Selecting imagery is an important process. It can be like a magnifying glass to highlight and remind us of things we may miss, simply walk past or brush over. Drawing is a process in which time is given, in which the object is examined studiously and with great care and attention. It is all in the study. A way in which to chance upon previously undiscovered treasures.

 

For me, finding imagery isn’t something that’s conscious. I find interest in things and photograph them. We never normally have the time to observe or study things as we pass through the world, snapping ‘Throw away’ images that remain unnoticed on phones and on shelves along the way.

 

Our worlds become more and more restricted around what we can find from a screen, our searches become more and more refined to our tastes, and our worlds get smaller and smaller. Shifting Baseline Syndrome comes about when generations of humans grow ever increasingly blind to ecological loss. Slow Violence becomes prevalent when we forget what we once had. New generations adopt the assumption that the lack of biodiversity is normal.

 

  Looking at something in depth as you need to when drawing is something we rarely get to do anymore. Seeing things that others don't. Looking at things in depth can bring deeper understanding and this is when I notice things I would not have noticed before, and find images that are not universally seen the same way.

 

 Drawing enriches my observational skills, and brings with it a calming influence. A therapeutic way of processing life experiences and an important outlet for self-expression. Through my drawing I harness the rich history and classical technique of drawing to further examine natural forms and explore contemporary issues around sustainability, and the Anthropocene.