Art and Story

4. ‘ William Blake made me an artist’ A conversation with visionary artist Andrea Mclean.

October 07, 2023 Perienne Christian
Art and Story
4. ‘ William Blake made me an artist’ A conversation with visionary artist Andrea Mclean.
Show Notes

Today's conversation with Andrea Mclean is poetic and rooted in the idea of art and creativity being a heartfelt journey.

Some of the things covered in this episode are:
 
-How linear time disappears when we are making creative work. Does it even exist?!

-How a creative life can be full of ease, alongside the doubts and the necessary sense of the void.

-Ways into creating a sustainable creative practice that nourishes us.
 
-Her  advice to those that feel blocked in their creative practice or are unsure where to start.
 
-The different kinds of vision and how nature can gift us vision when we are alert to its magic and messages.

-The connection between Andrea’s and my work; creating a space that others can inhabit, through both what is said and also what is left unsaid and our use of time and nature in the work.
 
-Andrea talks us through the creation of and stories behind her painting ‘Tree map  with a  copper moon.’ (linked below)

-Her discovery of William Blake’s creation of Golgonooza (a spiritual city floating above London)  as a young student in London and how it helped her to orient herself to the busy city.

-Her connection to and work with the Blakean society’s and how she came to create her own map of Golgonooza for the Blake society.

-Andrea read’s from Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’ which describes Golgonooza.

-At the end of the episode she takes us through the creative practice of creating an image that can serve as a compass, clock and cosmos. For this you will need paper, scissors and some materials to draw with. To see  a written description of the exercise and some of Andrea’s example images, click HERE
Or on the link below
https://www.periennechristian.co.uk/art-and-story-podcast-episode-4-andrea-mclean-creative-process.html

-Link to the painting discussed ‘Tree map with a copper moon’
https://andrea-mclean.co.uk/paintings/

To find out more about Andrea’s work and links for things mentioned, see below. Website: https://andrea-mclean.co.uk/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/andreamclean6278


Poem: Auguries of Innocence by William Blake mentioned at the beginning of the conversation. https://poets.org/poem/auguries-innocence
Link to her Mappa Mundi, held in the British Library
https://andrea-mclean.co.uk/british-library-mappa-mundi/
Link to Andrea’s work with Blakean societies
https://andrea-mclean.co.uk/artists-maps/
More info on William Blake’s Jerusalem, which Andrea read’s to us  from: 
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-blake-39/blakes-jerusalem




To view Perienne's artwork and find out about the Creativity Cafe membership; an online space with community, accountability and art sessions for creatives, visit her website.

www.periennechristian.co.uk

Instagram
@periennechristian
https://www.instagram.com/periennechristian/


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