Meet the Artists: Louise Daniels
Meet Louise Daniels
Artist, Photographer, Illustrator & Mum
So this artist is someone very close to my heart… as Louise is family – partner to my wonderful Dad and the loveliest, kindest, calmest, creative grandparent to my two little ones. They adore her – we all do, and will sit endlessly with her as she reads, draws, tell stories and takes part in ‘Grandad’s’ ridiculous jokes, which has them in stitches!
Her art really reflects the detail, time, dedication and energy she puts in to things in ‘real life’; whether it’s in the small details, the kindness of little surprises for the children or the delicate stitches of our colourful bright personalised facemasks!
Her quiet creativity in the background is powerful and meaningful – a small gesture with a big impact. She is always there – will never let you down and has the patience of a saint for putting up with us all!
Card Design for THE DASH FUND Project
When I asked Louise if she would do an illustration – she came back with 4! It was like someone had taken a photograph of the images in my head – spot on.
STUCK IN The JAM
Stuck in a Jam is such a powerful metaphor for me and one that was in the forefront of my mind when I was dreaming up Dot Dot Dash Coaching. ‘Stuckness’ is a strange thing – the frustration of feeling there is no way out, and if there is - where do I go, what will be out there and how will I know? It takes effort, will, bravery, dedication, belief and confidence to ‘get out of the Jam’ and sometimes help to do so – This is my mission through Dot Dot Dash – to be that help.
In this interview Louise talks about how she only ‘ever saw one direction for her as a career’, how art was integral to communication with her Grandparents and as a parent, and how everyone can be creative!
Can you tell us about you and your art?
I studied Multi-Disciplinary Design at college in the 70’s, majoring in design information and illustration. On leaving I managed to secure a job at a local design studio. This took me in many different directions and having started on the design side I ended up helping in the photography studio. Little did I know then that I would spend the rest of my career working in photography which I thoroughly enjoyed. Throughout I continued with my illustration as a hobby, taking on the odd commission. Now I am retired and am enjoying the pleasure of art and photography for me.
What are your first memories of ‘being creative?’
My earliest memory is sitting with my profoundly deaf grandfather, watching him draw. We communicated through sign language but also through art. At school the only subjects I enjoyed were those where I could use art in some way. A comment from my Geography teacher in my report said, “If Louise spent as long on the essay as she did on the illustrations for the essay she would be getting better grades”!
What made you decide you wanted to work within the arts?
I only ever saw one direction for me as a career. I was never an academic and much preferred books with pictures. Art helped me learn and understand things as a child and I wanted to continue with that and help others to develop through art.
“‘Art gives a voice to emotions and subjects difficult to express in words. It is so important in all its forms’”
How has your creativity benefitted (or helped) you with being a parent?
For me it’s all about communication. I adopted my daughter at age six, Violet. Using art helped us to bond and to bring her out of herself. It was something we could do together and helped to explore difficult subjects. In the longer term it helped with school projects, getting Violet to look at things differently and creatively, and of course endless costumes out of nothing, cakes and decorated rooms (I think her room was decorated five times to my once).
How has creativity helped you through lockdown?
I’ve quite enjoyed being unhindered by life’s usual pressures, to be able to concentrate on creative projects that I had never quite gotten around to. I am very focused when I get a project and fall right into it to the exclusion of everything else and usually that’s just not possible. Even in these stressful times I find I can turn the TV off and just immerse myself in something calm and creative.
How do you cope with the ‘juggle’ of being a mum and your work?
I had a very tolerant boss! On Violet’s adoption we worked out a system that I could work from home when it was needed. It was always my objective that if I took Violet on I wouldn’t put undue pressure on family or friends to help out. I felt that it was my decision to adopt and not theirs. So I found local groups who ran breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday clubs and then a network of friends and family who would be willing to help if absolutely needed. In all these clubs the main criteria was creativity, Violet in later years told me that she’d hated the art creativity bit of clubs and would have preferred to have been given a book to read!
What would be your tip to a new parent?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, use facilities provided and don’t feel guilty. Make the free time you spend with your children, theirs, completely, and keep time for you. We all do what we think is right, it doesn’t always work out as I found with Violet above! but that’s all we can do.
What are your thoughts around creativity and wellbeing?
Art has always been my, ’turn to’, I feel I can immerse myself in it and everything else becomes secondary. It calms and relaxes and is a powerful tool against stress. I even have a colouring in app on my phone for emergencies. Art gives a voice to emotions and subjects difficult to express in words. It is so important in all its forms.
What are you big ‘Art’ Dreams? What are your next big plans for your creative work?
I have recently moved and have a summerhouse which I would like to convert into a studio. It’s always been my dream to have somewhere to be completely messy and creative without the need to clear up. In that studio I want to learn to use oil paints, which I have never used and is the medium my grandfather worked in, and to paint BIG canvases in a change from my usual small illustrations.
Anything else you would like to share?
Be creative in all that you do. I have always hated the excuse, “I’m no good at art and drawing”, if you can pick up a pencil or paintbrush you can produce art and be creative. It doesn’t have to be to a certain standard, there are no constraints in art, just enjoy the process and be free with it.