I enjoyed the exhibition immensely, both your ethereal, floating paintings and the other artists’ work. All conveying a sense of magical Orkney in very different ways. Also nice to meet you in person- if only briefly. Enjoy the last few days and your ‘preview’ and safe travels home.
Your exhibition looks intriguing and impactful; I wish I was closer to Edinburgh. The scenius concept is helpful for giddy sensitive egos but sometimes hard to enact when you arrive late to harnessing and sharing your creative authentic self. There is sometimes a sense of closed doors in the fine art world (if you’re not already a celebrity!) though this is probably a limiting belief… Sorry I ramble - love your writing here and memoir. Thank you, Helen
I can really appreciate that, Helen, when you feel you've arrived too late to join the party. But what I mean by 'scenius' here is more about building a rich network of creative friendships for their own sake, rather than trying to consciously open doors to opportunity. We can do this conciously, by reaching out to people whose creative work we appreciate to tell them so, as an act of generosity and friendship, rather than because we think they can 'help' us somehow. And it's also about understanding our creative community as including all the artists whose work we have admired or been influenced by, the authors whose writing we have loved, the film directors, poets, designers...everything we have soaked up that nourishes our own work.
I don't think one cancels out the other. I spend most of my time working completely alone in an isolated place on a small island that most people describe as 'remote'. But my shelves are stuffed with books, and my heart and mind is filled with the art, writing, music, and films that I have encountered, and these shape who I am creatively. This is also 'community'. We stand on the shoulders of creative giants. Everything we make, write and do is just a small part of that giant conversation. I really don't think it is possible to be creative in a complete vacuum. Even the words we use are part of a shared inheritance.
Thank you Samantha for coloring in a bit more of the “white space” that surrounds your thinking and striving. An early 20th century American writer, Thomas Wolfe, wrote “You can never go home again,” in his first book Look Homeward Angel. I was reminded of that as you discussed the years spent in Edinburgh since age seventeen, spanning 30 years. Yet you look forward to returning to your studio, to the remote island you’ve come to call home, Orkney. It’s often said, “Home is where the heart is.” As you painted the four dynamic paintings, that took you back to Edinburgh, in your own studio in Orkney, that argues for a two home
status. I’m grateful that you shared images of you and your work displayed at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Yes, Edinburgh does feel a like a bit of a home from home, but I'm told I have been missing perfect days of windless, chilly sunshine in Orkney while it has been drizzling here in the city - so I am homesick!
I love hearing about your friends and your exhibition! I know you look forward to returning to your studio and your special place where the magic happens.
It's a real shame I didn't manage to come up to Edinburgh for the exhibition.
I love this approach to art, even if I'm not an artist myself. It's a bit like how to live your life - keeping working and caring for it and the people in it and yourself.
I enjoyed the exhibition immensely, both your ethereal, floating paintings and the other artists’ work. All conveying a sense of magical Orkney in very different ways. Also nice to meet you in person- if only briefly. Enjoy the last few days and your ‘preview’ and safe travels home.
Thank you Liza! And yes, lovely to meet you too!
Your exhibition looks intriguing and impactful; I wish I was closer to Edinburgh. The scenius concept is helpful for giddy sensitive egos but sometimes hard to enact when you arrive late to harnessing and sharing your creative authentic self. There is sometimes a sense of closed doors in the fine art world (if you’re not already a celebrity!) though this is probably a limiting belief… Sorry I ramble - love your writing here and memoir. Thank you, Helen
I can really appreciate that, Helen, when you feel you've arrived too late to join the party. But what I mean by 'scenius' here is more about building a rich network of creative friendships for their own sake, rather than trying to consciously open doors to opportunity. We can do this conciously, by reaching out to people whose creative work we appreciate to tell them so, as an act of generosity and friendship, rather than because we think they can 'help' us somehow. And it's also about understanding our creative community as including all the artists whose work we have admired or been influenced by, the authors whose writing we have loved, the film directors, poets, designers...everything we have soaked up that nourishes our own work.
Creativity can happen alone or in community. Just because you experience it in a certain way does not mean other people experience it that way.
I don't think one cancels out the other. I spend most of my time working completely alone in an isolated place on a small island that most people describe as 'remote'. But my shelves are stuffed with books, and my heart and mind is filled with the art, writing, music, and films that I have encountered, and these shape who I am creatively. This is also 'community'. We stand on the shoulders of creative giants. Everything we make, write and do is just a small part of that giant conversation. I really don't think it is possible to be creative in a complete vacuum. Even the words we use are part of a shared inheritance.
Thank you Samantha for coloring in a bit more of the “white space” that surrounds your thinking and striving. An early 20th century American writer, Thomas Wolfe, wrote “You can never go home again,” in his first book Look Homeward Angel. I was reminded of that as you discussed the years spent in Edinburgh since age seventeen, spanning 30 years. Yet you look forward to returning to your studio, to the remote island you’ve come to call home, Orkney. It’s often said, “Home is where the heart is.” As you painted the four dynamic paintings, that took you back to Edinburgh, in your own studio in Orkney, that argues for a two home
status. I’m grateful that you shared images of you and your work displayed at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Yes, Edinburgh does feel a like a bit of a home from home, but I'm told I have been missing perfect days of windless, chilly sunshine in Orkney while it has been drizzling here in the city - so I am homesick!
I love hearing about your friends and your exhibition! I know you look forward to returning to your studio and your special place where the magic happens.
I am getting a bit homesick now, it's true!
There is no place like home 😉
Wonderful encouraging words, with a backdrop of wonderful-looking art, and happy artists.
It's a real shame I didn't manage to come up to Edinburgh for the exhibition.
I love this approach to art, even if I'm not an artist myself. It's a bit like how to live your life - keeping working and caring for it and the people in it and yourself.