NEW: ArtwithJamesMayhew

From thedarkintothe light

VillagePeople is delighted to welcomea brandnew artwriter –award-winningSuffolkauthor,illustrator andartist, JamesMayhew

JacquelineCroftinher studio

The festivities of Christmas arenow justa memory, and we areallimpatientfor spring. Perhapsthisyear,morethan ever,the early signsof new life, as we emerge,hopefully, from thepandemic,seem morepreciousthan ever.You mayjustcatch thelastofthe snowdropsatIckworthHouse or Sheringham Park,orsee glowing aconites huddled around burgeoningtrees,with swollenbuds. Thedaysgrow longer,theskies brighter.

Theturningseasons,andthe ever changing elementsof nature have proven to be especially significant forNorfolk-based artistJacquelineCroft. Hersis an uplifting,hopefulstorythat many of uscanbeinspiredby,especially after these last twodifficultyears. Thereare many elements to Jacqueline’s work.She enjoys playingwithmaterials,andwhen Ivisitedherbright, light-filled studio,shehadme joining in. Preparedboardswerewaiting forme,with gesso primer and imprinted textures. “Leaves,paper, bitsandbobs,”saysJacquie. “Flat isquitedull.Textureyou cansand back,it’s more organic.” Thisprocessofserendipitous exploration seemstosuit her especially well.Thingsare not planned,andoldcanvassesare often reworkedintosomething new, layeruponlayer,thenrubbed back andpaintedagain. Thereisclingfilmtolay uponwatercolour washes,and paints galore,squirrelledawayin wooden drawers. Jacquiehas me using brave colourcombinations, andusing anon-dominant handtodrawadriedseed head. Experiment.Play.Thesearewords that cropuptimeand againin ourconversation,as we talk about howJacquieemergedfrom her personaldark,into agraduallight. “My breakdown wasthe catalyst fordiscovering art,” says Jacquie.“I thinkitisfor many people –whenyou have asudden change in your lifeyou have the potential todo differentthings. If youare abusyperson, to stop suddenly is reallydifficult.” Havingabandonedart atschool,Jacquiewentinto teaching,andendedup ahead teacherataschoolinSuffolk. “I’d always been capable,theone who dideverything,”she says. “Butafter being asuccessfulcareerperson, thereI was, suddenly unableto even talkorleave thehouse. ” Jacquie’shusband Nick,also aretired teacher,becameher full-timecarer duringthis very difficultyear.Intime,Jacquie realised he needed abreakfrom looking after her,andona walk through Bungay shestopped outside theArt Trading Company (Bungay’s excellentartshop)and sawapainting course advertised. Although thethoughtofbeing alonewithpeople shedidn’tknow wasdaunting,she saidtoNick,“I think Icoulddo that.”Itproved

to be an incredibly important decision forthemboth. For Jacquie,somethingclicked. She’dfound asafespace where shecould simplyplaywithart materialsand colours, whereshe couldlearn,nurturenew skills, andquietlyheal.Thecourse, run by artistMicheleHolland (now proprietor of ashopcalled Mouse,inBungay)provedideal. “Itwas verydifficultinitially –being left,” admitsJacquie.But graduallyher confidence grew and shebegan tolook forwardtothese art sessions,andgrewtoenjoythe company of others.“Michelewas very encouraging andpositive–a bigsurprise.Itjust graduallytook off from there.” Other courses followed,and abodyofworkwas created, largely unseenbyanyoneoutside Jacquie’s small,trustedcircle offamilyand friends.Then,an artist duetoexhibitatthe Fisher TheatreinBungay pulled out,and they neededsomeonetofillthe slot.Jacquiewaspersuaded,and foundherself embarking on asolo exhibition –and to hersurprise sold asubstantial number of paintings. “Itwas exhausting;I couldn’t paint fora time afterwards,”says Jacquie. But gradually theurge returned. Atriumphant second exhibition attheFisher Theatre followed.Throughoutthistime Jacquiecontinuedtoexplore andexperiment,joiningother coursesand constantly exploring possibilities.Inparticular, a coursewithMartin Kinnear, oftheNorfolk PaintingSchool, inspiredher to learn more about colourtheory, andreinforcedher love of oilpainting. As Jacquiesharessketchbooks, halffinishedcanvasses,and stacksofold work,Iventurethat thethingthat really bindsher work together is nature. Aloveof thenatural world,oflandscape, of place. Sheagrees,andtalks about herdailydog walkson OutneyCommon,thatvastopen spacethat once hostedBungay horseraces,memorablycaptured by Suffolk-born artistAlfred Munnings. “Thecommonisjustan inspiration.It’sunpredictable,it’s seasonal…” It isindeed aglorious myriad offragmentedstreamsand brooksthatforms this partofthe WaveneyValley.The monumental skies,thewater meadowsand wildlife, birdsongand the comingand going oftheseasons, allseemtobereflectedin her work somehow. Arecentcanvas exploresallfourseasonsin one painting, focussing on thesolid thingsthat remain–the tree shapesthatare thereall year round– andthe transitorythings likefoliage thatcome,change, go, andreturninthespring. Otherpaintingscapture ahint oflightonwater,likethe streams thatareall buthiddenbyreeds, andthe shiftingpatternsoflight throughtrees andbranchesand leaves.These arepaintings one canwander into,andbelostin. Jacquie continues to exploreand discovernew ways ofbeing creative. Nowadays, sheenjoysmakingartwithher grandchildren, too.Upin her studio theyexploreand play together,usingexcitingand unusualmaterials.Jacquieframes theirart,makingit extraspecial. Despitethe twohugely successfulexhibitions, Jacquie eschewsthemoderntrappings of social mediaand websites, sensing thatan overly commercial agenda wouldinhibither joyin theplayingand experimenting. Instead,shequietlyallowsher paintingstobehunghereand there. If youvisit thebeautiful markettownofBungay,you might beluckyenoughtoseesome of Jacquie’s paintingsattheCork Brick GalleryorperhapsBigod’s Kitchen, next to thecastle.Ifyou happenuponher work,takea moment to lose yourself,andbe transportedintoher rhapsodic landscapes –these glorious celebrationsofnature.

Web: jamesmayhew.co.uk Insta &Twitter:

@mrjamesmayhew

CorkBrick Gallery:

corkbrickgallery.co.uk

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