Lorraine Tapper gets inspiration from the wildness of the Caribbean

A mixed media collage of a face — Artwork by Lorraine

Art has become a significant part of my life in my later years. I will be 69 on my next birthday. In 2015 after believing for years that I had no creative ability at all I was introduced to free art classes at The Gate for the over 50s with resident Forest Gate teacher Eleanor Pearce. Slowly but surely, she nurtured my previously hidden talent until I became increasingly confident in my abilities.

In the summer of 2023, I had my first solo art show at The Gate and in December of 2023 I took a three-month break to Jamaica intending to focus on developing my art.

Jamaica is a beautiful country with gorgeous landscapes everywhere you look. The regular sunshine helped as I painted or drew outside, bathed in sunshine. I particularly enjoyed the wild areas that were beautiful because they were untamed.

I was inspired by nature and practised using charcoal, drawing various parts of the landscape. I also created paintings with watercolour, alcohol inks and crayons.

YouTube became my teacher, introducing me to videos on collage, and I was hooked. Prior to these videos, I wasn’t impressed with collages. I now realise that I had no idea about how creative you can be creating them.

Having the luxury of focusing on my art for three months was a blessing. I became more forgiving of what I would previously call my mistakes.

Over the last nine years of my art journey, I have been introduced to a range of techniques all of which I enjoy as they require me to fully express my creative side which for many years was invisible to me.

I have learned that “it is never too late” is a truism. Whatever age, if there is something you have always wanted to do but have never pursued it, I say go for it. You never know what you will discover about yourself.

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