I was delighted to see this “old friend” last night – one of my own abstract oil paintings of Cape Cornwall – prominently displayed in my old friend T’s airy new beachside apartment!

This is a student discovering that her non-dominant hand is creating a drawing of exquisite sensitivity compared to the drawing produced by her all-knowing “right” hand – producing lines trembling with life in contrast to the generic right-handed image of the flower she was studying. Why not try it yourself?

What could be more exciting? One metre square is my favourite size and format for the flying paint tango!! This pic was taken on my way back from The Art Shop in Chapel Street, Penzance, to my studio above the Exchange Gallery a few minutes’ walk away.

Out with my sketchbook, playing with the lines of wind-sculpted tree. Initially I assumed it was hawthorn and a closer inspection showed me my old friend Elder, the generous donor of my winter medicinal syrups, now back on the brink of fresh green foliage. Thank you Elder. 💚

Getting serious about my art practice clearly involves more than freestyle visual expression. Today it’s about deep diving into website decisions with the creative genius @ianbwild in our office for the day at (no dogs, no dishes..) #artistresidencepenzance

Drawing is never about copying, for me, it is about exploring feeling states with a humble and hungry curiosity to connect. To understand a little more of life through my own body.

Scaling up to A3 with free flowing gouache. This is fun and irreverent, and I enjoyed this exploration of flight and movement arching over the static castle on the rock, St Michael’s Mount – imagining elements strong enough to take it down like a sandcastle!

A study for a new painting. The theme, Nature’s laws of freedom: a gull flying above a giant wave, as another wave crashes down on The Mount – “the jewel in the crown” of Mount’s Bay, Cornwall – demolishing this symbol of privilege for the few and restoring sovereignty to all who fly untethered to the glorification of oppressive power systems.

They come in all shapes and sizes! This is a little birthday pic for my friend Peter, of Basil, his Jack Russell.

Phew, that’s better! I can relax and let the paint do what it likes to my new easel now that the bird has made its mark!

Wouldn’t it be awful – if it stayed this clean forever ..

Oops, I mean artistic! It’s possibly the only way to stay sane in today’s world .?

Yellow, coconut-scented gorse has burst out from winter-blackened thorns all around us. I have walked through it, sometimes barefoot, stopped and made drawings. And now my paint is flying…

‘Rise and Shine’ by Melanie Stokes

I’m excited to be exhibiting in the newly-formed St Just Society of Artists group exhibition from 20 April – 3 May 2019. Entitled ‘Arrival’ at Morvah Schoolhouse you can expect vibrant painted expression of our joie de vivre at living in this wonderful landscape.

Stay present, trust that the universe will throw your ball, hold your tail high and radiate fun. (Charcoal drawings soon to be available as cards and prints)

The sunlight’s reign of gold ceded to hail and gale today as we pass through the turnstile into winter. I walked into the moonlit field and watched the dogs circle across stubbled grass.

Just one flower.. growing seeds. Grace is natural, coded, guaranteed.