Laura Drever

The fields are changing in Orkney – the patchwork of colour and shape is moving every day – the farmers are hard at work. This is one of my favourite times of year (I say that about every changing season!) the smells, the colours, the small shifts that make our landscape ever changing. My pallet these last few months has been green and brown, the blues took a little break after Glimro.

Since March it feels like life has been busy and the studio less so, a conscious decision after Glimro to reflect and take time to consider starting new work, figure out what is next – also to recover from three Solo exhibitions and a good few major group exhibitions, in the space of 5 years. An artist friend asked me the other day “how you doing in the post exhibition slump?” – it’s a funny old question as of course it feels good but equal to that, it also feels like how on earth did I do that and flip, I’m quite knackered in the most wonderful way! Probably the feeling others get in their own career paths – times of intense hustle and bustle alongside the ebb and flow of daily life.

Exciting changes in our life have also been rolling on – our son was away in Norfolk at College this year after leaving school and being fortunate to get an apprenticeship with a local firm, our daughter was doing her first exams and training with Scotland under 15’s Netball squad. Each has required weekend trips South with well over 8000 travel miles clocked up since March. We bought a plot of land to build a bigger studio and new home and we quietly celebrated 20 years of marriage. George is now home after completing the college part of his training, Rosa is in her senior years of school, one of her subjects is Higher Art and she has been asking me for a little help now and again.

September, six months after March, was the time I allowed myself to take things slower, although now that September is here, it seems that slowing down hasn’t really happened – or maybe a bit of extra time has allowed time to focus a little bit more on other important things. The blank walls of the studio have steadily filled up with new work, new ideas have begun to form and sketch books have been out and about.

A bit of a self indulgent and personal update today, but I’m not going to apologise for that. Isn’t it good to celebrate milestones in life and try to share a little love? I’d like to think artwork and nature can inspire that, even if it is just in a very small way.

To finish, here are some love heart stones – next time you are at the beach have a look for one and make some time just for you.

Aren’t they beautiful.