2021 Creative Projects

One of my intentions for 2021 was "to create&be creative". I set the task to produce a creative project each month of the year hoping to develop new work, build new skills and collaborate with other artists. As the year is coming to an end, I wanted to bring all my creation together in a blog and reflect on the creative year I have had.

January

Disposed, Discarded, Dumped

Online Photography Exhibition

The year started off strong with an online photography exhibition that highlighted a big issue at the time - masks and their disposal.

February

Mirror rorriM

Online Exhibition

Mirror Mirror was a development from a live online performance from last year. Through the lens of a camera and stream of conscious writing, I explored the 21st century mirror and our relationship with it. I wasn't till I read the stream of consciousness back now that I really appreciate this piece of work. It's honest and thought provoking.

March

Nude Paintings

Charity Fundraiser

I began exploring acrylic paint and the nude body in contemporary artwork. I shared my works on social media and much to my surprise people loved them! Still in lockdown at the time, I decided to sell these paintings for Charity. I raised £130 and split the money between Mind and Coppa Feel. I would like to thank anyone who brought one of these paintings. I think this was my favourite creative project of the year.

I saw my skills develop over the course of the month and found the technique and style I enjoyed most in terms of artistic depiction of the female body with colour.

April

Clay Modelling

Inspired by Ahuva Zeloof and her Yoga sculptures I tried to recreate something of my own. You can tell it was my first attempt. I like the way it looks but it fell apart... Something to work on!

Collaboration with Rosie exploring 'the selfie' Begun

During April, a collaboration with Rosie begun in exploring the selfie and showcasing the performativeity of it. At the time I was very interested in this contemporary topic, excited to use social media as a platform digital performance art.

May

Sewing

This project was rather therapeutic! I saw my sewing skills and patience develop as each cat was added to the Tote Bag. I kept this one for myself.

June

Lights Camera Action

Digital Performance Art

After months of collaboration, myself and Rosie managed to nail down exactly what our project was about - an investigation into the performative nature of the selfie. We explored the process and 'behind the scenes' of taking a selfie.

Due to busy lives and miles between us, we never got round to completing a big piece for this project.

July

The Period Song

Song writing

The Period Song was so funny to research and write. I asked my followers on social media to tell me all the names/phrases they had heard for Periods in their life. Inspired by Bryony Kimmings The Vagina Song, I wanted to make the uncomfortable comfortable. In my head, The Period Song was a part of a bigger idea- a show for teenagers/young adults to break the taboo and uncover the myths around Periods. The lyrics were written in June with loose melody in mind but I never got round to recording it or trying to put some music to it. Thats a lie, I tried to use garage band (because I can't play a musical instrument) but I had no idea what I was doing. This project will have be revisited and I am reminded that I would like to learn a musical instrument next year.

August

Nude Painting

I didn't manage to get a project together this month but I did get to sit down and paint again!

I think this painting shows the progression of my skills from March and my head towards realism. I learnt how to paint nipples and think about lighting on the body which gave my work more depth and maturity.

Septemeber

Sewing Project Begun

I began another tote-bag sewing project. This time it was a bumble bee as I wanted it to be a gift for my nan. Again I could see how much my skills had developed. This took longer than I thought so it was a gift for Christmas instead of her birthday.

October

A Selection of Writings

I put together and published here on my website a selection of my creative writings from over the past 4 years. Most of them were stream of consciousness and incredible personal. Some I might class as poems and some maybe my attempts at spoken word and maybe play scenes. I'm quite proud that I have shared them and think they highlight a dark side of my head that i've experienced as a young adult, a human being on this earth, and women who wants to be loved and to love herself.

November

Online Photography Exhibition

I put together an online exhibition of all my favourite photos that I took and edited over the year. Not much to say about this one but how it showcases my quirky editing rather than my photography skills.

December

Water Colour Painting

Christmas Cards

I wanted to make my own Christmas cards this year. I begin by experimenting with water colours to create the Christmas tree design. I then progressed on to the personalised cards with the reef in mind. I really enjoyed mixing the colours for the reefs and put my naturally swirling handwriting to good use. This was a wholesome project to end the year with- and my family/friends loved them!

Reflection

As you can see, 2021 has been a year full of experimenting with different mediums of creative expression. The year started out strong with culturally engaged projects and as the year progressed, and my work life got busier and more creative itself, the creative projects became a form of self-care (particularly the painting and sewing). If anything, I became inspired and motivated to be creative for myself rather than anything else. I thought less about the global masses seeing my work and more about developing my skills for myself and the people around me. I have so much more confidence to be try new things, to be openly creative and sharing my creations. I've grown as a person as well as creative practitioner!

Recommendation

I would highly recommend setting yourself the same intention for the new year. Set the task to work on one creative project a month and the goal of completing 12 creative projects in 2022. This time next year you'll be reflecting on all the cool things you've made, skills you're learnt and work you're created. Do it - you won't regret it!

Stay Creative -B xx