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

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...

Autumn is settling in - crisp air, hearty stews, and cosy evenings by the fire. I’m very much here for it. Are you the same? The Autumn season always makes me want to nest in, create, and dream big. Oh Yeah. But before the dreamy bits, there’s the practical: I’ve been knee-deep in taxes these past few weeks. A conversation starter, it is not! Tackling it in dribs and drabs has stretched it out far too long, and every time I sit down something else distracts me. Do you blame me?.. Working from home is like that. Still, I wouldn’t...

A month has gone by and here I am with no more art completed or if I'm honest even touched on in an actual sense. I thought I would scoot past this self-imposed obligation of completing an Art blog post each month chronicling the ups and downs of my ‘practice’. This ‘should’ be coupled with a bright little email to my trusty and much valued supporters. Instead of avoiding this altogether for this month, I have decided to come clean. Explain. Not by way of an excuse but to show how it can sometimes be,  in a creative life, at...

‘Stop Indulging in the Overwhelm’ If there’s one habit I’m determined to shake, it’s this: indulging in the overwhelm. Ever heard the phrase? I repeat it to myself daily - my little mantra to keep things on track. A YouTube creator recently reminded me that we can spend every day tackling the so‑called 'urgent' stuff - emails, SEO and website tweaks, endless admin. They’ll keep you busy for ever more, but they won’t necessarily move you forward. If the busy work isn’t bringing you closer to your goals, it’s time to pause, look up, and decide what will. I used...