Finished artwork - Renew and Refresh
- sarah816202
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
A fabulous way to end the month of January and start reframing our thoughts towards the next one, with our mental health topic, renewing and refreshing. Each of the artworks is reflective and unique, and gives a personal insight into those who shared their art. Spend time looking through the gallery and the details; they are beautiful.
Noor - Focused on drawing something she finds incredibly calming and is becoming accomplished at, the 'Butterfly'. She finds that these renew her energy and spends time studying YouTube tutorials to follow along to improve her sketches. This is an incredibly intricate, detailed butterfly, almost like a tapestry design, very colourful and is my favourite. Butterflies have long been revered as a symbol of renewal. After spending time on her butterfly, Noor drew a tree, just as colourful. It looks like a peaceful place to stop and let the world go by. Coloured pencils and felt-tip pens were used.
Helen - produced two different artworks, both of which are entangled.
Black and White
The before - Isolation, depression, anxiety, too many thoughts all going in different directions. Everything is black and white. No face as depersonalization kicks in.
Colour
The after - when I practise the things that do me good. Socialising, eating, drinking well, arts, crafts and learning. We have a face now because we feel a bit more human.
Helen strives for a 'full colour outlook'. Currently, she says she has a few flowers that continue to try to bloom on the black framework, and that's ok, as that's progress towards the 'full bloom'. Beautiful and practical pictures to look at, they demonstrate skill and understanding of how difficult it is to keep renewing and rebuilding when change and unsettling times happen, but the results are amazing. Fine line markers and colouring pens were used.
Scott - An interesting perspective, this creative drew themselves inside a tin of sardines. Who knows what life is like inside a sardine can... It's a great sketch, and it's good that the air is coming in, great curl, how it's been opened. The idea stemmed from a conversation that happened in a previous group that went on that day, who knew... A graphite pencil was used for this sketch.
Matthew - A gorgeous Poppy, drawn and coloured in by Matthew. He chose this flower as it is one of his favourites. He shared with us that he likes flowers and enjoys seeing them when he goes walking, one of his main hobbies. Matthew also drew a smiling, calm face; he later coloured it in the same way as his Poppy and showed us in the Zoom meeting. Matthew explained that all he had to hand was basic supplies, a biro, a felt-tip pen and a lined notepad. Great pieces of artwork!
Barbara - 'Meditating for relaxation and refreshment'. This is an exquisitely restful painting; even the colours look relaxing and calming. I know this creative struggled due to ongoing health issues to finish this piece. It is difficult to manage health and try to carry on with what you enjoy doing, which is the sad reality and affects your mood on another level. It's great you were able to find a 'well time' and complete this painting you began, it's stunning. Watercolours were used.
Andy - painted a calm space where he felt renewed and refreshed; he based it on a sunset from an original photograph he took in Inverclyde. It looks very tranquil, the waters are very calm, and the rosy orange and yellow of the sun skimming over the water gives it that warm glow of the evening as the night closes in. Fantastic. Watercolour and pastels were used.
Phil - A great amount of thought went into Phil's compilation of photos, incorporating how he enjoys renewing and refreshing. These included sharing library services, listening to audiobooks and some of his favourite walks, which he finds incredibly calming, as well as spending time with his family and people who support him in the community where he lives. Looks incredible, especially if the weather is nice when wandering around... thanks for sharing, Phil. Created using Google Gemini.
Donna - This is a lovely picture. Having a head filled with flowers, brimming with freshness and fragrance... I asked if Donna had been for a walk somewhere that had prompted the memory. This can happen when you think of a pleasant walk, by or through a meadow, you begin to relax and see things differently, renewing your perspective. Her second artwork is filled with vibrant colour too. Donna loves to sing and sign, and brings the cuteness of a cat into this picture, too. I love this. Felt-tip pens were used.
Awesome art produced this week, hope you enjoyed browsing through and find time for yourself to refresh and renew where you're at, life has challenging moments, make a space for yourself as you make your way through this. Find out what helps you unwind and renew yourself so you can unplug and step away as everything gets a little hectic to prevent burnout.
If you've enjoyed our gallery, please like this post and share. Maybe you would like to join us for our next art group, they are every Wednesday, with a different topic every week. Follow the link below, and you'll find us under All4Art.
Great variety of work
Love seeing Matthews art in here too
Loving everyones artwork from last weeks theme, I can see Noor's artwork improving in leaps and bounds! Great to see and Donna has also done very well with her drawings xxx