Page 21 - ALG Issue 3 2016

Artists Corner...
Allotments – an inspiring journey – Chris Cyprus
In spring 2005, I was out walking with my camera searching for inspiration after a cold, dark winter being cooped up in the studio. At that time I had a passion for old garages and garden sheds found at the back of terraced houses. There was something fascinating about them; the muted colours and aky textures evoked memories of long hot summers.
Alone in the low afternoon light of early springtime, I got a scent of wood smoke which led me to an allotment where I found Melvin, who seemed to have the whole place to himself, working away on his plot in a world of his own, digging and raking the remnants of a long winter.
I had recently been to visit the South of France, staying in the town of Arles, where Van Gogh lived and painted many studies of the harvest, elds and workers. This
left a lasting impression on me and it was there that I realised that being an artist was a life choice, and to be successful was to dedicate one’s life to it.
That day on the allotment all the elements came together to inspire a new body of work. Beautiful landscape, still life, buildings, gures, and crumbling sheds. I immediately rushed back to my studio; I was hooked.
“There’s a kind of nostalgia surrounding allotments that evoke images of grandads in vests with at caps. This is a stereotypical view that is not a true
re ection of modern
day allotments, but
there is still something
quintessentially English
about allotments along
with the people’s friendly
banter that inspires me
to paint them.”
In 2007, I was introduced to Bob Andrew, a life-long allotment holder at a local allotment site. I sat for hours in his shed, chatting and listening to stories and an hour
later I was on the waiting list for my own plot! It is great to see my six year old son
Drew helping out and growing his own
You can’t rush a good cabbage, or a good painting!
produce. The other obvious bene ts of fresh air, regular exercise
and a general feeling
of well-being are an added bonus. Having
a place to escape
to, a sanctuary to
contemplate the balance of life and nature is good for the soul.
You can’t rush a good cabbage, or a good painting!
http://www2.chriscyprus.com/
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