20/11/2008 by James.

A weekend in the mountains for much needed space, quiet and a change of scenery… watching red kites, walking up boggy hillsides and managing to fit in the odd pint of Guinness.

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13/11/2008 by James.

Tired of all who come with words, words but no language
I went to the snow covered island.
The wild does not have words.
The unwritten pages spread themselves out in all directions!
I come across the marks of roe-deer’s hooves in the snow.
Language, but no words.

TOMAS TRANSTROMER

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04/11/2008 by James.

I couldn’t resist adding this photo… I think I can sometimes take peacocks for granted when they are wandering about at zoos and gardens begging for a bit of your sandwich, and I know we all often take our native or garden wildlife for granted, but when you stop and look closely at the colours and markings on a peacock, or even a starling, they are just amazing… it helps remind me in my work that ‘Natural’ colours and materials aren’t always muddy brown.

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04/11/2008 by James.

There’s good Zoos and bad Zoos, and when they’re good I think they can play an important role in education and conservation. They also give me a chance to re-inspire myself by making a visit to take photos and draw some of the beautiful animals kept and bred there.

Today I was at The Cotswold Wildlife Park nr. Burford, Oxfordshire, making quick sketches in the cold, getting back into drawing and getting away from the computer.

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02/11/2008 by James.

As usual the forest is looking beautiful, and gives me time and space to walk, dream and play with the falling leaves in the low Autumn sun.

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06/10/2008 by James.

I’ve been reading and following the tasks set by a book called ‘The Artists Way’ over the last 7 weeks or so, and its been a v. interesting and somewhat emotional experience!

The book takes you back through to the origins of your interest in ‘art’ and through the different creative and emotional blocks which stop you from reaching your potential in life, stemming from your education, upbringing etc.

Although I have been practicing as an artist for around 10 or 11 years, I haven’t always found it easy to maintain the balance between building a career in the participatory arts, and finding the time, energy and inspiration to be playful and creative in my own work.

At the moment I am choosing to take time to walk, and take photos but also to draw and paint … ‘reclaiming’ parts of myself that I’ve ignored for a while, after focusing on sculpture and participatory work during and since college.

Its great to be playing, exploring and discovering where I want to be going next with my own artwork; fusing together the artist and naturalist, the ‘jobs’ that I felt I had to choose between when I left school.

Have a look if you fancy going on a bit of a journey… ‘The Artists Way’ by Julia Cameron.