ALICE SHERLOCK


Alice Sherlock is an artist who explores themes of reflective nostalgia, locality, and storytelling. A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and Lancaster University, her work is characterised by a sensitive examination of everyday scenes.

Through her paintings and printmaking, Alice’s work encapsulates the essence of locations and narratives, providing contemplations on life’s minor instances—from the reverberations of intimate home settings to the vivid recollections of personal and familial histories.

In this interview, Alice Sherlock shares her insights, accompanied by her exciting artworks. The interview provides a glimpse into her engagement with the 'Capturing Hands' workshop series, shedding light on the influence of the classes on her artistic approach.




© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Capturing Hands' workshop block.

THE INTERVIEW 


What inspired you to join these workshops as the Secret Workshopper, and what were your expectations beforehand?

I wanted to get involved with the workshops because I really love and am inspired by Lucy’s work and artistic knowledge. I had never participated within workshops before or really worked with water colour so thought it would be a great chance to push myself.

My expectations before the workshops were that my skills and familiarity with the medium would increase. I wanted to be able to spend time with one medium so I could use it in a more personalised and authentic way. I also wanted to spend time working on observation to deepen my imaginative work whilst working in a playful and encouraging environment which Lucy’s workshops definitely delivered.




© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Capturing Hands' workshop block.

How did these workshops contribute to your artistic growth and development?

These workshops really helped contribute to my artistic growth and development as I was able to have dedicated time to really explore the medium of watercolour and through focusing on hands it made me realise how hands can be used for storytelling to emphasis and add direction.

Can you share any specific skills or techniques you learned during the workshops that you found particularly valuable? 
The specific skills I learned during these workshops was the technique of building a hand from the bones upwards and ‘drapping’ skin over the top. Observing the skellington in the hand made me focus more on structure of objects and the weight of them, not just the outline. The technique Lucy shared about squinting at the object to reveal tone was really helpful and allowed by paintings to have more depth.


Did the workshops provide a supportive and engaging environment for learning and creativity? If so, how?


The workshops definitely provided a supportive and engaging environment for learning and creativity by being a safe space where all ideas were welcome. There was a personal connection between Lucy and all students as well as specific feedback and encouragement for the work being made.


© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Portrait Exploration' workshop block.

What aspects of the workshops did you find most enjoyable and rewarding?

I really enjoyed the community aspect and working closely with the group. I really looked forward to the sessions throughout the week as I knew it would be a focused time to allow myself to experiment with colour and specifically the lightness of watercolour and how it can be built up and layered.

In what ways did the workshops help you overcome any creative challenges or obstacles you were facing?

I was facing an issue in my practice as I wanted to add the human figure into my work. A lot of my work is based in imagination so drawing hands was new to me. The workshops helped me observe the figure more and be able to put the human figure into my work whilst also maintaining my own artistic style.



© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Capturing Hands' workshop block.

How has your perspective or approach to your art practice changed as a result of participating in these workshops?
I would say my perspective on my practice has changed as a result of these workshops as I have been able to put the human figure into my work which has given me more nuance and tools to articulate the storytelling aspect within my work. Focusing mainly on hands has made me realise their importance within storytelling and how emotive they are.




© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Portrait Exploration' workshop block.


Did you find the workshop content relevant and applicable to your artistic goals and interests?

The content of the workshop was relevant to my artistic interests as it pushed me to experiment more with including figures as well as the depth that can be created with watercolour through layering and also reducing. It was a safespace where I felt comfortable to make mistakes as well as work in a playful manner. I also really enjoyed getting to know the people in the workshops and sharing ideas and thoughts with the whole group.

What advice would you give to someone considering attending a similar workshop series?

The advice I would give to anyone else considering attending the workshop series is to just go for it! Let it push your practice and try something new. Hands weren't something I was very comfortable with and as a result of this I never really tried to push myself but by doing this workshop I have been able to experiment in a stress free environment and developed my practice as well.




© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Capturing Hands’ workshop block.

Overall, how would you describe the impact of these workshops on your artistic journey?
Overall I would describe the impact of these workshops on my artistic journey as very positive and encouraging! I am really looking forward to playing with these new skills in my studio and continuing to add hands to create more work focusing on storytelling. I am also very excited about working with watercolour and experimenting more with the tonal range available through this medium.




© 2024 Alice Sherlock, made during the 'Capturing Hands’ workshop block.