What I Learned From Being Interviewed About the God's Rope Series
The First Ascent - selected for Woman Artist Award 2026 - Arts to Hearts Project
When I was recently interviewed by Arts to Hearts Project following the selection of The First Ascent for The Women Artist Award 2026, I expected to answer questions about my paintings.
What I didn't expect was that the process would help me understand my own work more clearly.
As artists, we spend much of our time making decisions visually. We adjust a composition, change a colour, soften an edge, or move a figure, often without putting those choices into words. When someone asks us why we do these things, the answer is not always immediately obvious.
The interview forced me to slow down and consider what sits beneath the surface of the God's Rope series.
The Relationship Is the Subject
One of the things that became clear while answering the questions was that the paintings are not really about individual animals.
They are not even about the people within them.
The subject is the relationship between them.
Whether I am painting a horse, a fox, a dog, a bird, or a cat, I am interested in the moment where recognition occurs. A moment where two beings become aware of one another and share something that exists beyond words.
The animal is not simply being observed. It is an active participant within the painting.
That idea has always been present in my work, but the interview helped me recognise just how central it has become.
Why Light Matters
Many of the interview questions focused on light, and it made me realise that I do not use light simply to illuminate a scene.
Light acts as a guide.
It creates direction, reveals connections, and helps shape the emotional structure of the painting.
In works such as The First Ascent, light becomes part of the journey itself. It draws the viewer through the composition and reinforces the relationship between the figures.
The more I reflected on this, the more I understood that light is not a decorative element in my work. It is part of the language of the painting.
The Importance of Stillness
Another thing I noticed while discussing my work is how often I rely on stillness.
Many paintings tell stories through action.
My paintings tend to do the opposite.
The moments that interest me most occur just before or just after something happens. They are quiet moments where meaning is carried through proximity, attention, gaze, and presence.
This is why many viewers describe my work as peaceful or contemplative.
The stillness is intentional.
It creates space for the viewer to bring their own experiences and interpretations into the work.
Horses Continue to Shape My Work
The interview also reminded me how deeply horses have influenced my life and creative practice.
My connection with horses began in childhood and has remained with me through every stage of life.
Because of this, they appear repeatedly throughout the God's Rope series.
I am drawn to their quiet strength, their honesty, and their ability to communicate without pretence. They embody many of the qualities I value most, including trust, authenticity, and presence.
It is no surprise that The First Ascent, the painting selected for The Women Artist Award, centres on a horse.
A Clearer Direction
Perhaps the most valuable thing I gained from the interview was a stronger sense of direction.
The process highlighted the themes that continue to appear throughout the work:
Connection
Recognition
Presence
Journey
Trust
Relationship
These themes have been there from the beginning, but articulating them helped me see the series more clearly.
The God's Rope series is still evolving, but the interview confirmed something important.
The work is not simply about animals.
It is about the relationships we form with them, the ways they shape our lives, and the quiet moments of recognition that often pass unnoticed.
Those moments continue to guide both my paintings and the journey ahead.
Read the full Arts to Hearts Project interview here: Winged Horses, Golden Threads and Soft Light
