10th - 24th July
I felt very privileged to be at the Art Residency in Trélex, in Switzerland for 2 weeks. I did wait 2 years on the waiting list to get there, probably like many others. I appreciated Nina's hospitality, trust and guidance in running the residency. It was nice to meet my fellow artist Sallie and learn many things from her about her wood block work/prints and about the country she lives in, which I have never been too.
I have only recently come back into art & creative work in my senior years after being a busy mum, wife, working as a Registered nurse and then becoming a trainee lawyer and studying law from the year 2000.
I have studied botanical art from 2017 to 2020 at art classes and water colour painting since coming back into the art world and being able to be creative on a very part time basis.
I have been unable to work regularly on my art due to intense caring responsibilities of looking after my husband and my son at home for the past 20 years. I was very frustrated that I could not produce much artwork or even attend classes or go back to work during the years I was caring, but on the other hand I was pleased I could care for my family, it was very hard work but very rewarding.
Unfortunately they have now all passed away, my husband in 2019, my mum in 2023 and my son this year March 2025, so I am now dealing with grief and I am at a crossroads in my life, of much more time to myself and what to do in the future and when? so I had a lot of thinking to do at Trelex. It came at the right time for me.
When I arrived at the Residency I had not painted for 6 months, I was not feeling inspired too either, although I had many projects I wanted to work on and I bought them with me. I am pleased to say at Trélex, it was wonderful to get to work immediately the day after I arrived, to see an empty desk to put my work on, I did not do this at home, but I now keep my work out on the table at home, I suppose its about finding the right spot, with the right amount of comfort and light.
At Trélex, I usually worked from 10 -1 pm, stopping for lunch, with having a disability, it means my focus is limited and fatigue can easily set in, but this may improve with time, having said that I produced 5 paintings, one collage and a cut out map in the 2 weeks I was there. This is compared to one painting every 4 months at home. It was lovely to be so prolific in my work and having the time to sit and do it. It gave me a wonderful sense of achievement.
I was thrilled with this progress and it has inspired me to work at the minimum of two mornings per week now I am at home and I am considering entering an amateur art exhibition, this is my next goal. Also since I have returned home, I am exploring art exhibitions, art clubs and have joined free classes through out the next year, which is run by the local council. The classes are on a Saturday and give me taster sessions of silk painting, book binding, mono printing, relief painting and trying new mediums. I am keen to learn how to paint with pastels, oils, ink, gold leaf, charcoal and graphite pen in the future and explore this creative world more.
In the afternoons at Trélex, I would relax and sit by Nina's new pool, which was lovely and very therapeutic for me, I would take work with me to do by the pool, read a book, sit in solitude which is what I needed or even swim ! It was wonderful to see the cornfields in the distance swaying in the warm summer breeze and watching them grow. It also made me realise I have been having too many holidays, doing too much walking or moving around and visiting cultural areas, as opposed to just sitting, relaxing and doing nothing, I've realised it is good for my soul and mind to do this, in future I will make that a priority on holidays with a little less cultural input and probably more artwork on holiday.
About every 4th day, I would have a complete day off, go shopping for food, browsing around and have a meal. Nyon, is a lovely town with individual shops and nice cafes/ restaurants, it is a short train ride away from Trelex on the red train, situated on the huge Lake Geneva. I enjoyed sitting by the Lake having a picnic lunch and visiting the museum for more inspiration or just taking photographs for the next painting.
On another outing I went to Geneva and visited the United Nations building and went on a tour, I forgot my passport but they let me in with my ticket ! I felt very at home there. After I completed my Masters degree in International human rights law in 2014, I wanted to apply to work at the United Nations in Geneva or in New York, but I couldn't, due to my caring responsibilities. Whilst I was there, there was a Convention of Indigenous persons who came from all over the world, a little lady from Bolivia in traditional dress with her bowler hat on and a chieftain from the south pacific islands with his feather headdress, they filled the foyer with their flamboyant outfits and headgear, I wanted to stay and listen but I could not.
I would love to return to Trelex, I was inspired by the peace & companionship of painting alongside other artists, the time to be creative and talk about our love of art and visiting Switzerland for the first time.
Thanks to Nina, Rebecca and Sallie.
