I may not have been painting up a cherry-picker this winter, but I’ve never been interviewed so much in my life! The amount of enthusiasm and fascination with the Flower Streets project - from people of all walks of life - has been extremely encouraging.
They’ve survived the winter!
I’ve been back several times over the winter to check on the murals and catch up with residents - I’m pleased to report that there is no graffiti on them; they’re all still looking fresh and beautiful.
A short video
Especially if you’ve subscribed recently, I would recommend having a look at this short video I put together from footage a trainee journalist did in November, and my own photo stills with a voiceover. This video is also on YouTube. Please feel free to share with anyone who might appreciate seeing the grey and drab infused with colour and visual messages of hope.
Other interviews and developments
In December I was interviewed by the Guide Liverpool who did a very positive article. This included before and after photos, which I have been gradually releasing on Instagram/Facebook over the past few months.
In October I was invited to give a talk about the murals and the way I was able to reach the community, at a Christian network in the Wirral. This led to an interview at Flame Christian and Community Radio. It focussed on how I became an artist and how music interplays in my life, and my personal testimony, as well as the murals.
I also started working with a local charity that is involved in a range of outreach activities aimed at providing support to the vulnerable and recovering drug addicts in Birkenhead. I am now teaching a community art class in Birkenhead which is proving to be popular, supportive and thought-provoking. It’s really good to team up with like-minded people who have sincere love and compassion for people.
School workshops
In January and February I led two school art workshops in local primary schools in Liverpool, arranged by dot-art. Here’s a photo of a triptych for one of them, inspired by Klimt’s Tree of Life. Two classes of Year 2s - children just 6 or 7 years old! - got busy painting, cutting and sticking. We even incorporated the school’s vision statement and values.
When I orchestrate and facilitate these communal art projects, I really feel like I’m in my element. I hope I get more invitations to lead the creation of large artworks like these.
Scotland trips - back to my roots!
Since I worked on the murals all the way through the summer, I was due a holiday! In October I had a wonderful few days visiting the land of my childhood in the north-east of Scotland, soaking up the nature and reconnecting with old and new friends.
These wild and natural places are where I return to in my mind when I create my art. Like many people, I feel a physical and spiritual connection to the land, the trees, the rivers… There’s a sort of magical mystery transmitted through nature, which I resonate with and then try to magnify in my drawing and painting, albeit implicitly.
I also got the chance to go on a “mural hunt” in Glasgow in February, when visiting a family friend who is also an artist and retired art teacher.
I’ve been paying a lot more attention to how murals tell the story and values of a city, as well as transform a rough and bland surface into intricate, meaningful and skilful works of art. It’s fascinating how art as part of the environment has an uplifting effect on people… This brings me to the next interesting development!
Evaluation assessing psychological impact planned for the Flower Streets
The School of Psychology from Liverpool Hope University want to assess the psychological/wellbeing impact of “greening urban spaces”, and have chosen the Flower Streets as a case study. Their evaluation will involve using eye-tracking glasses on both local participants and those visiting the murals for the first time. Also, measuring heart rate and monitoring physiological responses will take place, presumably as a way of gathering quantitative data. They also want to hear about my “methods” of engaging the community and want to be involved in the celebration event we are planning for May. I hope they will also have lots of productive conversations with the local people!
Snowdrop Street - 9th mural
The permission form has still not been signed as of the time of writing this update, but the Council lady has a lead which she is pursuing. Providing she succeeds, I will do the ninth mural in April.
Other art
After finishing the eighth mural back in September, I felt rather flat and had sort of “post-mural depression” mixed in with what might have been creative block or just plain exhaustion. In recent weeks I have done some outdoor drawing of trees for a new “tree of life” painting. I hope that the same resonance and intuitive magic will happen as when I painted the one below.
I used this painting as a guide for the 4 Pansy Street mural. As a card or print, it has proved to be my most-loved artwork. If you feel you want to support me, this is a good way of doing so. (I promised to never introduce paid subscriptions for this Flower Streets blog.) Click here to visit my Etsy shop.
Upcoming courses
If you’re an artist - or you know an artist - who wants to learn about how to turn a painting into large-scale murals, I’m teaching a one-day mural workshop at the Bluecoat on Saturday 16th March. I will be sharing all the practical tips and need-to-know info that made the Flower murals a success. Click here to find out more.
I’m also returning to teach my popular Abstract Painting course for adults on 3 Sundays: 17th, 24th March and 21st April. I always add new insights and ideas to each course. It’s also at the Bluecoat, Liverpool. Learn more here.
Thank you…
…to you all, for your interest and support. Such a range and variety of people make up the subscribers to this blog. It makes me wonder at the gentle, silent power of art and beauty to bring people together and give a sense of mutual warmth.