Published: 1st September 2022

The COVID lockdowns inspired many of us to take up new hobbies or embark on a creative journey. For Steyning artist Sarah Duffield, a pandemic side project has presented exciting new directions. Feeling that she was becoming “stuck” in her artistic approach, Sarah set herself a challenge. Every week for a year, she created a piece of art on a 15cm x 15cm canvas or board within a three hour window. Viewed collectively, the 52 pictures offer a unique representation of a strange time.

“I felt stuck in terms of what I was producing,” said Sarah. ‘Also, I wanted to capture fleeting images that stuck in my mind, whether it was waves crashing against a beach or sunlight shining through a woodland canopy. So, I called the project ‘Stuck’. “Some weeks, I found it difficult to motivate myself to do it, as I often started with no idea of what I would draw or paint. But by the end of the year, it was interesting to see how the changes of the seasons and my mood were reflected by the colour palette. Some pieces were dark pieces in charcoal, while others were  bright with swirling colours.” 

“On one occasion, I didn’t listen to the news for a whole week as I couldn't bear the negativity surrounding COVID. When I did switch it on, there was news of a vaccine and that must have altered my mindset, as that week my painting featured the sun breaking through clouds, offering a glimmer of hope. The project represents my emotional response to what happened, so it was a very cathartic exercise. I would always post my latest work on social media, along with a couple of paragraphs describing it, and it was fascinating how people engaged in the project.”

CISSBURY SILENCE

‘Stuck’ gave Sarah the freedom to experiment with a wider range of colours, tones and materials, while also offering a chance to explore new themes, particularly movement. Naturally, some pieces from the project are more impressive than others. Perhaps the most immediately striking is from week 14. Initially titled ‘The One Where Lockdown Finally Got To Me’ and now titled ‘When The Silence Gets Too Loud’, it is Sarah’s take on Cissbury Ring. Its expressive, free-flowing whirl of greys and blues contrast with the darkness of a lone tree.

“I’ve always thought the tree is a particularly lonely one,” said Sarah. “I have a photo of the spot shrouded in mist and on one particular week, the photo expressed perfectly the loneliness and confusion I felt. I didn't place anyone on the bench as I wanted people to imagine themselves there instead. Otherwise they’d wander what the person sat on the bench was thinking about. I want people to think about the tree and the stories it must have heard over the years.”

With the passing of time, the small pictures in the Stuck project might themselves be worthy of exhibition, charting as they do the emotional journey of an artist in unprecedented times. There are playful moments, while some of the 52 works reflect the boredom of lockdown. One image is a self portrait, depicting the artist switching off her computer and relaxing with a cup of tea.

FAMILIAR SCENES

Several of the pieces (including ‘When The Silence Gets Too Loud’) are now available as full-size paintings, with limited edition prints available too. It may be that ideas from the Stuck project influence the future direction of Sarah’s work too. 

Traditionally, her output has had a distinctive style: local landscapes depicted in bursts of bold colour. In addition to Cissbury Ring, many scenes will be familiar to those who enjoy the South Downs. Living in Steyning, Sarah does not need to travel far to see Chanctonbury Ring or coastal highlights such as the Seven Sisters. Although these places may be close to her heart, it is usually a feeling that sparks a painting...

“It is always something I see that draws me in,” said Sarah. “It could be light, colour or the shape of a landscape, but it’s an emotional feeling that dictates the colour palette of my work. I exaggerate colours and shapes as I love artists like David Hockney and Van Gogh, as the colour jumps out of their paintings. I have tones that crop up regularly and - oddly - some of my favourites come from the 1970s wallpaper in the house I grew up in!”

“Every piece is an emotional journey too. I always start a piece very excited, but the process takes so long that this excitement  wanes, as I might spend six hours painting 20 circles for a cluster of trees. When I finish a piece, I feel like I never want to see it again, but a day or two later, I’ll look at it once again and love it. I do have a love-hate relationship with my art!” 

COMING UNSTUCK

It remains to be seen exactly how the Stuck project will influence Sarah’s future output. Her landscapes may be abstracted by colour, but they do have an element of scale and features like Cissbury Ring are easily recognisable. Perhaps the project will inspire Sarah to develop a faster, more free-flowing approach to her time-consuming paintings, which some people wrongly think are photoshopped! But whatever happens, it has been a beneficial exercise...

“I have no doubt that I came out of lockdown a better artist,” she said. “I missed the excitement of being able to produce something new and the ‘Stuck’ project allowed me to do that once again.”

Further information at www.sduffieldart.co.uk

WORDS: BEN MORRIS / PICTURES: ALAN WRIGHT & SARAH DUFFIELD