Free Spirits Art Collection: A Collection of Art from the Heart
Free Spirits Art Collection
The Free Spirits Art Collection was initiated during lockdown. When artist Jo Sharpe lost her father during lockdown, the restrictions on seeing him before he died were heartbreaking. She felt lucky she at least had her studio to paint in as a creative outlet. During lockdown she produced a collection of art she calls Free Spirits that explores her creative response to her grief.
In Jo’s words:
“Due to lockdown I got to spend far more time in my studio than normal. As I was unable to see my dad, who was in and out of hospital or in isolation in a care home due to the coronavirus restrictions, I would think about him while I was painting. I realised the seascapes I had painted were an outlet for my stress and sadness over his declining health.
“My dad died in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in October 2020. I will always be thankful I was allowed to spend time with him in hospital before he passed away. That time was so important because it enabled me to let him know how much I loved him.”
This is a collection of Art from the heart. Jo has continued working on this theme during the winter season and now sees it as her winter art collection.
Several of the artworks were originally part of the original Free Spirits: Loss in Lockdown, a collection of art and poetry exhibited at Studio 9 in April 2021. She also held a solo exhibition of her work at The Norwich and Norfolk hospital.
Three large canvas prints are currently on show at The Sound Lounge in Sutton, and to celebrate this, Jo is putting on a special ‘Drink and Draw’ evening where she hopes to raise money for creative workshops for wellbeing. She has the remainder of her winter collection on the walls of her studio in Oaks Park.
Free Spirits - Winter Landscapes at Oaks Park Studio
The exhibition is on at her studio open Saturday 4th March 11-4pm at Studio 9, The Old Stable Block, Oaks Park, Croydon Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, SM7 3BA. Earlier viewings can be made by appointment.
The exhibition includes works on the theme of birds as a metaphor for all the free spirits during the pandemic lockdown. Some pieces from Jo’s other popular collections are also included, these are her ‘Follow your heart’ prints and her botanical scarves and cushions which make great gifts for upcoming Mother’s day. The new artwork delves deeper into internal and external landscapes of Norfolk and Surrey.
Jo Sharpe hopes the exhibition shows how creativity can become an outlet for processing grief. She wants to encourage others to use their creativity to help to heal stresses and pain caused by the pandemic or any form of loss or painful experience.
Creative Workshops for Wellbeing
Jo has planned two creative workshops on the free spirits theme. She hopes as well as being enjoyable, they will relieve some of stress and sadness many have accrued over the last few years. One involves birds and hearts and the other is called ‘Free your spirit.’ The workshops will be held in Jo’s studio, a beautiful studio in Oaks Park, Carshalton, Surrey. They can be run privately or as part of a group. Anyone interested in coming along to these workshops can book via the website: (jo-sharpe.co.uk) or contact Jo for more information via email: info@josharpe.co.uk.
