Dubrovnik, Montenegro and Mostar

I took a week out to visit Croatia with my mum. We stayed in Plat, a small village on the coast just south of Dubrovnik. Three days were spent in Dubrovnik's historic old town, surrounded by the city walls, with marble streets and gorgeous architecture. We walked along the city walls and took the cable car to see fantastic panoramic views of the Croatian coast, Dubrovnik and Lokrum Island. On one afternoon while caught in a downpour we visited the Rectors Palace and sought refuge in churches and restaurants. 

From Dubrovnik's City Walls

We decided on a day trip to see Montenegro, crossing the border and receiving a stamp in our passports we explored a new country, stopping at Kotor and Budva. Kotor was beautiful, a walled town by water. We climbed to a church on a hill to see views over the town, as we reached the church bells rang in the distance and then right by our heads. After a stormy day in Dubrovnik the day before, Montenegro offered us brilliant sunshine.  

Kotor

Another of our days was filled reaching Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the geography of the countries, we crossed borders several times before reaching Medjugorje. Once in Mostar we wandered past shops selling trinkets to the bridge where locals jump once they've been paid enough Euros. On one side of the Neretva river the people are Catholic and there is a huge cross on the hillside, on the other side the people are Muslim and there we heard the call to prayer. 

Mostar

It's not often that on a week long holiday you can explore three different countries, or at least sample a little of what each has to offer. Despite having a full time office job I'm happy to retain the adventurous spirit by travelling when I can, and I'm grateful for a mum that is happy to be adventurous with me. 

The English Lakes

I indulged my love of the countryside by spending a week in the Lake District in August with family. 

Derwent Water

I've been inspired by landscape for as long as I can remember and my art practice has always involved landscape in one way or another. Being surrounded by such beauty for a week was obviously inspirational. The long walks cleared my mind, I always do my best thinking when I'm walking in the fresh air.

From Cat Bells

We walked miles. Up and over Cat Bells, up Helm Crag in the rain, to the top of Orrest Head overlooking Windermere. We saw Tarn Hows on a ten mile walk from Coniston and did a seven mile walk near Elterwater. The miles kept adding up and so did the sense of accomplishment. 

Near Elterwater

​I can understand why so many creatives spent so much of their time here, Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth to name just two. 

Hundreds of photographs were taken, with every few paces there was a new perspective that I had to capture. Even with the DSLR around my neck I still made sure to breathe in the views without looking through the lens and to feel immersed in the natural wonder of the lakes. ​

Grasmere from Helm Crag

With each trip I gain new inspiration. Art and travel are my two biggest passions, I can't live without either and both feed in to each other. My art has evolved as a means of recording, of documenting. Someday soon I'll use these photographs as inspiration for something, I'm not quite sure what yet but the prospect excites and intrigues me. 

Time

It's been a little while since I've written anything, that's because I've felt like there hasn't been anything worthy of writing about. It's coming up to a year since I finished my MA at Winchester School of Art, in that time I've worked full time in an office, moved in and out of a studio, been a Signature Art Prize finalist and held my first solo exhibition. I have also been lucky enough to visit Amsterdam, Iceland and made several trips to Cornwall in the last year.  

I'm still making work however with only evenings and weekends spare I've not been as productive as I'd like to be. I'm too aware that time is so precious that it prevents me from being experimental and venturing outside my comfort zone because I'm too afraid of making bad work and then feeling like I wasted time.

I've continued to draw and have a project on the go which in a way documents the walks I've being doing in my home county of Hampshire. I've been following a walking guide, ticking one off every weekend or so. On each walk I photograph the journey, I'm then picking a photograph to draw from and I title the work with the walk title from the guide and the date the walk took place. 

Inspired by a walk in Cornwall, I have a separate project in mind which will bring together photography, drawing, painting and map cuts. Unfortunately a lack of confidence has meant that the project has gone on the back burner - as mentioned, I've been too afraid of getting it wrong or messing it up and making bad art. 

It's only when you're in the 'real world' (outside of university) that you realise how difficult it can be making art, time restraints, a job to pay the bills getting in the way and a lack of people around you to help guide your work and give you direction can make for a tough time creativly. 

But, I'll keep going, keep drawing, keep thinking, keep making because it's what I do and I can't be without it. 

Hartley Wintney and Elvetham - 14th June, 20.5cm x 20.5cm, pen on paper.