Just back from our break to Cornwall and I we spent a lot of time in a small town nr. Falmouth called Penryn. We knew of it when we lived in Falmouth but it never really appealed to us. Having spent a longer time there and walking around with Dolly, I fell a little more in love with it. It took me a few days to put my finger on it but it was the mix of residential and industrial commercial buildings all set alongside the end of the river. Been thinking about it a lot and wonder if it reminded me a little of Ireland. Can’t pinpoint anything specific but there were definitely echoes there. Kind of strange as I don’t remember much of childhood but that echo feels really tangible.

I’ve often drawn ‘places’ but keep stopping or getting stuck. Just feel like I am drawing a building / a house / a business with no real reason and don’t want to be ‘that kind of illustrator’, whatever the hell that means. I want to draw more of Westgate but keep stopping as feel like I am just drawing a catalogue of buidlings that like and that doesn’t seem to be enough to keep me going. Do they have to be accurate or true to how they look or stylised so I avoid that. Do I feel Westgate is too small to be interesting ? Can I not connect with it ? Think that is not uncommon to find interest in the unfamiliar. Maybe that’s what it was with Penryn. A total opposite to Westgate - hillier, denser, older, shabbier.

I typed ‘ a sense of space ‘ into Google Gemini and it gave me back the following starting point:

Sense of place

Gemini 01/06/24

Sense of place is a multifaceted concept that describes the relationship between people and environments. It's not just about a place's physical characteristics, but how it makes you feel and the memories you create there. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

The Two Sides of the Coin:

• Objective Characteristics: This refers to the physical and social aspects of a place that shape its overall character. This could include things like:

• Geography: Is it a bustling city center, a quiet mountain town, or a sunny beach?

• Architecture: The buildings, landmarks, and overall aesthetic of the space.

• Culture: The traditions, customs, and everyday life of the people who live there.

• History: The events and stories that have unfolded in this location.

• Subjective Perception: This is the emotional connection and meaning you personally attach to a place. It's shaped by your experiences and memories:

• Memories: Have you had happy experiences here? Feelings of comfort, nostalgia, or excitement can be tied to a place.

• Activities: The things you do in a place can influence your feelings towards it. Maybe it's a park where you play sports or a cafe where you meet friends.

• Significance: A place can hold personal significance, like your childhood home or a place of worship.

The Overall Feeling:

The interplay between these objective and subjective aspects creates your unique sense of place. It's how a specific environment makes you feel, both positive and negative. Some places may feel calming and familiar, while others might feel exciting or even intimidating.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Uniqueness: A strong sense of place is often associated with places that have a distinct character, setting them apart from others.

• Evolution: Our sense of place can change over time as we have new experiences in a location.

• Importance: Sense of place is important for our well-being. It can contribute to feelings of belonging, security, and cultural identity.

Quite a decent summary and a nice starting point.

I spent some time thinking about this today and I was reminded that two of my favourite photography books are Valparaisso by Sergio Larrain and Zyzzx by Gregory Halpern. I’ve brought them both home from the studio to read again. In terms of illustration, London You’re Beautiful is one of my favourite I have bought so far and I’ve read it several times. I am going to re-read that too. I really want to find a way to reconnect with this idea of a sense of place. Seems poignant that my three favourite visual books are all about place - real or imagined but in all cases, experienced by the respected authors. As luck with have it, I received an email too from a favourite Luis Mendo who has just released an ebook to order all about his drawing in Tokyo. His experience of living in a space.

Odd how a short conversation can set you off in a new direction. I was sat next to a freshly graduated BA (Hons) Illustration student and sadly I can’t remember their name. Anyway, we were talking about what was next for them and they were having a year to continue to develop their practice and come back to study an MA in Authorial Practice. Intrigued I’ve been researching more about this and it kind of falls in line with what I was just talking about above with respect to the three books.

Thinking back to my street photography days, that was all about people in their environment. Can I tap back into that again. Will I be able to determine a contextual framework for me to work in freely but with a boundary keeping me secure.

What is it about Place - So why do I struggle with it and why do I continue to be drawn back to it ? 

Wonder if my work could have some depth too. For example there was a lot of broken rubbish bags today and on reflection I should have photographed them. Rubbish in paradise spoils the squeaky image of middle class Westgate-on-Sea. It also highlights the neglected need for those who live above retail and commercial properties who don’t have adequate provision to deal with rubbish that is collected fortnightly. End result is seagulls and foxes have a field day and the rubbish ends up strewn all over the footpath.