Amanda Coen Art: Behind the Scenes in the Studio: Latest Work Underway

The Murky Middle, Starting Again, and Other February Truths What’s happened in the studio this month? I think it’s fair to say February has fairly flown. All in agreement say “aye”. I say that partly to soften the blow of not having achieved quite as much art-wise as I’d hoped. That said, I have moved forward with my little muse painting, Little Peeping Cat. I’m firmly in the murky middle now and, if I’m honest, feeling slightly dissuaded from continuing. Not because I don’t want to - but because I want the thrill of it being finished. And that is...

Another month has passed and I’m feeling excited about the opportunity a new year brings - and a little trepidation too. January always surprises me. After all the excitement of Christmas and New Year, I feel relaxed and ready to hibernate, longing to immerse myself in paint, pencils and canvases. And yet… January is rarely as quiet or event-free as I imagine it might be. There’s always more going on than expected. Though I have been making time for painting and drawing, in fact I've a sketch on the go of Ed. That is, my husband Ed for those who...

There’s a very particular feeling that arrives in the quiet stretch between Christmas and the New Year. A soft pause. Full bellies, slower mornings, time spent in kitchens and around tables - and that gentle mental clearing where ideas start to float back in. This Christmas was a lovely one. Time with friends and family, lots of cooking and baking, plenty of sampling (purely for quality control, obviously), and a general sense of being well rested in spirit, if not always in body. It felt grounding -  especially by the fireside after a lovely day, exactly what was needed before...

Ah yes - winter is rolling in swiftly now. We’re cosying up the house, filling the larder with batch-cooked stews, curries, soups, and sauces ready for hearty dinners through the long dark evenings. Even the cat accommodation in the lean-to has been ramped up for those bitter nights, as it can so easily dip below freezing from now until March. And with all of that, I can feel a definite pull toward creative projects again - art-wise, I mean. Winter is always a fertile time for me creatively. I adore it. You’d be forgiven for thinking I’m forever creating something or...

It’s 4.45 pm on the 31st of October - Halloween. I hope you’re cosy and enjoying the start of the chilly season. I love this time of year, especially when everyone’s snug and safe, including the puddy-tats. I’ve just made a huge vat of cucumber soup and vegetable curry for the freezer. I know - cucumber soup? But we recently cleared the glasshouse of all that was left: tomatoes, gherkins, and a mountain of crystal apple cucumbers. They’re not the nicest, but the small ones are quite sweet, and I hate waste. So, I invented a cucumber-and-veg concoction. It’s definitely...