Artist of the Month: Lyn Lording-Jones

Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members.

Our Artist of the Month for October is Visual Artist Lyn Lording-Jones, a painting, drawing and sketchbook artist in Penmaenmawr, North Wales

"Originally from Plymouth I was fired up by art at an early age through a very inspirational teacher. A painting or drawing was always on the go from the age of 16. A stint in art school and teacher training led to combining art practice alongside teaching English on the edge of desert in Iran and rain forest in Ghana both of which became major influences. I showed my work in a couple of exhibitions with another artist.

However, a long inactive period followed with health challenges compromising my ability to create anything at all and then an all consuming career in education tick tocked away the decades.

In 2014 a major health crises changed my life for ever and very slowly over several years, coming to terms with the ensuing changes, I crept towards my art practice again.

Now it is my passion once more - working within, around, between and through my disabilities, at times embracing it, at times laid low and frustrated by the limitations, but through adapting the way I work my art has appeared again. It may no longer be on large canvases, it may be small, it may be in a sketch book, I cannot extend and expand ideas in the way I used to or make marks for long but I try to accept that what I do is enough.

Positivity is not always easy to maintain of course with complex health problems. On good days I can sketch outside and sit at a table or easel for short periods. On other days it’s my sofa art time: my coffee table is laden with art materials and sketch books within reach and I can scribble and paint while ‘ailing’ on the sofa! Occasionally I’m not able to do any art at all for extended periods.

I mainly use water colour, water soluble media, pencils, pens and crayons. I also use oil sticks with lavender oil and oil pastels. Sketching and observation are my anchors and I have a load of sketch books on the go as well as working on boards and on various kinds of sheet paper.

I move between figurative and non-figurative art work and have different approaches depending on my energy levels and mood. Though I sketch anything and everything I am mainly influenced by nature in all her forms; the force, energy, movement, growth, decay, renewal all fascinate me. The process of noticing, seeing, engaging with, and responding to, the subject or feeling, feels like a meditation and connection.

Being fortunate to live in North Wales for 44 years I’ve been hugely influenced by my immediate natural environment. Natural frames fascinate me and the juxtaposition of natural and human-made… seeing peaceful, rural and agricultural landscape seen through, or framed by, dry stone walls, fences and barbed wire. These contrasts will inform part of my future work, but all the time I have to temper my enthusiasm, positivity and drive with realism in what I can do whilst staying as well as I can. Pacing myself can be very frustrating!

Since lockdown my online communities have been of huge value for support, encouragement and inspiration - the very active and instructive Art Tribe (Louise Fletcher) and my small Art Share group which sustains me daily. My son and daughter, both artists, influence, inspire and support me. Without them none of my art work would be happening.

Making art fulfils and grounds me, rescues me from mental lows and helps me connect with myself and the universe. I’ll always be grateful that it is a major part of my life once more."

Learn more about Lyn's work on her Instagram: @lynlordingjones.art