2018 Work

The InFinnity Project 2018 themes, inspired by Finn’s depiction of Tzu Hang, (the yacht sailed around the world by the intrepid seafarers Miles and Beryl Smeeton)

Oceans,
Horizons,
Courage

At the launch we were delighted to have David O’Flynn, Chairman of the Adamson Trust and Val Huet, CEO of the British Association of Art Therapists with Bernice Williams and Trina Whittaker from Rethink Mental Illness at the launch of the 2018 themes at Goodenough College. Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to Major-General Andrew Ritchie, CBE who welcomed us to Goodenough College.

Miles Smeeton, owner of Tzu Hang famously said:

“Life would be miserably dull if one listened to every foreboding or took heed of every warning”

The 46 foot Bermudan ketch called Tzu Hang travelled over 130,000 miles – the equivalent of five circumnavigations of the globe – and on two separate occasions was dismasted and pitchpoled (flipped stern over bow) in rough seas to the west of Cape Horn.

Read more about the Smeetons in High Endeavours by Miles Clark

Entered under the theme: Courage

Title: Courage to walk through the ocean towards a better horizon

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Theme: Courage

Artist: Sayela Jafrin

Sayela has contributed this image independently. She uses art for peace of mind, and has an undiagnosed mental health condition. She says art helps her when words no longer can explain.

Entered under the theme: Courage

Title: Inch Strand

Medium: Watercolour (A4 size)

Theme: Courage

Artist: Carolyn Gibson

Carolyn says: I am proud of this piece which took me a very long time to complete. It is a painting of Inch Strand, Co. Kerry, which means a lot to my relative, pictured here in the painting walking along the beach. Art helps me focus and I love creating something I am proud of when I am “in the zone”.

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Dolphin Sunset

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Michelle Knight

Michelle is a member of Braintree Rethink art group.

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Title: Island in the Sun

Medium: Watercolour on paper

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Michelle Cush

Michelle attends an art therapy class in Essex.

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Title: Dark Horizons

Medium: Acrylic on A5 card

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Susan Daminger

Susan has submitted this work done in her art therapy class.

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Goldfish in the sea

Medium: Acrylic on paper

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Paula Smith

Paula has submitted this as part of her art therapy class she attends to help manage her health.

Entered under the theme: Courage

Title: Courage to take a step

Medium: Water colour on card

Theme: Courage

Artist: Jackie Clark

Jackie has submitted this work as part of an art therapy class she attends.

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Starfish

Medium: Collage

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Lorraine Hempstead

Lorraine attends an art therapy class in Essex and this is the first time she has contributed to the InFinnity Project.

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Yorkshire Dales by Michelle Cush

Title: Yorkshire Dales

Medium: Watercolour on paper

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Michelle Cush

Michelle has submitted this work done as part of the art therapy class she attends.

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Lion Fish

Medium: Acrylic on paper

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Marcus La Roche

Marcus is a member of the Braintree Rethink Art Group and last year one of his submissions was printed as a card – see 2017 entries

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Title: Snoopy rock

Medium: Watercolour on paper,

32cm x 24cm

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Michelle Cush

Michelle has submitted this work done as part of the art therapy class she attends

Entered under the theme: Courage

Courage to take the next step by Kay King

Title: Courage to take the next step

Medium: Acrylic on paper

Theme: Courage

Artist: Kay King

Kay is contributing this image done as part of an art therapy class she takes in Essex.

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Title: Sunset on the beach

Medium: Watercolour on card, 30x21cm

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Paul Shepherd

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Deep Sea

Medium: Watercolour on card, 30x21cm

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Paul Shepherd

Paul says: I paint with an art therapy class as it helps me relax. I enjoy sharing my work.

Entered under the theme: Courage

What is Courage? Who is Courageous? by Cathy Trevaldwyn

Title: What is Courage? Who is Courageous?

Medium: 12 inches x 18 inches, Printing, reduction lino-printing, etching, mono printing using Border Tyvek, experimental samples, wing nuts and nails. (Tyvek is a synthetic material which distorts when ironed.)

Theme: Courage

Artist: Cathy Trevaldwyn

Cathy says: “I have bipolar and found the wide range of art and craft I undertake very therapeutic. Printing is new to me. While I am working I can think about other things as well as cut out distractions. The variety of creative activities is important to me and I frequently put these together eg. the Tyvek experiments were as result of textile course – they reminded me of blood and mud in the trenches, so they are included here.

I am interested in art as a means of communication- how it reaches more people and stays in the mind longer. The soldier and the red poppy are a traditional interpretation of courage. But with white poppies? It took great courage for the conscientious objectors to stand by their believes as well as undertaking war work. There is a wider meaning to these images – People who stand against the flow of society for whatever reason also show great courage”

Entered under the theme: Courage

Don't Even Think About It! by Jenny Rutland — Don’t Even Think About It! by Jenny Rutland

Title: Don’t Even Think About It!

Medium: Charcoal on paper – 30cm x 23 cm

Theme: Courage

Artist: Jenny Rutland

Entered under the theme: Horizons

Title: Etna

Medium: Pastel on pastelmat

Theme: Horizons

Artist: Jenny Rutland

Entered under the theme: Oceans

Title: Leviathan

Medium: Acrylic on acrylic paper, 30cm x 24cm

Theme: Oceans

Artist: Jenny Rutland

Entered under the theme: Courage

Title: Courage… entering the vortex to seek recovery

Medium: Coloured pencil on paper

Theme: Courage

Artist: Richard Kidgell

Richard says: “Living with mental illness or psychological injury is horrible, but it can become familiar. The road to improvement, and, maybe even recovery, is hard; it is uncertain; it is painful; it is frightening. It takes real courage to commit wholeheartedly to the treatment and the lifestyle changes that are needed, and I hope that this image may encourage others to dive bravely into that frightening vortex.”

Entered under the theme: Courage

Courage… is keeping one small light burning when your world is dark by Richard Kidgell

Title: Courage… is keeping one small light burning when your world is dark

Medium: Pastel on paper

Theme: Courage

Artist: Richard Kidgell

Richard says: “With mental health problems, the darkness in your world can seem to stretch on forever. It takes real courage to keep a small light of hope burning inside yourself. I hope this image will help others to find this small spark within themselves and keep going”.

Entered under the theme: Courage

Title: Courage… is facing up to your ‘Black Dragons’ to do the right thing

Medium: Pastel on black paper

Theme: Courage

Artist: Richard Kidgell

Richard says: “Internal horror can destroy your life, your family and your friendships, but courage can overcome horror. I hope this image can help others realise this more quickly than I did. Art therapy has allowed my subconscious to identify my problems and their causes. Creative art has allowed me to remain calm and deal with those problems so that I can move forward”.

Entered under the theme: Courage