This painting is currently in the Society of Scottish Artists 123rd exhibition at The Royal Scottish Academy 1-23rd November.
A virtual studio tour is available here.
A virtual studio tour is available here.
Dr. Clarrissa Pinkola Estes wrote ‘The main struggle that people have with creativity is that they stop themselves from doing what comes naturally.’ (Creative Fire, 2009)
As a late diagnosed autistic person, finding out just what is authentically ‘natural’ to me after a life of conforming to an unnatural neurotype, is a daily challenge. Painting is an opportunity to look and stare; to question, observe and respond, to work with and learn about the vague lands of the rational and irrational self. I am so curious about the known and unknown realms of consciousness, hunting for compassionate feeling, for soul; for nebulous and hazy humanity in the people our culture dehumanises, I want to stand alongside the silent ones and roar for them.
Autism likes rules, goals and certainty but in painting, this is a disaster. So, my work is to find surrender, overcome doubt and blindly follow intuition, as it seems to know the way. Painting is about finding unknowns in unexplored lands, a quest without a map where all you can do is ‘feel’ the way. If you can hold your nerve, it is a fascinating hunt.
As a late diagnosed autistic person, finding out just what is authentically ‘natural’ to me after a life of conforming to an unnatural neurotype, is a daily challenge. Painting is an opportunity to look and stare; to question, observe and respond, to work with and learn about the vague lands of the rational and irrational self. I am so curious about the known and unknown realms of consciousness, hunting for compassionate feeling, for soul; for nebulous and hazy humanity in the people our culture dehumanises, I want to stand alongside the silent ones and roar for them.
Autism likes rules, goals and certainty but in painting, this is a disaster. So, my work is to find surrender, overcome doubt and blindly follow intuition, as it seems to know the way. Painting is about finding unknowns in unexplored lands, a quest without a map where all you can do is ‘feel’ the way. If you can hold your nerve, it is a fascinating hunt.
