Photo's Copyright Louise Maclaren April 2010.
I like nothing better than seeing life happening from my Studio window. Immigrant families and their friends are having a wonderful game of cricket on this fair day in the park opposite my house. It is so lovely to see and I would dearly like to take some photo's for sketches for a piece of work. However I find myself thinking twice about it. Of course in this day and age we worry because people might think that we are more than a little odd!?
When I was studying art at A.S and Art foundation level, I thought nothing of sketching strangers in a park or railway station or on a train. I did not want them to know I was doing it because of the sudden attention I would get, 'ooh an artist! can I have a look?' Next thing you now what was hopefully a quiet past time has become a fiasco of fascination. Also rough sketches have little appeal to people who do not have any art training or a particular interest in art. They tend not to understand the importance of a sketch in the scheme of things or the many processes undertaken to produce a technically good painting (if that is what you are looking to achieve). Bearing in mind Art has many nuances and raison's d’être for being produced nowadays.
Another interesting thing that struck me whilst noticing the nice scene in the park today was: that the mixture of immigrants we have here in our busy little North Norfolk ex railway village from Lithuanians to Seeks, Hindus, Turkish, Russians and Poles all Play games together outside when the weather is nice and they are always happy! It seems however that we as a nation are less inclined to get together and go out and really play.
I think that perhaps the rise of Technology and the 'have it now attitude in our society' is more advanced in the western world, whereas many of these people perhaps come from places where the community as a whole is still key part in their lives?
I am emotionally distracted today. I have a lot to do, only fifteen days until open studio starts.
I was in my garden yesterday evening when a friend of mine Saffron, popped her head over my fence. She told me that they had lost Judy. I went blank for a minute. Then realized that she mean't her mother in law, who is also a friend of mine. It is only now just sinking in.
Judy Scott was an amazing woman; a night club/cabaret singer, and an accomplished painter, printer and art teacher. She sadly had recently become so badly crippled with arthritis that she could no longer produce even the monotypes, mono printing and block prints she had hoped to. She made a brave effort to continue in the way she did.
When I last visited her sometime in march 2013 with my partner the painter Paul Harris, she was as lively and sociable as anyone half her age, insisting on serving us Green tea and delicious biscuits despite her condition. Her wealth of knowledge on her subject come through with keen interest and wit. However there was also another side to Judy that I also liked and that was her fascination of the esoteric.
When I first met her in April 2010 on a lovely warm sunny evening at an opening party for The Bluejacket Workshop ; I can remember how engaging and friendly she was and it was actually a conversation about dresses that got us talking initially:- we both admitted freely after complementing each other, how it is amazing what you can find to wear even on the slightest budget if you have the courage to carry it off!
With our art in common we often met up at various functions and I visited her at her home quite a few times. Although sadly I did not get the chance to know her better I feel that I owe a lot to Judy.
She encouraged me with my work in a way that I could totally relate to. She told me that it wasn't until she was 48 (the same age as I am now) that she was really able to start her Art career. Her children had started to become less dependent. She had also been separated like me and understood what it was like to try and get on with a career and the daunting task of bringing up children on your own. She was a total inspiration to me. Someone I truly admired. Paul really took to her too. He met her recently when we collected her old mangle printing press she had given me. I am so glad I have it now, it will be a practical reminder of her generosity of spirit. I nearly didn't take it because I could borrow Paul's press but it would mean I could only use his sometimes as I would have to travel quite away to do so. Despite that Judy encouraged me by telling me stories of how she used to be running prints off at night and how helpful it is when you are working hard to also have a press on site!
She was just starting to give little insights of her artistic life to us on that visit, discussions about sketching people and how monotypes are made.We had both said that we would love to go back and visit her soon. She said she felt more comfortable at home in her circumstances rather than going out these days, as it was getting difficult for her to manage visiting places that were not so geared up for people with her condition.
In her striking Monoprints, Monotypes,yetchings & Block Prints, you can see clearly in Judy's work where her influences come from: theater, performance, circus and her surroundings.
She told us that she used to sit in the theater sketching during productions and rehearsals at the Pavilion theater on Cromer pier not far from her North Norfolk home.
Her prints have a sort chiaroscuro effect that consolidates the atmosphere of her subject matter with a the skill and observation that reminds me a little of Toulouse-Lautrec in an immediacy that gives them so much life and character all in her own style.
Her Sculptural skills should not be underestimated either, only a few years ago she produced beautiful figures out of Twisted and formed news paper (probably Mache, soaked in Glue). These figures are mostly of Circus performers, clowns, dancers and dogs, exquisitely modeled and painted. Judy had these on display during her open Studio in 2010 and I believe in 2012.
Sadly I can not yet show examples and there is little on the internet about her yet. Perhaps one day with kind permission from her son Luke and the family I will try to add images of this important but underestimated artist.
I can only say also how sorry I am for their terrible loss. On our last visit we also met her charming ex husband Richard Scott, who had been devotedly visiting her nearly every day to make sure that she was alright. I feel honored to have been touched by such an extraordinary family.
Many many People new her from her life classes, the Norfolk Art scene and generally around and about the area. The impression I got was that she was much loved and considered a lovely person with plenty of character. I am sure she will be sadly missed.
Photo's Copyright Louise Maclaren April 2010.
