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  • Art groups | Studio Upstairs - Creative Therapy

    DONATE ART GROUPS MEMBERSHIP Covid-19 Update: with compliance with the social distancing rules and government guidance our studios are now open. New members can book visits or register their interest in Remote Support. ​ Studio Members attend to develop their own artwork in the shared studio and to participate in community life including social events and exhibitions. There is an initial discussion of their goals, followed by reviews and separate opportunities for group and individual discussions on diverse topics. ​ Studio Members have opportunities for their work to be promoted online and through exhibitions, take part in organised events and outings to museums and galleries. ​ The group is overseen by two Studio Managers. There are coffee/ tea making facilities, Wi-Fi and some art materials are provided. Additional specialist materials, art boxes, and portfolios are available for purchase. OUR MEMBERS SAY “To be able to share a space for seven hours a day is both a privilege and a luxury. Studio Upstairs is a community of committed artists who respond to each other with sympathy, support and respect. Not only is this true of the members but also of the studio managers who, as well as promoting interaction, make their own work when time permits thus removing a ‘them and us’ or therapist/client relationship. Consequently, I feel safe sharing my struggles, doubts and difficulties as well as my achievements. Feelings, however muddled or negative, are accepted as material for discussion. I am never judged.” “I have never found anything that helped me until I came to Studio Upstairs. I’ve grown so much in the last year.” BOOK A VISIT Please only use this form if you have been offered a visit. If you have not yet contacted us to advise your interest in Studio Upstairs membership, please firstly fill in our referral form or get in touch with us using our contact form.

  • Get in touch | Studio Upstairs - Art Therapy Workshops

    DONATE GET IN TOUCH SEND US A MESSAGE First Name Last Name Email Message I am interested in the Studio at Bristol North London South London I accept terms & conditions Send Thanks for submitting! STUDIO LOCATIONS Bristol Units 1 & 2 Albion Dockside Estate, Hanover Place, Bristol BS1 6UT Telephone: 0117 930 0314 Email: bristolstudio@studioupstairs.org.uk ​ North London Studio Unit 211, Bradbury Works 3 Bradbury Street, London N16 8JN Telephone: 020 7503 1330 Email: londonstudio@studioupstairs.org.uk ​ South London Studio 82 London Road, Croydon, CR0 2TB Telephone: 020 8616 5440 Email: southlondon@studioupstairs.org.uk

