Residency Reflections: Atticus Wakefield
First impression of Le Moulin de Marnay and the environment
I was struck by the light, we had a beautiful sunset on the first night, and walking through the fields surrounding Le Moulin de Marnay you really understood why artists became obsessed with the landscape and light of the Loire Valley.
How did the residency impact your creative process?
Having an opportunity to work with natural light and away from the city gave me the chance to experiment and reflect on certain habits that form in the studio. Experimentation with both material and form was exciting and something I want to hold onto more as I return back to New York.
Was there a particular moment during the residency that stands out as transformative or unexpected?
Being able to go for a walk in the fields in between painting in the studio was a joy. These little moments of forgetting what you’re working on helped to reinvigorate the paintings when I returned.
What did the time away from your regular environment teach you about your needs as an artist?
The time away from my normal studio practice pointed towards a need for joy and experimentation in painting. When in one environment habits form quickly and as an artist it is important to always challenge these habits, to push the work into uncomfortable terrain. Sometimes that shift can happen internally in the studio, but painting in a new environment was a catalyst for change. Transformation and growth are the primary goals, so finding ways to surprise yourself in the act of painting is something I found necessary in my practice.
The residency is a shared experience, what was it like, interacting with the other artists?
It was interesting and generative to work alongside the other artists at the residency. Pockets of conversation between time in the studio helped to maintain a working rhythm and reflect on the daily changes in painting.
Is there anything you left behind — literally or metaphorically — when the residency ended?
I left behind the smell of turpentine. I’m used to working with Gamsol, but that delicious smell of linseed and turpentine remains etched in my nostrils. I left behind a palette too, and along with it maybe some of the painterly habits I was leaving unexamined before the residency.
Anything else you would like to share?
It was a joy!