The power of family: Mother and daughter artists share their work in a joint exhibition

25 Sep

From the seeds of a dream

A mother and daughter's shared love of art comes to fruition in a joint exhibition. The two fine artists, who practice mixed media art making with a penchant for acrylic paint, collage and plants, have unique painting styles, however their work is united by a touch of the familiar. The exhibition, which is currently on display at Emerald Gallery, explores the power of family ties and the creative bond between mothers and daughters.

Ideas flourish

Family Ties is a collection of paintings documenting the individual art paths of Susan Mackie (my Mummy) and Ali Mackie (me), which share an interwoven narrative and love of plants. Coming from a family background rich in botanical knowledge, it is not surprising that our work, although varied, shows a common thread of plantlike forms from garden inspiration. Working from our respective studios in North Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire, through supportive conversations, ideas flourish. The finished work shows how we each interpret our own unique approaches to mixed art making.

A shared connection

A couple of years ago Mum and I both took part in Nicholas Wilton’s Creative Visionary Program (CVP). It propelled both our art practices to develop in ways we never imagined. It also opened up a whole new level of shared connection for us. Mum and I have always been close. Back in school I remember coming home and sitting for ages in the kitchen sharing the chitchat of the day while Mum prepared dinner. When I went off to art college the conversations continued. By the end of the first year I recall my father being less than pleased with the phone bill of reverse charge calls we’d racked up from the pay phone in my halls of residence. No mobile phones back then!

Fast forward to today and we’re still chatting every chance we get. In the morning we share our creative plans for the day and in the afternoon we check in with each other to see how they’ve gone. There’s also likely to be messages in between time asking each other for advice on work in progress or ideas that need a second opinion. While we’ve both got a keen eye for detail and a strong sense of what we want to achieve there’s a special bond in being able to share the progress with each other.

Dreams really do come true

It’s through our many creative conversations that the idea for our shared exhibition took root. Mum had the initial idea that it would be a wonderful thing for us to stand side by side showing our work together, but it was always a question of how and where this could happen? As with all good ideas that are destined to bloom a little bit of patience, determination and a sprinkle of serendipity are required. This is where the lovely Emerald Frames & Gallery stepped in. A couple of years ago I joined Cath Friend and her fantastic team as Gallery Manager and the rest, as they say, is history. I absolutely love it when creative forces collide and dreams come true.

Family Ties

Our exhibition demonstrates our love for art making and the inspiration we find in gardens and plant life. My grandmother (my mother’s mother) was a botanist and her appreciation for flowers and art is woven into our shared story. It was from her I learned my appreciation for wild flowers and pot plants alike. From my Mum I’ve learned how to design a garden, how to make the most of vantage points and take advantage of the serenity of being amongst growing things. It’s from within the tranquil beauty of her garden that we planned Family Ties and it’s with great delight and much anticipation that we invite you to take a look.