  • As a business | Studio Upstairs

    DONATE HOW to support us ENGAGE YOUR COMPANY Align with Studio Upstairs as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility and you will be making a difference to many people experiencing mental health difficulties and emotional distress. A charity partnership with Studio Upstairs will not only help provide a safe and therapeutic environment to facilitate healing and growth for many in our community, but could: Raise your brand profile Engage your clients Improve CSR Differentiate your product/brand from competitors Generate media coverage Improve brand loyalty Boost staff morale and satisfaction There are many ways you can engage with Studio Upstairs: PAYROLL GIVING Make your money make a difference and work for a good cause .Your pledge of £10 will cost you £8 as a basic taxpayer, £6 as a higher rate taxpayer and only £5 if you pay the highest rate of tax. The scheme offers potential employer match-funding, which benefits all parties: Supporting your choice and fundraising as donor. Increases your donation to Studio Upstairs. Your employers will enjoy improved Corporate Social Responsibility, boosting employee morale, team-building, which aids recruitment. Company donations are tax deductible. Tax relief on company donation. Provides a reliable income stream for Studio Upstairs. Making Studio Upstairs your office charity of the year redoubles your gift and will very much help extend the reach of our work and establish regular artistic activity nationwide. ​ Giveall2Charity is approved and monitored by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for the purposes of Payroll Giving. EMPLOYEE FUNDRAISING By fundraising for Studio Upstairs you are not only raising crucial funds to support adults facing challenging circumstances, you are also telling other people about Studio Upstairs and your belief in its work. You can put together a fun and impactful page to support your fundraising activity on our Kindlink Donate Page which you can link to your Facebook and other social media pages. You could even hire one of our spaces , run a competition for a piece of our artists work , auction artwork at one of your work events or buy some of our artists artwork for your office walls? ​ Find out more about Kathleen's story and our impact and see how your money can support people like her. DONATE CORPORATE DONATION Provide either full or part-funding for one of our projects or our work in general, knowing that you will be significantly changing lives through creative recovery for those who need it most. ​ Some of our projects include: ​ Art Lifelines - a social prescribing project for Merton residents Open Your Art - An abundance of artworks have appeared in waiting rooms, along platforms and railings at South Croydon station. The rail company GTR approached Studio Upstairs, inviting us to help improve the look and feel of South Croydon Station. A diverse group of artists, all members of Studio Upstairs, responded to a call for artworks that would comfort, inspire, and connect with people passing through the busy suburban station. The art trail of images includes striking large-scale posters, intimate and reflective pieces, art with a tongue-in-cheek message, plus a cosmos of colourful bubble-shaped stickers. How Does it Feel - An online exhibition responding to Covid19 Lockdown. ​ GET IN TOUCH WELLBEING WORKSHOPS FOR EMPLOYEES Does your organisation or business need a creative boost? Why not spend some time with us in the studio to inspire productivity and creative problem solving. We provide interactive, artistic well-being workshops and days designed to nurture creative thinking, explore ways to generate ideas and encourage team building in a fun, friendly and informal environment. Alternatively, if you would prefer to host your own workshop at your place of work, why not purchase our art boxes and create your own studio experience? Our kits are mess free and easy to follow; Perfect for professional environments. WORK WITH US

  • Our Supporters | Studio Upstairs

    DONATE OUR SUPPORTERS ​ Studio Upstairs is proud to recognize the generous partners, donors and sponsors who make our work possible: PATRON - LEO BURLEY My name is Leo Burley and I am a documentary film-maker born, and still living in, North London. I began my career making films about British art and artists and still have a strong connection to the visual arts. I’ve also made several films which have explored mental health, most recently the Bafta-nominated BBC documentary Life After Suicide which won best TV programme at the 2015 Mind Media Awards. I am therefore hugely supportive of Studio Upstairs, a grassroots charity that for over 30 years has been supporting people with mental health difficulties to explore their own creativity through art therapy and creative projects. Their work is crucial in helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society become empowered through making art. Their studios in Dalston, Croydon and Bristol provide a safe and calm space where people can develop as artists in their own right and challenge mental health stigma. I cannot emphasise enough the significance of giving individuals access to mutually supportive group environments and the difference that creative opportunities can make in improving people’s long-term mental health. BECOME A PATRON

