Reflections On My First One-to-One.
After my first one-to-one session, I walked away feeling very energised, like I’m right on the edge of something unknown - an exhilarating, if slightly unnerving, place to be. We began by discussing how I’ve been adjusting four weeks into the course, balancing it with other commitments like work. If I’m being honest, the plan I originally put in place (with the best of intentions) has gone out the window. Life just isn’t that linear.
We then moved on to Jonathan asking me what I thought my biggest strength was. This was unexpectedly tough to answer, but a good challenge. Reflecting on it even now, I’m still not entirely sure what the answer is. That question, along with the rest of our conversation, opened up both practical ideas and deep themes that resonate with where I am now and where I hope to go with my art.
One of the most interesting parts of the session was our discussion on place attachment theory and how I could explore it further in my art. The idea of linking three types of memories—one from myself now, one from my past, and another from family stories and lore, perhaps even drawing from the wider public consciousness—felt inspiring. We talked about the potential to explore memory itself, how we’re constantly shaping and reshaping our past, blending personal memories with those we share with others. This mix of constructive and collective memory feels powerful, especially in art. I imagine each piece I create as part of a larger tapestry, with each mark adding to a broader story of family history, personal memories, and even societal narratives.
We also discussed my recent interest in playing with scale and my hesitation about going bigger, as I’ve felt a sense of lost control in doing so. The session offered some freeing ideas around scale and affordable materials. Building my own canvas, for instance, would let me experiment without worrying too much about cost or perfection. I was reminded that not everything has to be flawless, and embracing imperfections can make the work feel more alive. The whole notion of “playing” with art and focusing on process over perfection struck a chord. I left the session feeling inspired, even buying a 50-metre roll of lining paper soon after, just to go for it!
The conversation also touched on the layers that naturally come into my paintings - different histories and experiences, weaving together almost like a physical tapestry. There’s something grounding in this idea that art can hold and reflect both personal and collective experiences. Each layer adds weight and meaning, almost like painting a sense of place or belonging.
In the coming weeks, I definitely want to explore place attachment theory further, particularly the emotional connections we form with specific locations. I love the idea of making this theory tangible, creating pieces that don’t just depict a landscape but capture an emotional attachment to it. This could bring my work closer to how I see the places I paint - places full of meaning, trying to communicate something more than what’s on the surface.
I also want to break away from the idea that everything needs to be perfectly polished all the time - whether that’s in my art practice, where I’m experimenting more freely, or even in submitting entries to this blog. For instance, I take notes religiously during all my classes, using them to inform ideas for this blog. But those notes themselves could be uploaded here directly, without having to be meticulously rewritten, since they offer valuable insights into my thought process. Raw notes can reveal where ideas start, how they evolve, and the natural flow of my reflections. This openness might allow me to look back later and see the seeds of ideas that shape my practice, understanding that creativity isn’t always neat and ordered. Embracing these unpolished, real-time insights could be a valuable part of documenting the journey in its truest form, rather than focusing on a polished end result, but that is a challenge in and of itself.
After the session, I feel like I’m on the brink of something. It’s like standing by a still lake, knowing it’s time to make ripples and see where they go. This feels like the start of an exciting journey, one I’m eager to follow, wherever it might lead over the next couple of years.
