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This Christmas, local artists and poets have given the gift of their creativity to present the one thing they need under the tree.
From relaxation to more time to paint, kindness, a loved one's return to health and even a visit to Jersey, the creatives each had their own special wish...
It’s been a busy year for local artist/ fitness instructor Lisa Troy, who revealed her latest body of work in the ‘Observation’ exhibition.
For this festive series, she created a watercolour of a winter view of Portelet Bay.
The painting shows her best friend sitting and looking at the view while resting after running up the very steeps long set of stairs on one of the pair’s favourite running routes.
“All I would like for Christmas is' for my best friend and running buddy of 20 years to be fully recovered from her cancer and able to enjoy running again,” Lisa explained. “The good news is she has just discovered the treatment and surgery has worked so that really is the best Christmas present we could ask for!”
See more of Lisa’s work here.
Mixed-media artist Will Bertram combines illustration, installation and virtual artwork in his practice, exploring imagined landscapes and alternate histories.
After mingling with gorillas and surf-boards, he drew up ‘Bathing Monkeys’ as part of a window display for Common Ground, inspired by his recent travels to Japan.
“It represents my favourite part of the Christmas period, which is the ability to slow down,” he explained. “Referencing relaxation and self-care, it combines my love of coffee and watching nature documentaries on lazy days before Christmas.”
See more of Will's work here.
Layla May Arthur is currently studying Fine Arts and completing her third year at Minerva Art Academy in The Netherlands. Passionate about storytelling and narratives, which stemmed from her love for books, she was inspired to bring knife to paper after discovering the ‘Paper Dialogues – The Dragon and Our Stories' exhibition in Jersey.
This year she presented a paper-cut installation she spent 500 hours working on, taking viewers on a journey through Jersey's 12 parishes and her young memories of them.
“All I want for Christmas... is to come back to Jersey!” she said. “This is the first time I have been away from Jersey and my family at Christmas and as Christmas Day gets closer I really wish I had decided to come home!
“Christmas is the time to go home and to be with your family and so this paper cutting is the little island of Jersey and everything I love about it.”
See more of Layla’s work here.
Abstract artist Kirsty Garcia specialises in ink paintings as well as acrylics. She describes her work as expressive and spontaneous as she never plans the end result, allowing the paintings to evolve naturally instead.
This year she decided to tackle larger scales and the latest example – a mural at the Fish Market – was unveiled earlier this month.
This painting was created by layering up inks slowly to create a contrast of light and dark. “I then added a touch of gold to give the painting texture and a glamorous shimmer,” Kirsty explained.
“This is my favourite colour palette and has been very popular, however I am always trying new colour combinations to create something that everyone can enjoy.
“I’m really not one for wanting presents or asking for anything so all I want for Christmas is a day filled with fun, family and friends - and time to paint!”
See more of Kirsty’s work here.
This year, local poets Stefan Le Marquand and Juliette Hart founded La Poèt’tie: a poetry open mic, meeting monthly, now at the Société Jersiaise Members’ Room.
They have already embraced hundreds of classic and contemporary poems, plus pathos, humour and more from an amazing and talented group of local poets. Everyone is welcome to experience and explore the power of poetry and to join the pair at the next meeting on 29 January 2020.
Juliette’s poem starts as a rant and then becomes a reconciliation of the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Stefan’s poem reflects more upon the weird and wonderful happenings when everyone comes out of the woodwork for the good old office party.
Read more from La Poèt'tie here.
As a bonus to this festive series, local artist Bluntroller depicted “the most wonderful time of the year” in his familiar satirical way using markers and coloured pencils.
“I had a few ideas then just settled for a down and out Santa. who’s crashed his sleigh drunk and is now burning the presents with his snowman pal to keep warm,” he explained.
“You know me, I don’t tend to serve up ‘traditional images’ and after last year’s train holdup, I wanted to take a different approach and use a different medium.”
See more of Olly's work here.
Eliza Anna Reine is a visual artist from Latvia based in Jersey Channel Islands. Experimenting with different techniques, she creates mixed media collages aiming to celebrate women in vibrant colour combinations.
2019 brought a sell-out exhibition and an ethereal mural displayed at the fish market for this daughter of an opera singer.
Turning her focus from femininity to the festive season and new year ahead, she said: “December in my understanding is all about digesting and accepting everything this past year has brought to us.
"All I want for Christmas is for everyone to be mindful, staring new decade with collected energy aligning with nature, respecting the period of silence within ourselves and everyone around.”
See more of Eliza's work here.
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