  • T&Cs including Refund Policy | Studio Upstairs

    TERMS & CONDITIONS INCLUDING REFUND policy Including Privacy Policy, Delivery and Refunds Studio Upstairs Online Shop Studio Upstairs aims to create a platform for artists at all stages of their career by providing an online resource for artworks. The funds from the donated percentage of the final sale price will go towards supporting the core work of the charity. Payments We accept payment via PayPal, Credit Cards and Stripe. Prices, offers and products are subject to availability and may change. Prices will be charged in GBP. ​ Delivery All delivery costs are payable by the buyer unless there is an offer for free delivery. Free delivery cost will be met by the artist. If the artist leaves the work to be posted by Studio Upstairs, this will happen only with prior written agreement and the cost of postage and packaging will be taken from the payment for the artwork, added to the commission and the remaining amount will be released to the artist once the artwork is delivered and kept by the buyer. Delivery costs will vary depending on the size, weight and insurance. The Buyer needs to contact the studio if they wish to collect the artwork in person from its current location or if enquiring about international delivery. ​ All artwork stored at the Bristol studio will be packed by our team in Bristol, UK and will be dispatched within 5 working days of receipt of your order. Artworks will be dispatched via Royal Mail Special Delivery or Parcelforce, so that they can be tracked and signed for on receipt. ​ We take every care to ensure that the purchase from us reaches the buyer safely. We attempt to give a clear representation of the products on our website providing detailed images and information about the medium and sizing. ​ Returns, Refunds & Cancellations We will provide tracking details as applicable for the postage purchased. All sales are final and we cannot issue refunds unless the items was not received or not as described. ​ Cancellation by Studio Upstairs We reserve the right to cancel any order if: one or more of the goods you ordered was listed at an incorrect price due to error or if the artwork has already been sold. In this case we will notify you by email and refund any money credited to us from your account within 30 days. We will not be liable to pay any additional compensation for disappointment suffered. ​ Data Protection We take a responsible approach to data protection and never pass on your details to third parties, from time to time we may use your details to inform you of exhibitions etc., if you do not wish to receive any communications please indicate this when placing your order. FAQs ​ How will my order be packaged? We have different packaging methods depending on the size of the order which we have carefully considered to ensure that your purchase arrives in pristine condition, as well as being the most cost effective for you. Can I see the artwork in real life before purchasing? Artworks are located in either Bristol and London, if you wish to see any artworks for sale before purchasing it may be possible to arrange a visit, please contact the studios to enquire if and when this is possible. ​ I wish to commission an artwork - what should I do? If you would like to commission an artwork, please speak to a member of staff who will be happy to discuss the possibilities with you. ​ Please contact us via telephone or email with any further queries or problems. ​ ​ ​

  • What We Do | Studio Upstairs - Art Studios in London

    DONATE WHAT WE DO ART GROUPS Studio Members attend to develop their own artwork in the shared studio and to participate in community life including social events and exhibitions. LEARN MORE WORKSHOPS We run regular art workshops across our studios in North and South London and Bristol and also online. Classes include painting, sculpture, drawing, illustration, mixed media and creative writing. LEARN MORE EXHIBITIONS Studio Upstairs runs exhibitions across our 3 sites in North and South London and Bristol to highlight the work of our artists and spread awareness about the charity. ​ ​ ​ LEARN MORE SELLING YOUR ARTWORK Selling your artwork provides resources for us to sell via our website and at our gallery in Croydon. The sales commission and any donated percentage of the sale price will go towards supporting the work of the charity. ​ LEARN MORE SPACE HIRE Our studios in Dalston, Croydon and Bristol are great spaces for business and community workshops and events. We have studios, meeting rooms and workshop rooms for hire. ​ LEARN MORE TAILORED SUPPORT Please email us if you are interested in one to one tailored support. ​ ​ CONTACT US

  • Referrals | Studio Upstairs

    DONATE REFERRALS ART THERAPEUTIC GROUPS: STUDIO MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA We accept referrals for adults (18+) with Care Plans from all London Local Authorities as well as from the Authorities in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. ​ Remote support is not dependent on location, though will require the member to have internet access. The membership through the local authorities is funded either through Direct Payments or Personal Budgets. Referrals can be made by GP's, Occupational or Art Therapists, Community Mental Health Team, Support Workers, Social Workers or Psychiatrists as well as through partner agencies in the voluntary sector. We have broad criteria as our aim is to be as inclusive and destigmatising as possible. Our Members are people living with severe and enduring mental health needs including mild learning difficulties. ​ People are required to be: Motivated to attend, to improve their wellbeing, to contribute to the group and engage with artmaking in a regular pattern A low level of risk to self and others We cannot offer placement for people with the following as they are unlikely to benefit: Significant psychosocial or physical health factors which prevent engagement in regular psychological therapy Active risk of harm to self/ current suicidal intent or a recent suicide attempt, or still in crisis Active risk of harm to others or recent history of violence Active symptoms of psychosis or manic/hypomanic episodes Personality traits that would make engagement with the Studio difficult for the other members Drug and alcohol misuse at a level of misuse likely to prevent engagement with the studio community Where ongoing home visits are required HOW TO REFER SOMEONE OR SELF REFER ​ Please complete the referral form below. After completion, we will arrange an initial visit to discuss the plan and complete the membership agreement. If you are interested in becoming a member of Studio Upstairs and self-fund your attendance, please use the form on this page. If places are available we will arrange an initial visit to discuss fee options. Other Groups we currently run include: Social Prescribing: Online Art Group - 12x sessions; Creative Writing (Bristol) Those groups are for people with a lower level of need, for wellbeing and prevention. People are usually joining through the social prescribing teams or are self-referring. The groups are in 12-week blocks unless stated otherwise. Not sure if Studio Upstairs is the appropriate service? If you feel unsure about how someone may benefit from becoming a Studio Member please feel welcome to contact us by email to arrange a phone call with a Studio Manager (Art Therapist) to explore further.

