Reminiscing while creating

Here I am … another week has gone by and we find ourselves at the end of August. Isn’t it amazing how time flies? It feels like just yesterday I was wandering the bustling streets of London, soaking up the energy of one of the world’s most vibrant cities. My trip in 2019 seems like a distant memory, yet vivid moments from it continue to inspire.

One of my favourite memories from that trip to London was visiting the famous Portobello Road Market on Sunday. The market was a sensory overload, with stalls bursting with antiques, quirky trinkets, and everything in between. I remember the colourful displays, and the feeling of excitement as I explored each stall, and went into each store, never knowing what treasures I might uncover.

Among the many finds that day, an entire stall dedicated to vintage wooden letterpress letters. Oooohhhh! It took my breath away. So many to choose from. Where to start? I started digging into the boxes of mixed ones. Some were inexpensive and some were, well, let’s say not inexpensive. I remember asking the gentleman who was manning the booth what decided the price. He explained about availability, rarity, uniqueness. How easy they would be to replace, whey they came from … fascinating stuff. All of a sudden, one small item captured my imagination. It was simple yet intriguing, featuring a hand pointing, crafted with the kind of detail that only time and skilled artisans can bring to life. Something about its vintage charm spoke to me. It felt like a piece of history, a connection to a bygone era of print and communication. I knew I had to have it.

Confession time: yes, I did buy it. One among many that came home with me. The most difficult part was to decide which one … letters, numbers or circles? You know I love circles so the letter “0” was a good choice. It was a matter of picking and choosing – shapes that appealed.

Fast forward to today, as I sit in my studio surrounded by new projects and ideas. It’s funny how a small object can hold so much meaning and evoke such strong memories. That hand stamp is on a piece of dropcloth I am using to create new work. Seeing that stamped on now feels like a way of bridging the past with the present, infusing my work with a piece of London’s rich history.

Finding this image stamped on the piece of fabric gave me joy. I remembered when I did it. It was at the beginning of the pandemic. In the piece I’m presently working on, the hand pointing seems to guide the viewer, adding a whimsical touch. As I look at this image stamped onto my fabric, surrounded by other marks made at different times, I can almost hear the hum of the market and feel the cool London air. It’s a reminder of the beauty in collecting, in finding pieces that resonate with us and carry our stories forward.

Creating art is a way of capturing time, of holding onto fleeting moments. This piece where this stamp resides is a tribute to that day at Portobello Road, to the sense of discovery that travel brings, and to the joy of finding inspiration in the everyday. As time flies by, it’s comforting to know that these memories live on, not just in my mind, but in my work.

Here’s to the journeys that shape us and the small treasures that bring those moments back to life.

Thanks so much for reading. Until I write again, keep creating,

Ana