 My stay at the Mawddach Residency was both my first residency and my first time in Wales. Not only did I have a lovely time at the residency, but I was able to explore a lot of the area- more than expected, because the sun insisted on shining despite it being only March.
I had made some plans, of course- I wanted to do a lot of walking and sketching, and use those drawings to create larger paintings in the studio. So, I immersed myself in the surrounding landscape. First figuratively, walking around, exploring the shapes and colours of rugged Welsh mountains in my sketchbook, then literally, going for cold swims in the Estuary and whatever Llyn I came across on hikes. While this was great, I also felt torn between the inside and the outside world. Inside was a studio space unlike what i have access to at home, and the possibility of 'proper' paintings, while outside was a stunning landscape for my sketchbook, which is where I find my inspiration, but it´s also more of a comfort zone. In retrospect, I do think I found a balance there. Before coming, I decided to try and not push myself too hard. I didn´t want to think about these two weeks in terms of classic productivity- I didn´t want to come out of it with xx number of paintings. For an artist, just staring out of the window for a few hours can mean a lot of productivity, especially with an Estuary view. It´s not as visible as a stack of drawings but it´s important nonetheless. Mawddach gave me that space and time, and I enjoyed the absolute luxury of doing this thing that I usually don´t allocate enough time to - art. I expected my time to be more solitary as well, but gladly suprised by my pretty great social life for being a stranger in rural Wales. When I emerged from a painting tunnel, there was always an opportunity for a chat and a cuppa. I felt lucky to share some dinners not only with the bestest hosts, but also having lunch with former resident Molly Lemon who visited with her partner. There were also fish & chips dinners around the fire, and an impromptu studio visit with the nice nextdoor neighbour. On my last day, we visited Bontddu and I was shown the former school, Jake and Scarlett´s next exciting project. Time seems to pass slower here, more quieter, obviously. The inspiration of these two weeks will stay with me for a long time- not only the beauty and the opportunities provided by this very special place, but also the glimpse into how other creatives lead their lives. Jenny Adam website
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