  • Studio Upstairs | Art Therapy Workshops - Leading Creative Recovery

    DONATE CREATE. GROW. BELONG. Anchor 1 What we do We provide art studios and positive, life-changing interventions for people with mental or emotional difficulties. We will support you to enhance your well-being and health, reinforce and recharge your creativity through art. ART MEMBERSHIPS JOIN A WORKSHOP TAILORED SUPPORT INVEST IN OUR ART Quick View Angie Jack: Mona Lisa Price £415.00 Quick View Angie Jack: Landscape Price £188.00 Quick View Studio Inside: Printing With Light – Large Box Price £39.00 Quick View Studio Inside: Printing With Light – Introduction Box Price £12.99 Quick View Angie Jack: The Tea of Life Price £315.00 Quick View Hayley Hellings - Sunflowers - Still Life Price £180.00 1 2 3 ... 13 SHOP ARTISTS WORK ART AT HOME Do you like drawing or painting, yet lack inspiration? Do you feel that you need a guiding hand to get you started - or take you further? Do you feel that using your creativity is a way to calm your mind? Our art boxes bring a regular experience of guided art delivered to your home. BUY A BOX HOLD A WORKSHOP "I have tried a lot of different therapies but nothing has helped like Studio Upstairs has" SU Member "Studio Upstairs is the foundation stone of my life that helps to keep me safe, stable and sane." SU Member "Studio Upstairs is my harbour in a violent storm. Without it I would be in a much worse state" SU Member "SU has been the most meaningful intervention in my mental health support that I can remember" SU Member Subscribe to the Newsletter What studio are you interested in? North London South London Bristol Email Join Our Mailing List Thanks for subscribing. Subscribe FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

  • Our Story | Studio Upstairs

    DONATE OUR STORY 1988 Studio Upstairs is founded Studio Upstairs was set up as a project in October 1988. The co-founders were Douglas Gill, Claire Manson and Jo Hill. The Studio became an associate of Diorama Arts. It opened for one day a week until in three years it was open five days a week. The studio's mission at the time was to create art in the public arena. The studio artists choose how to describe themselves and their work. The working team and the members discussed their work together at regular reviews. They also exhibited together.

