I started this account because I wanted to hear and share stories of artists who are parents, so I thought I would start by sharing mine.
Tell us about yourself?
I am an artist and mother to a sweet little girl called Charlotte who is two/nearly three. I live in Crosby, Liverpool Uk. I am a drawer that uses a bic biro. I draw with a limited medium using squares to help me focus and calm my mind, drawing squares around my daughter's schedule. My over active mind is from visual thinking, a trait from my dyslexia. I researched the link between dyslexia and creativity on my masters. Drawing has always seemed like more of a therapy for me, helping me cope and become aware of my thoughts
How has being a parent had a positive impact on your artistic practice?
Becoming a parent helped me realise how important drawing and my creative practice was to me. Like all parents, parenthood made me reassess my life. I still made time to draw and this made me realise how important it was.
Having less time to draw has made my work become more honest and raw. Wanting things to be perfect and faced with all the choices available to me would often lead to blocks. Now having the time to move the pen over the paper is enough.
What are the challenges you have faced in your artistic practice being a parent?
Becoming a parent changed my life and what I did but not who I was. Draw feels essential to me but it started to feel like I was being selfish. I adapted my drawing practice to be able to draw around motherhood which helped alleviate the feelings of guilt. Another challenge was isolation, not being able to go to the studio as much or private views, which was one of the reasons I wanted to create this Instagram account.
Any advice for other Artist Parents and how they can continue to nurture their practice?
I found my work adapted, drawing little and often, even if for 5 minutes, doing something helped me feel like I was myself again.
I wish I had gone easier on myself. I used to panic if I didn’t draw, often thinking it meant I’d given up. I realised there is an ebb and flow to life as there is to the creative practice, it's ok to take a break when needed.
Is there anything else you would like to say, share or promote?
I want to promote @artist_parent. I found myself feeling isolated with not being able to go to the studio or to private views as often as I used to. I found that when I would go I’d have lovely conversations with artists who were mums and dads, they ask how parenthood was going as a new mum and they tell me their inspiring stories. I wanted other parents, either to new babies or whose children were grown up, to share their
story and people reading them to both get something and to not feel alone.
@Artist_Parent an Instagram account dedicated to sharing the artwork & stories of Artist Parents, Grandparents & Caregivers.
I am hoping to create a support network encouraging the creativity of parents.
From inspiring artist parent interviews to sharing their work in the stories.
Follow and Tag @Artist_parents for your work to be shared in stories.
Thank you for reading, if you would like to read more stories or for your work to be shared then follow and tag @artist_parent on Instragam.
Uploaded 23rd September 2024