Wow! I suddenly realised that it has been two years since I last posted a blog on my website, which is very remiss of me! I was doing some long overdue maintenance and updating my shop and the likes, when I noticed the date of my last blog!…. January 23
Time has really flown and in truth I am not at all sure where the past two years have gone. But, I guess a lot has happened.
Firstly, from a personal point of view – I have my ongoing battle with depression and anxiety. A battle, for the most part, I feel I am maybe winning. Although I do have have bad days and dark periods. I was given some great help and counselling for which I will always be thankful, and it gave me some brain tools to use whenever I begin to spiral downwards… They work often but not always, and on some days, the inside of my head is really not a very pleasant place to be, on my own.
On a plus note, However. I am now 960 days without alcohol (at the time of writing). Which is something I NEVER thought I would write and that I am quite proud of.
On the art side of life – I have continued to produce work and for the most part, have continued with larger paintings. Albeit, in the past two years, I have also embraced a few other slight deviations from my normal ‘Cubism’. I have particularly enjoyed playing about with Op-Art or optical art. I have always had a love for Bridget Riley’s work (although I AM aware that she doesn’t like the term Op-Art or wants to be recognised as an Op-Artist).
Much of my art has been informed by the issues I have mentioned above. Sometimes portraying the darker side of life and the struggles with mental health. However, some of my work has been quite the opposite – joyous and colourful.
One thing that has happened very recently, of which I am very proud – I was elected as the new Chair of The Walsall Society of Artists! This is a huge honour for me and is something that the magnitude of which is definitely not lost on me.
The WSA has been going for 75 years this year and has had some pretty prestigious people that have gone before me, as Chair. So, I have some mighty big shoes to fill.
I am taking over the helm at a very exciting time for the WSA, however. There are many exciting exhibitions and events planned for the remainder of this year and beyond. If anyone would like to find out more about the Walsall Society of Artists, please either contact me or head to https://www.walsallsocietyofartists.co.uk/
I am also pretty busy travelling the length and breadth of the Country presenting art workshops and demonstrations to art societies, art clubs and the likes. This is something that I absolutely love doing and you cannot beat meeting like-minded, art-loving people.
If you are a member of an art society, club, school, college or similar and are interested in a Cubist and abstract art demonstration or workshop, please contact me at stevewoodhamsart@outlook.com
Finally, if anybody who reads this finds that they are struggling and they think that they might be showing signs of depression or anxiety, please talk to somebody. You might feel that you don’t want to waste people’s time or they wont understand BUT just ‘getting it out of your head’ is such a massive thing. I held things in for such a long time and it only gets worse if you do. The day I first opened up was the day that I started to get better – and to be honest, I don’t ******* shut up about it now, and will open up truthfully to anyone who will listen. I am always, always, ALWAYS available if anyone wants to talk.
Thank you for reading my blog. Apologies if its a bit ‘selfy’. And, I’ll try to promise not to make it two years until the next one!
Steve – February 2025