  • Privacy Policy | Studio Upstairs

    privacy policy ​ Who we are: ​ Studio Upstairs is a UK registered charity (105890) providing positive, life-changing interventions for people with mental or emotional difficulties within an artistic therapeutic community. ​ Our commitment to you: ​ Studio Upstairs is committed to looking after your personal data. We will: Comply with our legal obligations on data protection, Carefully look after any personal data that we hold or use, and Be open and transparent about how we do this. ​ ​ Types of data we collect on this site: ​ Cookies Like most websites, Studio Upstairs uses cookies to collect information. Cookies are small data files which are placed on your computer or other devices (such as smartphones or tablets) as you browse this website. They are used to ‘remember’ when your computer or device accesses our website. Cookies are essential for the effective operation of our website and are used by services we make use of to provide a better experience to you when using our site. ​ The services that we use that place their own cookies on our site are provided by: Google LLC – The cookies that are in place from Google are used for the analytics data and the anti-spam measures we have in place on our contact and newsletter subscription forms. ​ Google Analytics Like most websites, this site uses Google Analytics (GA) to track user interaction. We use this data to determine the number of people using our site, to better understand how they find and use our web pages and to see their journey through the website. Although GA records data such as your geographical location, device, internet browser and operating system, none of this information personally identifies you to us. We send a partial record of your IP address to GA with the last few characters or “octet” removed, this reduces the ability for anyone to use this to identify an individual. ​ GA makes use of cookies, details of which can be found on Google’s developer guides . Disabling cookies on your internet browser will stop GA from tracking any part of your visit to pages within this website. ​ Newsletter As part of the registration process for our regular e-newsletter, we only collect your name and email address. We use Mailchimp to send out the newsletter, and your details will be held on Mailchimp’s servers in the USA. Mailchimp has signed up to the EU-US Privacy Shield , which is one of the approved international agreements for protecting the data of EU citizens. We only send you our newsletter with your consent. We gather statistics around newsletter opening and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our newsletter. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time of the day or night by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our newsletters. ​ Donors We keep very limited information about our individual donors (enough to enable us to thank them and to comply with money laundering obligations). We currently use PayPal to process donations and sales. ​ Online Shop We can only provide the goods and services ordered by you if you provide us with your personal data. The information we collect from customers when making a purchase from our store is used for billing, administration and order fulfilment purposes only and will be kept entirely confidential. Any contact information collected will expressly be contact details and payment information (such as credit or debit card). Where we use certain third parties to carry out tasks on our behalf such as delivering consignments, sending emails and processing credit card payments, these third parties have access to this information purely on the basis of conducting tasks on Studio Upstairs’ instructions, not for their own use. ​ Types of data we collect elsewhere: ​ Members of the public we provide services to: If you join one of our services we will give you full details about how we will use and look after your personal information. We normally do this by giving you a consent form. ​ Professional networks Like many organisations, we keep contact details of people in our professional networks, for example people from organisations that we collaborate with, people we meet at conferences, etc. Our professional networks are very important to us, as they enable us to build alliances. We store this data in Mailchimp. We have decided that we have a legitimate interest in holding this information, and that is the lawful basis we are using to process this data. You can ask us to delete any data we hold about you by emailing info@studioupstairs.org.uk , and we will action this request within 10 days. We also clean up our contacts database at least once a year by deleting out of date contact information or by updating records, for example where people have moved into different roles. ​ Job applicants and Volunteers If you apply for a job or volunteer role at Studio Upstairs, we look after the information that you send us and we store it securely. For unsuccessful candidates, we delete this information after 6 months, unless you’ve asked us to keep your CV on file. ​ EU’s General Data Protection Regulation We have updated our data protection policy to ensure that we comply with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We’ve undertaken a data audit, so that we know what personal information we hold and process, and we’ve documented our lawful bases for processing personal data. We have also been checking that our online systems and databases are GDPR-compliant, and we’ve reviewed the security of our different storage systems. ​ If you need further information or if you have a complaint: ​ If you have any questions about how we look after people’s personal information, or if you have a complaint about how we are handling your data, please get in touch with us at info@studioupstairs.org.uk We will try our best to answer your questions or resolve your complaint. Changes to this Privacy Notice This privacy policy may change from time to time in line with legislation or industry developments. We will not explicitly inform our clients or website users of these changes. Instead, we recommend that you check this page occasionally for any policy changes. April 2019 ​

  • Join a Workshop | Studio Upstairs

    DONATE JOIN A WORKSHOP We run regular art workshops across our studios in north and south London and Bristol and also online. Classes include painting, drawing, sculpture, illustration, life drawing, mixed media and creative writing are launching at our studios soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to find out about upcoming workshops.

