I’VE SEEN A LOT OF EXHIBITION WORK THIS YEAR AND I THINK THIS MAYBE MY 2023 DRAWING ARTWORK OF THE YEAR!
Today, I shuffled past this display in one of the many Royal Stoke Cancer Centre waiting rooms I’ve had to visit since March.
It usually takes something to stop me in my tracks these days and this inspiring picture did just that.
For the purpose of confidentiality, I’ve covered the name of this young artist’s touching and heartfelt work. It was completed on the most available material that came to hand to record their experience of a cancer treatment plan, aptly (to my mind) on a scrap of corrugated cardboard.
Their artwork reached out and emboldened me to share my current health situation to a wider audience who may not know of my cancer journey too. I have stage 3 bowel cancer, it’s treatable and I still have some way to go to become cancer free.
So, today I completed my second chemo session. I cannot lie, the side effects can be unpleasant but not as unpleasant as the consequences of doing nothing.
I have a positive mindset which has been constantly refilled with love and support from my family and friends (home and abroad). I’m cheered on by my wonderful Foxlowe Creative Hub studio buddies and drawing tuition clients. Picked up by my headteacher, line manager, department teacher colleagues and teachers and students at Westwood College. Since taking the leap of faith and with encouragement of my family, I decided to follow my passion and become an impoverished loser. Yes, a professional black and white portrait artist. But my grit, determination and dare to dream of London exhibitions has led me into places and people in my hometown that seem to champion me and my ability to persist and perfect my brand of art. My network of business friends and clients in the town I love, Leek, have lifted me from obscurity into the occasional limelight of a London exhibition on the Mall. My mindset is clear and I am driven to follow my passion to draw and create my art.
So, the sentiments of relief, gratitude and love in this simple artwork, helped to reflect on my current health predicament and mental and often physical strain it is having on those around me. It rings so true and it salutes those incredible NHS staff at the Royal Stoke for their incredible professionalism, dedication, skill, due diligence. They represent all that is good and decent in Britain. This is hope.
To everyone, I know and love, thank you, thank you, thank you. I know “Kindness is Magic” and “It takes (monumental) strength to be gentle and kind”, that is for sure. Those who know me well (and there’s not many) will know the origins of these quotes and I’m happy to share these with anyone in person.
NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE, DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF ART.
IT CHANGES YOU IN WAYS YOU CAN BE UNPREPARED FOR. TODAY THIS VERY YOUNG PERSON DID THAT.
The Art of Gavin Bowyer 