Light in the Dark
By Jo Smith | January 3, 2021
I ran a small art gallery and studio for eleven years but was forced to close when the pandemic hit. Then, as the days shortened and I dreaded the coming of winter and being stuck indoors, I started sketching outside more. It was revelatory! I felt such a renewed and powerful connection to nature that greatly lessened my anxiety and loneliness. I had more time to explore my favourite theme of nocturnes and the sense of awe and magic I experience when under a night’s sky. I feel connected to my ancestors when I gaze upwards and that in turn eases my feelings of isolation. So, although I am often outside alone, I am filled full of wonder and love. The moon and stars are hope and connection—a little light in the dark of the pandemic.
Jo Smith, Crow Coast, oil and cold wax on stretched canvas, 20cm x 20cm 2020
Jo Smith, Here For You, oil and cold wax on beechwood panel, 30cm x 30cm 2020
Jo Smith, The Pull of the Moon, oil and cold wax on beechwood panel, 30cm x 30cm 2020
Jo Smith, Seeing Clearly in the Dark, oil and cold wax on beechwood panel, 30cm x 30cm 2020
Jo Smith, Rising Moon 1, oil and cold wax on beechwood panel, 30cm x 30cm 2020
Jo Smith, Rising Moon 2, oil and cold wax on beechwood panel, 30cm x 30cm 2020
Copyright © 2021 Jo Smith
Jo Smith has been working as a professional artist since 2006, balancing self-employment with raising her family. In 2009, she opened Seagrass Studio Gallery (sadly now closed), a safe haven to disappear into while providing space to hone her skills, teach children (she has a B.Ed Hons in Art and Design), and work one-to-one with adults and small groups. Additionally, Jo trained as an integrative counsellor and completed a Diploma in Art Therapy Skills. She has thankfully adapted to offering all her skills from home. Living on a peninsula and being surrounded by water on three sides offers amazing opportunities to explore coastal light and space, both of which are featured regularly in her work. Jo has exhibited widely across North West England, and her work hangs in many public as well as private collections across the globe.