Creative process
Ten years ago I wrote about “a job, a sport and a hobby” and the concept of “expressive life” here >
Besides school-boy wooden book-ends with dovetail joints full of glue and a hardwood turned fruitbowl, both still in use, I have not considered myself as particularly handy. DIY was a domestic obligation, even plumbing and electrics, and car maintenance was necessary when you could only afford old cars. I’m happy to see this activity behind us although I have always had admiration for those who enjoy the skills and outputs from them.
In retirement I had turned from utility to creativity and I thought to try lino-cuts in response the early signs losing fine motor-control in my hands. I now know this to be arthritis >
Irene, my sister-in-law, is an artist and teacher and gave me some lino-cutting tools, lino and inks and I tried a few items of my own. I found it quite hard on my own and, sadly, didn’t stick with it.
‘Thought for the work, ‘ he said as Jeff squeezed by, ‘Art world, music business. What does that tell us?’
Dyer, Geoff (2009) Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi
Hands on
Years later, and at the Singleton Environment Centre, Margaret and I attended short guided sessions on fused glass (see above) and on lino cuts. It was a social activity and a bit of fun.
On what has now become a series of cruise holidays we have found the sea-day water colour classes most interesting. The equipment was provided and gentle instruction set us up. We enjoyed it and said “we must do this at home.” We haven’t.
“Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.”
Henri Matisse
Other people
A friend called David took up painting in retirement and each week produces a local scene, town or country, and has some excellent portraits of humans and animals. I envy this latent talent.
We have enjoyed vists to the South East Open Studios
http://www.seos-art.org/
Gardening
A craft of sorts, employing skills and knowledge, in making things. We have neglected our own garden as it has matured. However, on a more social level, Margaret and a neighbour has restored the mini-roundabout in our close. It generates interest from other neighbours as they memt and chat.
As part of our involvement with the Singleton Environment Centre, we ended up creating a climate adaption and resilience garden by restoring the raised-beds with sensory plants and laying a gravel garden intended to thrive in dry summers and wet winters.
See more on the Centre website here >