It'll Be Alright: Original Drawings For Hope and Wellbeing - Blog

Emma Howell
17 May, 2020

47 Days into UK Coronavirus Lockdown

It’ll Be Alright is an ongoing collection of pastel drawings that first took shape in response to COVID lockdown. One seemingly tedious (but sunny) afternoon, I planted myself in the garden with a stack of freshly torn paper and a gigantic box of soft pastels. Little did I know, an extensive collection of bright pastel works would unfold within a few hours.

Spontaneous, enthusiastic and assertive marks in varying bright hues evolved into confident mental landscapes. As I stared at the first 8 works basking in the sun on the patio, my previously numb mental status evolved into some sort of state of nostalgia, calmness and wellbeing. These pieces felt comforting and hopeful.

This Collection Has Two Creators

During this lockdown, our house has seemingly turned upside down and inside out. Mountains of paper cover the table surfaces, invoices for pending orders envelop a wall in the dining room, pastel and paint have stained the patio and kitchen floor, cardboard boxes have somehow reproduced..

And for a long time I’d moan at Jon for having too many tools, bicycles and man toys in the house. The hypocrisy is now worryingly evident.

He’s had to put up wth a lot of mess, mood, anxiety and imposter syndrome from me over the last few weeks of lockdown, so I wanted to involve him in this collection. He has been given the role of naming each of the artworks.

Despite the collection’s romantic and joyful ideology and aesthetic, it certainly comes with a challenge for me. Having Jon name the pieces is forcing me to let go of some control and take a step back from the obsessive and meticulous process I usually have with my work.

Quickest Selling Collection Yet

Thank you to all of you who have collected pieces, so far. Since the release date on 08/05/20, 22 pieces have sold – and I can’t wait to see where the others will end up.

I hope that each piece will bring you hope, evoke feelings of calmness and motivate you to keep your chin up under these current circumstances. It’ll be alright.

Oh, and the collection will continue. Stay tuned.