Coming home
Going full circle finding new beginnings, inspiration, and defiant spirit in a magical corner of this island in the north Atlantic.
So, let’s recap! I’m writing this from my new home, a farmhouse with a veg farm overlooking the sea on the north coast of Cornwall, where I’ve been still (shock!) since May this year. I’ve been able to start to settle fully, and really dig in to being here in Cornwall. I’ve joined the Newquay Marine Club, to help out on beach cleans and regional shore surveys, and am starting to have conversations on using art locally to tackle environmental and climate issues. I’m daily dipping again - #39 today. I see faces I know in the water when I go out, I’ve joined a local football team, I spent the summer volunteering with Plymouth based Reclaim the Sea using my skills to advocate for what they do. Putting down these roots, and finding these communities has reignited my relationship with my home country in many ways, and it’s made me think a lot on the different ways I find inspiration.
Because to be brutally honest, I’ve spent a lot of time and energy over the last years in trying to move abroad long term, devising plans and strategies to move away from BrEx!t and our Tory government. But I’ve come full circle, and have found again the magic in the culture here on this island we’re on. It feels comfy, like sitting back into a squishy leather sofa, to be nestling back amongst the dry humour and careful conversation. Ambitious grassroots initiatives around conservation and blue health are plentiful, and that’s really held me here, my brain fizzes with inspiration from the spirit and resourcefulness of these groups that bring people together and having a common aim of making good things happen.
Deep Dive
In August I finished my MA using art to advocate for change (with a distinction!) and in turn my first self-directed immersive ‘Deep Dive’ program, spending 3 months within an non-profit organisation, Reclaim The Sea, who hold paddle board, surfing, and swimming sessions with a group of refugees and asylum seekers with sea trauma, developing a methodology of research, immersion, and co-creation to go deep into their work, and visually communicate the inner values and effects. The output from my Deep Dive with Plymouth based Reclaim The Sea was an installation that floats in the ocean, it celebrated the connection and support formed through a season of Reclaim The Sea sessions, and then went on to prompt conversations and awareness of what Reclaim do, through being on display at RE:SEAE at Nudge Community in Plymouth, and then on to Blue Earth Summit in October, where progressive business and organisation leaders will meet, all with a focus on improving the sustainability and health of our ocean. If you’re there - please drop me an email and lets grab a coffee!
The Deep Dive programme I’m so proud to have created is one that can be applied across cause led organisations, but also businesses that have strong community and mission-led values at their core. Coming in to the space initially as an outside visual communicator provides perspective, and then following with observation, participation and co-creation over a longer time frame feeds the creative outlet with the soul of the organisation. Resulting in a public facing piece, that is authentic and powerful and can be used as a tool for PR to social engagement. I’m truly excited about the future of these Deep Dives and the impact they can create.
Using art to advocate for change
I’ve been busy with illustration and mural projects this year: painting four murals since I last touched in, communicating themes of blue health, sustainability, and activism - nearly 100 sq meters overall! An installation on Woolacoombe cliffs, inviting the public to walk through coral and sea grass shapes. A mural workshop at The Wave for World Ocean Day for Schools with 90 inner-city kids, exploring what the ocean means to us, and the part we play in conserving it.
I illustrated a #PlasticFreeJuly campaign for wonderful solid skincare brand SBTRCT, and four covers for NB literary magazine.
With focusing on progressing as a environmentally conscious illustrator using art to advocate for change, I am this year also planning to undertake ethics training, and upskill around spotting greenwashing, something I believe increasingly vital in my role as a specialist visual communicator in this field.
Ways to work with me
Since I’ve been progressing quite a lot in how I work I thought lets do a refresh on the unique ways I offer illustration to individuals, businesses and organisations:
Illustration
Impactful illustration for ocean conservation and blue health campaigns, brands and publishers with a sustainability initiative, and beautiful educational infographics.
Murals
Murals and installation for premises, events, and the public realm. With a network of reliable and talented art assistants, I can (and love to!) go to large scale for both interior and exterior.
* New * Deep Dive immersive program
Working over a three month period with an organisation within ocean conservation or blue health to bring their meaningful values and ethos to the surface visually within the public realm, elevating their impact and prompting further conversation. All being well, if my funding application is approved - I am delighted to share I will start taking expressions of interest for my next 2024 placement in January, so please feel free to forward this to any relevant organisations who this would make a huge difference to!
* New * Talks and workshops
My mural workshop with World Ocean Day for Schools was an exciting example of using art to engage kids on environmental topics, and I’m thrilled to share I’m also starting a partnership with local Cornwall sustainable traditional wooden bellyboard crafter Potbelly boards - to offer intimate guided bellyboard painting workshops, taking inspiration from the ocean and the environment around us. The first one will be held on the organic farm, and I’ll be guiding you as we sketch from the seasonal veg to make a botanical design to paint onto our boards! I’m so excited about this partnership, as belly boarding is such an accessible of enjoying the ocean with no ego to be seen, and that’s what I’m all about.
I’ll initially be running these workshops in small groups of 8, offering the tickets first to you, my mailing list for 24 hours. You can also get in touch to enquire about workshops for business team-building as a blue health intiative, and private groups.
Just a quick one for what I’ve been inspired by recently:
Book recommendation: Sea Bean by Sally Holland
After 2 years of MA study, I finally read a book for pleasure again! It transported me to the rugged shetland islands, where the Atlantic meets the North Sea and ferocious salt scattered wind almost comes through the pages, I found it to be a perfect change of season nature read.
I’m aiming to get back to my monthly schedule now, so see you in November, and do reach out in the meantime if something here interests you, I’d love to chat.
Have a cosy (but wild) Sunday, Jasmine x