Following a notion
how curiosity leads you down unexpected paths.
It started after Amy Stewart’s idea planted a seed of curiosity in my head months ago talking about ‘self appointed artist residencies’.
The idea stuck with me and made me imagine possibilities.
A coincidental visit last autumn to a regenerative flower farm called White Goose prompted me to email the head gardener Fleur to propose an idea.
That email led to a coffee (and a delicious pumpkin slice with cinnamon butter), the coffee led a funding application and well…yesterday the Lucy Phillips Arts Fund announced their latest grant recipients and I’m so pleased to say that I’m one of them.
My self initiated residency has a working title: Hidden Garden, and the grant gives me a small gift of time. Hours ‘officially’ set aside to pursue a notion without my self employed brain wondering if it’s something that I should monetise, or if it’s taking me away from my ‘real work’.
My humble aim is to improve my skills (I’m starting with watercolour eeeek!) and visual storytelling when I am not working to a client brief. As someone who has been drawing to client briefs for 20 years this feels like a bigger adventure than you might imagine.
I’ll keep you updated over the coming year, and if you know someone who will enjoy the journey then please share this post with them.
Hi - I’m Cara, a Graphic Recorder, Illustrator and trainer working in the UK.
As well as The JOTT I write The Visual Edit a monthly-ish newsletter for visual thinkers and workers, & host the graphic recorder club for Graphic Recorders, live illustrators and sketchnoters.
My book, Draw a Better Business is a visual thinking toolkit for creative thinking small business owners.
Thanks for following along x