My three algae paintings at Cynon Valley Museum Art Exhibition 2016
Cynon Valley Museum was a casualty in the cuts to spending, but community people power put it back on the map. I'm so pleased because not only does it have a great little museum of local interest, it has a lovely gallery space.

 Gratitude for the studio art space to paint in

When I'm creating, I lose myself completely in the process. Time stops still and the random thought chatter of daily life fades away to a silence that I can only describe as "the zone".

I drew and painted my way out of a dark hole when I was ill 15 years ago and I hadn't stopped until recently when I lost the space to create. After a few delays, my studio has been given back to me and the last remnants of the kitchen are in the kitchen. Now I need to clear the space in my head and free the cobwebs to release the inspirations that have been piling up.

 My art studio stuffed full of boxes with little room to paint

It is surprising just how far reaching the impact can be when building works are going on at home!  We moved into our bungalow for the pleasure of having no stairs to contend with. We also knew it needed a bit of updating and extending. Project management though doesn't always go to plan. The kitchen was delivered before the extension was ready and my studio has been floor to ceiling with boxed kitchen units for the last six weeks.

 Having fun experimenting with air dry clay sculpting a baby dragon

To simply play with the sole purpose of enjoying the process of being creative is a wonderful experience. It throws out the rule books, not to mention the expectations imposed on us by others and ourselves. I absolutely loved playing with the clay! I've always fancied making a little dragon and this little fellow developed from my imagination as we played.

 Caerphilly Creatives Art Week 2016 Banner

Art Week is happening! 9th to 15th July 2016 with pop up exhibitions throughout Ystrad Mynach and beyond. Because Dai the Digger is still in our garden (he's been there so long he now has a name!) and building works are ongoing at home, I've not been able to take part in the Open Studio events during the week, but I am taking part in the pop up exhibitions. A call out to local businesses was made for exhibition space to create the trail.

 Miniature paintings Artist Trading Cards ACEO

All that's needed to create ACEOs or Artist Trading Cards is a little space

It's been a difficult few weeks and my studio is stacked full of large boxes from floor to ceiling. But I do have a little space to work. It actually reminds me of my imaginative childhood when we created little dens out of boxes to play in. So, I am for the time being working in a little den!

 Oh My...The earth is not moving for this digger in our garden!

I love my studio. It's not the biggest, but it's big enough for me, and big enough to share with a fellow artist during a studio event. It's light and airy, and insulated enough to keep lovely and warm in the winter. But oh dear... the view leaves much to be desired. A digger and a heap of building materials does not lend itself to having an Open Studio event!