Hi everyone, and welcome to the May newsletter. I write these each month to share seasonal reflections from nature and gentle ideas for sustaining a regular creative practice. You’ll also find details of my upcoming workshops and other seasonal ideas.
May is a wonderful time of year. I don’t like to have favourites, but if I did, this might be it. There is such an abundance of life everywhere with wild flowers and leaves bursting out. I also love seeing the swallows return, dive bombing the skies, and the longer days and brighter weather makes everything feel possible.
May is a time when I feel particularly thankful for being alive and being able to see all the wonderful variety in the world. I do believe variety and wonder can be seen all year round but in May it’s impossible to miss it.
This May I’m also feeling incredibly thankful to all of those of you who have supported me in my little creative business, either by coming to art club, a workshop or reading this newsletter. I started Jenny Coats Create-ED 2 years ago because I wanted to find a way to bring regular creative practice to my own life and share it with others.
What began as a few workshops at my local village hall has grown more than I could have imagined and I now run workshops at several venues and each month 30-40 people attend art club. It is such a joy to share my creative practice inspired by nature with others, see their confidence in drawing and painting grow and see them enjoy playing with paint and colour again. I’ve really enjoyed meeting all of you, thank you!
Workshops booking now…
Enjoy the abundance of May and be thankful!…
Enjoy an early morning moment
As a morris dancer I have often spent May morning getting up at 4am to dance up the dawn. Every time I do I again remember how early this is and what a crazy idea it is but once I’m up and about, I really enjoy the special feeling of that time of day. There is something magical about seeing world get lighter in springtime, hearing the birdsong and then seeing the sunrise. If this sounds like something you’d like to try then you can join Pecasetan Morris and Sheffield City Morris at Parkwood Springs at dawn on May morning (arrive around 4:45am).
Alternatively you can soak up the same feeling on International Dawn Chorus Day (3rd May).
Spot rare orchids
The Early Purple Spotted orchids that grow in the Cressbrook Dale thrive in the limestone grassland. You will also see other wildflowers there such as wild garlic, cowslips and anenomes. (One of my twins from a few years ago for cuteness!)
Visit artists studios during ‘Open Up Sheffield‘
I love seeing how other artists work and getting the glimpse into their creative process that a visit to their studio provides. Open Up Sheffield runs this year from 2nd-4th May and then again on 8th and 9th May. Artists allover Sheffield open their studios up for you to explore, chat with them and find out about their art. It’s a great way to find lovely art to buy too though there is no expectation to buy.
Watch ‘Folk who Roam‘
Folk Who Roam, directed by award-winning filmmaker Emma Crome, explores ongoing land access campaigns and the relationship between folk music, instrument making, and England’s countryside. The project follows the making of a special violin by luthier Emma Hardy before it is then passed into the hands of its first player, Rosie Butler-Hall. Moving between the workshop and the Peak District, the film reflects on how traditional music is formed by craft and environment. The film premieres at Portland Works on Sunday 17th May.
If you enjoy gentle creative ideas, nature-based inspiration, and invitations to slow art workshops in Sheffield, you’re very welcome to stay subscribed — and to share this with anyone who might enjoy making a little more space for creativity.
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