Comfort Zone (2023)
My solo exhibition Comfort Zone featured a series of new paintings inspired by, and displayed alongside the sketchbooks that I carry with me day to day, blurring the line between creative practice and personal life.
These sketchbooks act as a comfort blanket and allow me to feel like myself and at ease in many a situation. Documented through lively mark-making and bold colour choices, seemingly unremarkable moments become significant in their own way.
My intention was to curate a space that felt comforting and inviting as opposed to a conventional gallery space. This emulated the comforting presence of art in my life, scenes of cosy gatherings and joyful interiors in my paintings, and the community spirit of Granton Hub, the organisation that so kindly offered me this opportunity. Visitors were invited to wander the room with a cup of tea or take seat on a sunlit sofa, to flick through five years worth of sketchbook drawings.
Over the course of the weekend I hosted two still-life and portraiture workshops in the gallery space, which welcomed artists and beginners alike. These featured a series of short, fun drawing exercises to encourage experimentation and an instinctive approach, set to the soundtrack of relaxed conversation and the uplifting Comfort Zone playlist.