#14: Forgotten artworks

Two highlights of my week were seeing Chappell Roan perform at HEAVEN in London, and getting briefly obsessed with a new board/card game. If you like pop music that will make you want to stick sequins on your eyelids and dance, try Chappell Roan. If you like trying to figure out which of your friends are full of deceit and trickery, try Dragonwake.

It’s the busy festive period and so squeezing in time to draw, paint, and be merry has been a challenge. Thankfully though, creativity still crept in. Here’s some of that:

A festive balcony

I drew six poinsettias to make a home (and the street below) a little more Christmassy! Here’s some pics including my smug face when I realised I was liking how it was turning out.

Wonky art

My pal Rachel of Show Up Southend has put together a Wonky Art Fayre tomorrow in Rochford, Essex, and I’ve rifled through my boxes to find some pieces I’ve made to put up for sale. I love the concept of the event being for artworks that didn’t go right, or that you might not ordinarily sell - wonky in some way! And therefore cheaper than usual. I’ve made a lot of small, random bits and bobs over time so it’s perfect. Here are a couple of the forgotten artworks I found:

Each of these pieces was a process of me trying out a new material or idea. They’ve sat in a box in my studio for a while now. This weekend I hope they’ll find new homes!

Being creative as…a quiz host

In December 2020 I gathered and scanned some childhood photos, photoshopped white boxes over parts of them, and popped them into a family group chat each day with questions like ‘what ice lollies were we eating here?’. I’ll admit it wasn’t the most exhilarating of quizzes (are they ever?), but it was nostalgic and wholesome and an attempt at encouraging some silliness and connection in a strange time. It was the start of something. A new tradition! What a thrill to have started a tradition. The annual family ✨Christmas Quiz✨ was born.

Like at a ‘leaving drinks’ for a colleague you barely know, fun can’t be forced. Participation in my silly little December quiz isn’t necessary for family relationship maintenance, but thankfully six creative and enthusiastic ‘contestants’ hopped onboard. Each day I delivered a new question, however it wasn’t long before I ran out of photos and had to come up with some new ideas. Three years on, I talk to each person individually before the start of the quiz, asking bizarre questions like ‘what colour would you get rid of and why?’ to seek out funny quotes and ‘who isn’t a rival to you in this quiz?’ to stir some family drama. I turn these answers and submissions of odd photos and voicenotes into quiz questions. This week the fourth annual quiz begins and there are now twelve contestants - apparently word spread around that it’s unmissable. Undoubtedly this will be the year I give out one controversial point too many and burn all my family bridges. Wish me luck!

If you have ideas for challenges or questions I can put into the quiz, I would love to hear them. Or if you have your own traditions, I’d love to hear all about those too.

That’s how I’ve found creativity in my week. What’s making you feel creative? Or what’s in the way? Let’s chat about it :)

Thank you

It’s so nice that you’re here. I appreciate you reading about my week. If you have any reflections or fancy a chat, hit ‘reply’ and say hi. I love when these posts turn into a conversation. Wishing you a delightful day ahead.

Love, Kara x

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