  • Gallery | Studio Upstairs

    Gallery Click on a name below to take you to the project: Art Lifelines Open Your Art Art Lifelines How Does it Feel Art Lifelines This artwork is from our social prescribing project for Merton residents. The project was funded by Healthy London Partnership, Arts Council and the Mayor of London as a pilot social prescribing programme, helping improve people’s mental health and wellbeing through creativity. *The project was funded by Healthy London Partnership, Arts Council and the Mayor of London as a pilot social prescribing programme, helping improve people’s mental health and wellbeing through creativity. How Does it Feel? Freedom Stroll - Tracy Eaton After what seemed like an eternity stuck in the Covid lockdown, being able to go back to the park made me feel free. Magdalene - Thomas Etheridge Watercolours & Gouache Woods - Rinal Patel Eye - Rados Eyes speak more than words. Eyes as intimate conversation of the soul. Heal - Sukaina Juma I wanted to use bright colours that would appeal to the eye on first sight and to use patterns to add texture. It was very therapeutic to create this piece, as it has been a while since I have made art work. Horse - Rados Family Crest Matters - Consuela Lewinson Thomas in Chocolate - Rinal Patel The Fox Muse - Tracy Eaton Rediscovering pointillism during the first Covid lockdown, I made a new foxy friend who comes to see me in the garden. Relaxing - Uzi Imran It was about mandalas, it was an easy start to go into the project. It was so relaxing, it eases your mind. As long as you have all your materials in front you can get started, it can help you forget the world around you. I’d recommend it to anybody. Fiery - Sukaina Juma I drew this after a dance movement therapy session which brought up a lot of difficult emotions to process. I began with a mandala design, but then intuitively I drew large strokes and fire to express myself. I felt a huge emotional release after this was complete. Not As Seems - Shardz This piece of art is my representation of the saying "behind closed doors". In the part of the image where the door is shut, we can see through it and everything seems normal, but as we open the door, we see the image in its true state. Torn. The hand opening the door represents us, looking in to understand situations that may be overlooked at a first glance. Uzi - Uzi Imran Mixed media portrait. The magazine I ended up using was all about food, so that sums me up. It says everything about me. It is important to me, as I need to lose weight, which means that I have anxiety. Blue - Consuela Lewinson Blue is a colour I love but a feeling I don't! Merman - Thomas Etheridge Watercolours & Gouache Comfort In Nature - Shardz Where the world is viewed as a concrete jungle of corruption, we can seek and find comfort in the natural world that still lives on. This was a fun piece to make as it incorporated a political cartoon narrative outside the windows, but counteracts that with the warm colours of the naturistic rug. In Between - Genevieve Collier I moved home in between the two groups that made up the Merton pilot project. Towards the end of the 12 weeks, we ran a session on creating an image from found objects and discarded bits. By this time, I had very little left around me. The image is made of objects from my flat and the Thames foreshore nearby, loosely bound by some orange thread. The two halves perhaps indicate having one foot in two different places. Open Your Art An abundance of artworks have appeared in waiting rooms, along platforms and railings at South Croydon station. The rail company GTR approached Studio Upstairs, inviting us to help improve the look and feel of South Croydon Station. A diverse group of artists, all members of Studio Upstairs, responded to a call for artworks that would comfort, inspire, and connect with people passing through the busy suburban station. The art trail of images includes striking large-scale posters, intimate and reflective pieces, art with a tongue-in-cheek message, plus a cosmos of colourful bubble-shaped stickers.The artists in this exhibition are members, volunteers and workers from Studio Upstairs. We are a therapeutic arts community with studios in Croydon, Dalston and Bristol. We support people experiencing mental health difficulties to find artistic expression and personal creativity. *This