In Jan-Feb 2025 I joined an online drawing program called ‘Drawing Correspondence’ and this has enabled me to reflect on why I choose to use the materials that I do and the subject matter, and to look more deeply at the ‘correspondence’ between these elements.

What has always interested me is how to capture the traces that we leave behind, and I have previously done work that looks at this theme more widely, rather than being pictorial. What I have learnt about myself through the program is that my physical interaction with surfaces has a regulating function, and being able to pursue the curiosity of what a surface may hide until it is printed, is also important to me. This is where my ‘ghostbuildings’ work was born, from drawing into a piece of discarded packaging rather than with pencil on paper.

Regular repetitive movement acts as a natural regulator during times of stress, providing both physical and mental stability. Engaging in consistent motion, whether through walking, stretching, or even simple hand movements, encourages the body to release tension and fosters a sense of calm. This rhythmic activity aids in processing emotions by allowing the mind to engage in a flow state, where thoughts can be sorted and understood more clearly. Similarly, physical drawing—through repetitive strokes or patterns—serves as a form of kinesthetic meditation. It creates a pathway for emotional expression and cognitive clarity, as the act of drawing demands focus while simultaneously providing an outlet for feelings, further enhancing the therapeutic impact of repetition.

I have decided to explore this notion more in my work in 2025, as another element of my practice is how it sits between many other aspects of my daily life. Before completing the Drawing Correspondence program I hadn’t fully linked with the function that making art has for me.

To begin this project, I used the end point of the Drawing Correspondence course to reflect more upon the processes I commonly go through when making my work and in doing this, it allowed me to reflect upon the ‘order’ that working in this way brings to my often over-busy mind. Using the format of a ‘chatterbox’ I scribed in to a larger piece of Tetrapak eight process words which apply to my drawing practice. Underneath each word I pondered what drawing brings to me as an artist and printmaker.

In the process of this exercise, I became quite interested in the marks that were on the back of the object, caused by folding it and using it. I printed these using intaglio printmaking and the results are below.