British Landscape Paintings & Prints

So I'm almost released from having to concentrate on my accounts – yippee, and yippee again!

I now have a well‑developed system, instead of the half baked, strange child of admin I had before. I hardly know myself!

The drive to bank painting plans for the dark months ahead has immediately filled the space that's opened. Almost as though it was waiting quiet and fixed in the wings, while numbers stormed the stage.

Yorkshire Wolds Collection

So the art project I identified at the end of last year is finally coming together – at long last! 'It's hard work' was the dry quip from a passing older chap, while I waited outside a garden centre this week – art projects and life, in 2020, perfectly summed‑up. I salute you, sir, in your brevity.

The dales of Frendal, Horse, Millington, Nettle, Well and Thixen (all great names), as well as others, are now in my project sketchbook.

Whenever the sun makes an appearance, it's 'cat on a hot tin roof' time – there's no settling while indoors. The need to be out in the hills with sketchbook and paints is overwhelming. The end of November, my deadline for completing all reference material, fast approaches.

Art's messy bit on Instagram

Some of the "messy bits" of creating my Yorkshire Wolds art collection are now on a new Instagram feed. It shows reference material I collect and a bit of the process. Link below.

I'm not sure of the wisdom of a second Instagram account if I'm honest. I've never been addicted to social media – quite the reverse.

Most importantly, lots of progress on my Wolds Painting collection has happened, and my excitement is growing. Winter in my studio should be productive, all being well 🤞.

A new link to 'Collections' is ready at the top of the screen – it doesn't work yet. Though small, it's another to‑do ticked off.

There's no guarantee of success making art, regardless of experience, but I'm optimistic I'll 'nail this one'.

Inspiration is a terrible thing

2020's effect on me seems to relate to inspiration.

I've never understood artists who talk about inspiration using words like elusive, fickle and strikes. I don't recognize that at all and never have. What I'm familiar with is the opposite.

Inspiration is a nag – it never shuts up. It's pushy and demanding, and it's constantly interrupting me wherever I am. It has no 'off' button, and it's always hanging around.

Even when seriously ill, it was still firing on all cylinders. My problem then was having the energy to respond to it.

This is when inspiration can be a tyranny. When artists in its grip don't have the means to satisfy it, they have no way out, and the frustration can be bad.

Months of Lockdown's "essential travel only" when my art project needed outdoor work, put me in this very position.

As hardships go, it's nothing, of course. 2020 has placed restrictions on everyone, and some have truly suffered. I have not.

I've learned inspiration has me embracing the day when times are dark, and keeps me fired. Inspiration gives me something to dream of – unrestricted. It's a wellspring of strength and clarity that feels like it'll never run dry.

2020 has shown me the depth of inspiration as a sustaining force, and I feel lucky it's nagging right now.

@lynneroebuck.sketchbooks