exhibition has been generously supported by: Southern Print Foundry Lab, LION Picture Framing Supplies Ltd, Kit Oates Photography Also, huge thanks to: Sarah Dean, Snapped Arts; Mary Gauthier, songwriter; Andy Keane, installer and Whitney at South Croydon Open Your Art Mercy Now - Andrew Mead Subterr-tr-ainia - James Squire Sunny Shard - Devi Raste Armour - Edgar Causey Cloud Streets - Toria Lamb Worry Train - Jake-Summer Shared Ovation - Andrew Whitely To Do Today - Toria Lamb & Andrew Mead The Magic of the World in a Dewdrop - Etty Mathews Warm Up Memories Plz 5T2 - James Squire You Have Done Nothing Wrong - Nicola Field Lady meditating at the well - Sandra Wills Tractor in a Field - David Fried Untitled - Sarah Lott Daisy - Grazyna Kaminska Reach Out Be Loved - Toria Lamb Queen Nigella - Maria Vila Unicorns - Sara Dean Tree Question - Nicola Field Ouroboros - Emma White Breathe - Patsy McMahon Lily - Kevin Francis Walk on the Water - RSJ Space for you - RH Berrrrle Prrr India Arrrecatacha Perrrrlanca Dedo Lili Piquenha Lapariga - Vera Freire How Does it Feel How Does It Feel? Online Exhibition responding to COVID19 Lockdown Covid-Contained - Etty Mattews, Watercolour, 76x58cm This work began on 31.03.20 as part of a group response to the lockdown. It is chronological response to a weekly art psychotherapy group and my feelings around being contained by the virus but by finding the art work emotionally containing. Cornered - Brem Locke, Watercolour, 76x58cm I decided to try and make a painting without brushes and decided on kitchen roll as it’s been in short supply. I tried to capture the feeling of being trapped inside the house and not really knowing what is going on outside of the window. I’ve definitely felt the isolation and strangeness of the lockdown and I know everybody else feels it too. Staying at Home - Carrie, Watercolour & pens, 21x29cm I drew my experience of each week during lockdown. This week was spent growing different things – I now have 16 plants, but they’ve brought a little serenity to this scary experience! I've had to learn to tolerate my own company somehow, and nature has helped. Time Stamp of Loss - Fazila Virmani, Mixed Media, 21x15cm It has been a year of immense loss with so much coming to an end abruptly. I lost my father and whilst I was and still grieving, there came this pandemic that shook the world. I went through further losses; loss of health, loss of working, loss of graduation and university environment. Amidst all of this I lost myself too. Free-weeling This piece is pure, mindless, plan-less doodle. The point was not the final product, but the act of making. Doodling helps me feel calm and focused, which can be hard sometimes during lockdown. I haven’t doodled in years, and lockdown gave me the opportunity to remember how much I enjoy it. Save Lives - Grazyna, Photography, 40x30cm I am a strong believer in artworks talking for themselves however I do take into account how important the back story may be and how much it may add emotionally to any image ; how appreciative audiences may be when symbols and objects or sources of inspiration for individual pieces are explained . This image is self - explanatory today and I wonder what its lifespan may be in the dystopian future. Suspended - Genevieve Collier, Magazine print & acrylic paint, 40x50cm There has been an underlying sense of waiting around in the dark, not knowing anything for certain during the pandemic. The tarot image of the Hanged Man is usually suspended upside down, voluntarily surrendering to forces for change that are coming but not yet understood. Lily Flowers - Vera Freire, Wire, Enamel Paint, 30x70cm I went to the park and I saw the flowers which make me think of isolation. I was inspired by the flowers because I could not go anywhere else. I was feeling claustrophobic at home, and the Studio Upstairs group online has made me feel better. Thanks to the group, I was inspired to use wire at home. Godzilla - Jerry Bayley, Acrylic on Card This is a piece l painted at the Studio Upstairs . I've always loved the image of GODZILLA a 500 ft creature that saves our planet from other Monsters. It's a bit like the way scientists are saving people from the Covid -19 virus if you imagine it as a destructive monster. GODZILLA is the saviour of humanity . He is a kind of metaphor for an anti virus. Subjective - Kayleigh