Blog #1 - Exploring in paint what cannot be articulated in the spoken word

Image: detail of part of my latest painting 'Playthings' at the University of Chester for my AA2A residency

I’m Chris, a 56 (almost) year old artist, married, with no kids; I have a dog, which is the closest I get to being a mum - and possibly (although currently undiagnosed) neurodivergent, the nature of which I am yet to discover. In any case, something is going on with me that isn’t ‘JUST’ the menopause that is finding its way out through my current work.

I’m using dolls as a metaphor for exploring some deep-seated issues I’ve had going on all my adult life that cannot be articulated in spoken words. I don’t like to bang on about it too much when it comes to trying to describe what I am doing as I’d rather leave it open to interpretation and let the viewer decide if the images I am creating resonate with them in any way.

Getting back to the neurodivergent thing - the more I find out about it, the more I feel I meet the profile. I have tried many times to articulate in words how I truly feel about the world and my place in it, but am yet to find ones with enough gravity, so I thank who or whatever governs these things, for my ability to paint and create my art.

I have been painting for over 20 years and, despite a few really promising high spots, I only recently decided to ‘get serious’ about it. Why now? ...well I reckon it's now or never. I never envisaged ever writing the words, 'at my age', but here I am - At my age, one must consider the finish line on the road ahead in relation to the starting pistol. Enough said there I think.

Ever the late to the party, I am only just starting to discover what it means to be an artist today and am enjoying my first fruitful foray into the big bad art world via a residency with the AA2A at the University of Chester. However, I am nearing the end of it and so currently working on the culminating exhibition in June this year. It has been nothing short of a revelation for me as, not only am I the oldest person in the studio, I am also the only one not working towards a degree. The fact that I also don't have a degree in the subject either, is also proving to be a bit of a coup! I never dreamed I would be welcomed into the lofty world of the established institution of a University, despite still feeling the sting of past rejection. Back in the day, I applied to two Universities after doing my Art Foundation, and was turned down both times. I was told at the time that I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to take on such a demanding endeavour and to re-apply in a few years time when I was more settled within myself. I am not going to lie, that hurt and crippled my confidence enough to make me believe that I should just forget about it and join the ranks of the grey box dwellers...which of course, I did and I suffered for it. I won't go on but nevertheless, painting and drawing, has always been my refuge and my way back to myself. Just the feeling of scratching lines of graphite onto a blank sheet of paper, has always proved more cathartic and soothing than any of the many therapies I have had down the years and probably why nowadays I am also an avid consumer of ASMR. Who knew!?

However, in my attempts to appease the artworld gatekeepers and cross the threshold of acceptance, it seems that I am biting off a lot more than I can comfortably chew and swallow, what with social media, websites and all that goes with it...this blog being only one. So, if somehow by the grace of the internet gods, you have stumbled across this (my first) blog post, and would like to know more about me and my work (because you are similar and quite like looking at art), please consider having a look around here and maybe even signing up to my mailing list?

Don't worry, I'm pretty useless at marketing, so you definitely won't be bombarded with emails...just one every now and again if and when I am doing something worth telling you about.

Thanks anyway for reading this far, I suspect you are a really decent human and very possibly an ally.

Here is the link to see my current project work at the University of Chester : https://www.christinegallagherartist.com/the-abandoned-doll-project

#figurativeArt #artAboutMemory #nostalgicArt #AA2AResidency #dollArt #outsiderArt #healingThroughArt #UniversityOfChester #socialClassInArt #traumaAndArt #UOC