Change of Seasons'.

I've been playing with natural materials across craft, textiles and even cooking, as well as some painting and drawing too. I'm not setting myself too many boundaries, instead letting myself play and for my ideas to wander during those pockets of time I get as a toddler Mom (when my husband is on bath/bedtime duty usually!) I'm surprised how much I've been able to make during this time, taking an idea in it's primary form and running with it before I have time to overthink as been very helpful and actually, pretty productive too!

Here's some things I've created for this mini project of 'Change of Seasons'. I wanted to work across different mediums to see where I could take the theme in different directions; the most time I gave myself on each piece so far was an hour, only because that's the maximum amount of time I usually had to make something and that way, process could lead the way and the final project was attainable. Outcomes have included font design, knitted sculptures, a fairy nest, garden and pixie made for my daughter (she helped paint the acorns for the nest), the start of a scarf, some sloe cordial foraged from Moseley Bog and an acrylic painting.

Now, I just need to plan my workshop tomorrow at Stryx - I've gathered materials and have started finding poetry and artworks we can use as inspiration, but I'll never feel fully ready!

I think I just need to take inspiration from the trees and let go, enjoy the changes around me and bask in the beauty that being free leaves behind...

If you'd like to have a play, come along to the workshop! And if you can't make it, then you can still get involved by making something for the theme and sharing with me via @the.meander.project on Instagram or via this Contact page.