Ditchburn, Acrylic, 29x30cm Initially I envisioned creating a waterfall, I then turned it upside down and a volcano also appeared. I found this piece evolving into different things depending on what the viewer was experiencing. What can you see? Locked Eyes - Harriet Muncey, Acrylic on Paper, 29x42cm Like many of my lockdown projects, this isn’t actually finished. I’ve spent so many hours in online meetings staring at people in little boxes - including myself - unable to access those particular moments of satisfying connection when you make eye contact with another human. This is me, locking eyes with myself, really trying to see what’s behind them. Inside the Studio - Toria, Oil Paint, 30x45cm It was the first still life I have made and it was to give me a piece of the studio life whilst at home. X-Cert - Jake Summer, Video Stills & Photoshop grading and stencilled signs This is an excerpt and promotional image from the film I have been compiling to record life during lockdown, wherever possible I have used an experimental and performance art approach, currently editing many hours of footage which both documents the lockdown in an informative, provocative, subversive and entertaining way. Number 21 - Zoё Rebecca, Marbling Ink, 10x15cm I enjoy marbling because no matter how much you do (such as choosing colours and how you arrange them), you can never quite control the outcome. The finished product is always a surprise. Marbling has allowed me to process these feelings that are mirrored in my reality today. Thank You Without Words -Mel, Digital Is the British sign for Thanks. I have been working in ASC base and have not been 'creative' as such. this was the outcome of how to use a drawing tablet, trying to block external noise and trying to focus on positives. I've made a collection of them. In thanks to a boy I worked with 11 years ago, after months of no response , showed me care. It was a 'moment' and all I could say was thank you'.. Strife - Michael Bacon, Pen and Inks, 20x29cm I created the work whilst experiencing inner conflict of the restrictions we are all bound by and the escalating layers of society. In response the work became busy and confusing to follow with altered perspectives on a subtle scale. The Painted Drum - Jane Deaking I painted my drum yesterday, Much of the darkness of this time and also the beauty was expressed in this. Today is the dark moon. I feel much better than I have for many days. Making this has healed me in a way. I have wanted to do this for the Longest time. I like it It is deep and elemental. Shamanic, quite dark but with accents of light. Just like any shamanic journey It takes you with its rhythm and beauty to a deeper place. Speechless - Yasmine Matrinez, Charcoal & Pencil, 29x21cm There’s too much to think about and too many hours to think it in but it doesn’t feel like there’s ever enough time to talk about it. Suspended - Thomas Etheridge, Mixed Media, 10x15cxm This mermaid appeared at a time of high levels of stress and something about her face motivated me to continue working on the image. I used a found image of plants as a background and enjoyed playing with layering imagery. Thoughts As Faces - Rosie, Watercolour, 21x29cm Letting go of some tension by releasing a few of those dark moments. You are not your thoughts, but an observer. Peribat - Del Oldham, Acrylic on canvas, 30x30cm This is one in a series of pieces on a heart theme carrying the title ‘Peribat'; latin for Unrequited. The storm reflects much of how I feel a lot of the time, especially during lockdown. Superman Versus Dragon - John, Pencil on Paper, 28x20cm This is my expression about what is happening in the world today, re. the virus. Another title could be “The War of the World”. The Virus is represented by the Dragon, and Superman represents all the good forces fighting the Virus. I suffer from Paranoid Schizophrenia. Mental Health Stigma - Julie Tsiricos, Collage, 42x29cm wanted to show the difference between what people think about mental illness and what it is really like. I have bipolar which has less stigma than schizophrenia. I work in collage. Sunflowers - Hayley Hellings I mainly create abstract art, but sometimes still life. I use all forms of art materials and enjoy experimenting with new materials and techniques. Burnout - Anna Brown, Wood, 30cm

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