June Newsletter
Making time for new work
Hello from Derbyshire! The year rolls on and I try to keep a sense of slow, a balance to the days. I am being kinder to myself, trying to elongate the in-between moments, watering the greenhouse, taking a walk. When I experience anxiety I find this hard to do, and when I can’t slow time, I can’t find the space I need to make art. Swimming is my go-to. It takes me about ten minutes for my breathing to settle and my body and mind to harmonise. I’d like to be able to tell you I go wild swimming and complete an idyllic picture of my ‘wild’ life but no, cold water triggers my migraines and I don’t like the pond-weed between my toes!
Being kinder has allowed me to slow. And so I have found myself in a clear studio, at the bottom of the garden away from my young adults already kicking-back for summer holidays. I have untied some of the knots that I was twisted in to and found myself not so stuck in mind and spirit.
Connect to the Season - Summer Sketchbook Online Retreat
If like me you are trying to slow time, to touch the season before it passes, to anchor your soul with connection to nature, you can sign up for my Summer Sketchbook Online Retreat. Billed as a 30 day workshop, this self-paced course invites you to connect with self and nature to slow time and walk the path with a sketchbook and journal that emphasises your abilities and nourishes your own voice.
Gather and Collect - Treasures from the Path
Next month I am having a sale of small artworks ‘Treasures from the Path’. This will launch on my website on Wednesday July 9th at 8pm (I will send a reminder nearer the time). There are pieces from the past ten years, including development pages and raw mark making from nature. All originals - prices start at £30.
Helen Hallows - Mirror - Mixed-media paint and collage
Get started - overcome sketchbook anxiety
Later this month I will be re-releasing my course ‘Sketchbook Confidence - Fearless Drawing’ with a few refreshed parts. It was one of the first courses I filmed in 2020 and I have always felt it was a bit wobbly! But having watched it again I realise it’s got everything I stand for - an ‘I can’ attitude and embracing imperfection to keep you moving forward creatively. If you already have purchased the course the updates will happen automatically. If you would like to take this short course and build your sketchbook confidence, you can sign up here after the re-launch on June 22nd.
Making new art for Melbourne Art Trail
When I have a burnout I always think my creative energy is unrecoverable and then slowly it comes back, to much relief. I am back in the studio creating work for The Melbourne Festival (Derbyshire not Australia!) where I will be exhibiting at The Art and Architecture Trail in September (20th and 21st). It seems far off but it always comes around before I am quite ready.
Helen Hallows - underpainting - work in progress
I hope to see you somewhere on the path this summer.
Stay wild!
Helen
x
Beautiful, as always. Love that joyful photo of you.
I like that you mention 'in between moments' so I intend to look at these again in my life. Usually I ask myself 'what can I do' whilst the kettle boils or the tea stands. I see them 'as doing the necessary tasks' I still feel the need to do, thinking always I can do 'art things, write' later when everything is finished...but I realise the 'everything' is never finished, there is always more that needs 'doing'... but I now see this in only my perception...if they are not done and no-one else does them or notices then 'so be it'...I try to tell myself I'm probably a better person for taking time to 'do my own things' follow my passions. So with a sketch/note books always on hand around the house maybe I will use those moments you mention more joyfully!! A more fulfilling. time for everyone?