In 2019, before the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world, I had the pleasure of meeting Penny Day in Lisbon. We were both Open College of the Arts (O.C.A.) students on a group trip to the Paula Rego Museum. Little did we know that our connection would lead us on a collaborative journey, fusing our disciplines into experimental and hybrid artwork.
Martine Elliott's image - Group photo of O.C.A. students and tutors in Lisbon 2019
Fast forward to 2023, and Penny and I arranged to meet in Oxford at the Ashmolean Museum, ready to embark on our creative endeavour. Our plan was simple yet filled with intrigue: I would provide Penny with one of my paintings, and she, being a textile student, would add her artistic touch to my creation. We were curious to see where our collaboration would take us, eager to explore the unknown territory between painting and textile art.
Martine Elliott's images of O.C.A students meeting at The Ashmolean Museum Oxford U.K. May 2023 and the exchange of packaged painting.
The painting I offered Penny was inspired by my travels through Andalusia, a place that held a special significance for me. On the back of the canvas, I had written words from my travel diary, capturing the essence of my experience:
"Dusty dirt tracks and hairpin bends take us to a Finca. Dogs bark as we pass by. The air is dry, and the heat is oppressive. We eventually arrive at Finca de Los Sueños, our holiday home for a while, sitting in an orange grove in the Andalusian campo of Alhaurin el Grande. The Finca has a breathtaking view. However, the sweltering heat makes me have an endless desire to stay as cool as possible. Andalusia is one of my homes from home and feels familiar to me. I lived here for several years, 30 minutes drive from the Finca. Whilst at the Finca, I spent hours drinking in the view, the colours, the sounds and the light. The glorious light. The enchanting aroma of citrus and astonishing sunsets kept my gaze."
Original painting- Memories of Andalusia.
Penny embarked on her artistic exploration. However, at first, she found herself at a loss for direction. The weight of my words seemed to stifle her creative flow. So, she decided to step back and allow time for inspiration and reflection. Penny came across my Instagram posts, where I had been experimenting with abstraction in my recent works. Those glimpses into my artistic process resonated with her, becoming the catalyst. She decided to embrace the realm of abstraction, expanding the colour palette and adding areas of tension, texture, and dimension.
Through her unique perspective and skill as a textile artist, Penny breathed new life into my painting. The once familiar and representational image transformed into something abstract, evoking a sense of energy and intrigue. The boundaries between our disciplines blurred, creating a harmonious fusion of our artistic voices.
Ultimately, our joint creation was a tribute to our mutual voyage, a mixed media artwork that embodied the essence of our exploration and our willingness to step outside our comfort zones and embrace the unknown. It reflected the transformative power of collaboration, reminding us of the importance of being open to new ideas, perspectives, and creative partnerships.
Through this experience, I learned that collaboration encourages us to step outside the confines of our established techniques and embrace new perspectives. By embracing the unknown and allowing ourselves to be influenced by others, we can push the boundaries of our artistic practice, discovering uncharted territories and unlocking hidden depths within our work.
The journey with Penny taught me the value of being open to collaboration, the joy of relinquishing control and allowing another artist's touch to enhance and expand upon my artistic vision. It reinforced that real growth often lies in the spaces between disciplines and unexplored territories where art forms converge and mingle.
I will carry the lessons learned as I continue my painting degree and pursue my artistic path. I will embrace collaboration as an opportunity for growth, seeking out artists from diverse backgrounds to join me on creative journeys, ready to be surprised, challenged, and inspired, for it is through these collaborations that our art can reach new heights and resonate with a broader audience.
Mixed media on Khadi paper - Hybrid collaboration Penny Day and Martine Elliott.
Colour
Black and White
A.G.P.
Digital tondo of original mixed media on paper.
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