FOCUS: Painting away troubles in 'plein air'

Sunday 15 September 2024

A couple who used painting and drawing to help overcome mental health challenges have launched a new group to help islanders explore their creative side, while taking in the wonders of Jersey.

Started by Helen Thompson and her partner Matt Ingham, the Plein Air Painting group began after the pair met last year and decided to return to their childhood love of art.

"I had taken up acrylic painting in the last few years and Matt had been focusing on sketches and drawing with pencil and pen," Miss Thompson said.

"Both of us discovered our creative sides again when experiencing challenges with our mental health and found that using art as an outlet really improved our emotional wellbeing."

Noting that there was "nothing locally for people to meet up and just be creative that doesn't cost anything", the pair decided to head out and about with their sketchbooks and watercolours.

Pictured: Eager painters taking part at one of Plein Air Painting events in The Royal Square.

This led to the creation of Plein Air Painting – a group for islanders who want to explore their creative side in the fresh air with others at no cost.

"Our first meeting was on 1 June and neither of us knew what to expect. It was a beautiful sunny day, we met at Henri's kiosk and walked to the green at the TA centre. There were five of us and we walked around and decided separately what we would draw/paint and got stuck in," Miss Thompson recalled.

Nowadays, the groups holds around two meetings each month – one evening session and one on the weekend.

"As with all our meetings so far, we tend to have people stop and look what we're doing... before not too long we had been joined by a few children that were having a family BBQ," she recalled of another gathering.

"We gave them pencils, pens and paper and they became part of the group for a while and in return  we were treated to delicious BBQ scallops and other BBQ food.

"It was brilliant and felt like a little community even only for a few hours."

Pictured: A Family BBQ where the children joined in with painting and it "felt like a little community".

Since launching, the group has been joined by many different people of all ages and abilities along the way. Locations have varied, ranging from the Royal Square to Howard Davis Park and St Aubin.

"We are lucky enough to live on an island with so many beautiful locations that choosing an area isn't really difficult the only issue we are facing over the coming months is the weather," Miss Thompson said.

"We are looking to hold meetings indoors or at least have a plan B if the weather turns," she continued.

"We would love if we could find somewhere that would be free to use and in return perhaps a painting of the location."

Pictured: Islanders enjoying painting in St Aubin.

The painting duo has recently invested in t-shirts so that they can be easily spotted by those wishing to attend the sessions.

Miss Thompson said: "We know ourselves turning up and doing a different activity and meeting new people can be hard and not being able to recognise anyone can prove difficult too!

"There is no pressure when joining our meetings. There is no time you need to stay for, you can paint or draw whatever you want.

"We encourage any medium, including digital, anyone can turn up and we do carry some spare pencils and paper if needed! It's all ages, abilities and it's free."

GET INVOLVED...

The painting group will be looking to hold charity events in the future after gaining interest from the UK Plein Air Society Facebook Group who are interested in coming to Jersey next year for a week long Plein Air event.

If you are interested in exploring your creative side, Plein Air Painting can be found on Facebook HERE.