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When I got the mail from Scarlett from Mawddach Residency I was so pleasantly surprised. I was not sure what to expect, so I brought printmaking stuff, paper, ink, and painting stuff, basically everything for printing, drawing and painting that could fit in a suitcase. Luckily this was no problem with the flight, none of the inks, copper sheets or paints in the suitcase raised eyebrows at the security. My suitcase however protested by refusing to roll the handle back in, I guess even an artist suitcase has a stubborn personality. I was paired by Scarlett and Jake with fellow artist Arianna Tinulla Milesi. In the weeks of preparation for the residence, we met online, and we got along fine and prepped boring stuff like groceries ahead of time. We first met in real life on the train, while the greatest landscapes flashed by. In this three hours we got to know eachother and I was already stunned by the views of sea, sheep, rocks and the landscape. Upon arrival Scarlett and Jake picked us up from the train station and during the two week stay they were in every way the kindest hosts, they really gave an extra shine to the residency. I really felt at home and free to ask anything, and we even drew together during the drawing classes of Draw Brighton. It was such a treat. One of my reasons of aplying for this residency was to focus on making art undisturbed. This was precisely what happened. During the first week I made a drypoint, did online portrait and model drawing and wandered through the amazing landscape. I also took the time to roam around and connect with the landscape. If you know the Netherlands, perhaps you know that one of the main features of the landscape there is that it is flat. For me the variety of the landscape was a delight. Hills, mossy rocks, trees with curly gnarled branches, the movement of the skies, river and sea and slightly annoyed sheep. The mist between the mountains which looks like cottoncandy on the more mistier days. Even a really bright rainbow made an appearance. Although it was October and well into autumn, the landscape was covered in different shades of green. And it was warm and sunny aswell. Luckily there was also mud and sheep dung. You know, to keep it real. The landscape reflected in my work in foil prints and brightly colored goache paintings. I used every sheet of printing paper that I brought and created landscapes, and mythical beings such as a fox with anthers and a cat-like creature. I also made some works inspired from life, I made a tetra print of Toby, our cat in residence, who sneaked up one night to eat a hole in our bread. And made a cardboard print with the box of Tunnucks Teacakes of a bold female figure. We were invited to join the Draw Brighton class, firstly as portrait models ourself, but we also got to draw Jo, a female swordfighter in medievel armor and Frankie who posed as all the creatures from Alice in Wonderlands Tea party. I enjoyed these sessions a lot and made a print of one of the poses later with foil lithography. Scarlett also invited us to join her in her atelier (honestly Scarlett and Jake are sort of Wonder-hosts) where she showed off her newest lithograph and introduced us to foil lithography. I tried this before but it was a bit tricky; with Scarlett it was delight. She is a a really good and fun teacher and I practiced with the foil lithography during the rest of the residency. I also enjoyed her atelier from a printmakers perspective, comparing practices and materials, her printed work and her most handsome presses. Honestly, what more do you need?
In the two weeks I was at the residence there was so much going on in my work, I loved the experiments, the discovery of new things, the focus, the wandering in the landcape, the new fun people that I met, the hospitality of Jake and Scarlett and of course the company of Arianna. Now that I am home again I already notice a new urgency in making new work. I expect to see the Mawddach's influence in my work for a while to come. website
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