Our House Is Your Home
Our House Community, 15 Heathcote Road, Liverpool L4 6XB
Blank Canvas
Your mind is a Blank Canvas!!
The majority of people have struggled during the lockdowns, but it was the people that kept us going. On social media it was the posts, tweets, paintings, drawings, poems, paintings, books...these were all inspiring.
These inspiring people are our neighbours, out community, hero's saving lives and they don't even know the impact they are having.
I wanted to let those people know how they supported me and give them a platform to showcase their work...inspire people.
This was a perfect opportunity to use the expression Blank Canvas...your mind is a blank canvas, it has been reset by the pandemic...start something new, learn alternative ways to express yourself, your emotions and improve mental health.
The community and the below creative artists came together on the 24th July and used that resilience to connect with who they are, where they live and the beauty that already exists in their life's and the lives of their community.
Natalie Reeves-Billing
Natalie is a Liverpool lass with a wicked sense of humour. She writes fantastical stories for young audiences and dabbles in poetry and fiction. Her mission is develop enriched reading and learning systems, using creativity and storytelling as a tool for healing, learning, and personal growth.
Emma Case
Emma is a photographer specialising in projects that explore home, memory and place. Focusing particularly on nostalgia and the ‘everyday’, Emma is interested in working with individuals and communities, working collectively, and building real relationships over time. Collecting photographs, stories and documenting change.
Nostalgia and memory is a strong focus within her work. She is interested in the relationship between how our memories and stories have shaped us and the connection to how our current memories are now made.
Clare Gardner
Clare is a self-taught artist. Clare has always done commissions for friends and family and a few years ago Clare launched a small business customising trainers on Instagram and Twitter. Clare is a wife and mother of three boys and they are huge fans of Liverpool FC. Most of Clare's portraits are done with colour pencil.
Michael Dullaghan
Michael, is a lifelong Everton fan.
He found social media fame when posting heartfelt messages asking for more friends.
The post was shown to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who sent a letter along with a hamper of merchandise, and on his birthday a signed and framed Everton shirt with his name on the back. Michael inspires so many with his love for painting and has sold is paintings worldwide.
Mary Carr
Mary is a HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist with a passion for art and the use of the arts for health and wellbeing. Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication. Words can lose their meaning, but art can help those who are experiencing difficulties in their lives gain greater understanding of what may be driving their thoughts and feelings and to move towards positive change. Art and creativity really can transform lives and Art Therapy can offer an alternative yet powerful and effective means for us to connect with and to share our own life stories.
Matthew Jacobson
Matthew is a gifted local Author and Music Writer.
In 2017, Matthew released his debut book, Pieces of Morrissey – a full analysis of his, and his fellow fans obsession with the influential singer/songwriter. The book received glowing tributes from the music world.
Successful book launches in Manchester/London proved a huge success, Matthew was then invited to London for an interview with Rock and Roll Book Club with a live audience. Matthew has appeared on numerous radio stations/TV features on The Smiths/Morrissey. And also curated two nights at the British Music Experience – celebrating the music of The Smiths/Morrissey.
Matthew's latest series, 'On the Streets I Ran' and articles have received glowing feedback from local media.
Iroro Azanuwha
Iroro is a photographer. Poet. Videographer. Group facilitator. He is passionate about photography and videography in particular using it as a platform to communicate individual narratives. He strongly believes that photography and videography can be used as a platform to enhance mental wellbeing by providing an outlet and the skills to encourage people to be conscious and present within the moment but focus attention through the lens rather than the overwhelming surroundings of current situations of life.
Rachel Gaskell
Rachel is an artist and emotion seeker through creativity. Rachel travels through Fairy Tales and Wild Stories which are driven by being a survivor of personal trauma. Finding magic and peace through creativity
Cheryl Joyce
Cheryl is an artist from Liverpool who specialises in paint pouring, also known as Fluid Art. She runs acrylic paint pouring sessions at a local men's mental health charity, Sean's Place, as well as running sessions for families with disabled children in Knowsley. Cheryl discovered paint pouring when she was looking for a creative activity she could do with her son who is on the autism spectrum and found this was having a positive impact on her own mental health. A long-term sufferer of anxiety and depression triggered by chronic stress, Cheryl found watching the paint moving around the canvas deeply calming. Her goal is to share the mental health benefits of being creative.
Alex Baldwin
Alex is a unique artist with autism who is trying to share his paintings with every country on Earth... Alex has paintings hanging on walls in over 50 countries in the world. His singular approach to art-making and use of colour he set out on a mission to have at least one painting hanging on a wall in every country in the world.
Jude Lennon
Jude is a storyteller and by storytelling I mean traditional oral storytelling, allowing the listener to let their imagination run free. With her mascot Lamby and the rest of the Little Lamb Tales team, Jude tells stories at Primary schools, community events, festivals and libraries. She even appears in her very own book.
Keysha Binns
Keysha Naomi Binns is a qualified nursery nurse and a graduate of the University of Liverpool, where she received a BSc(Hons) in Psychology.
Her inspiration to write children's books came after many years of trying to encourage young children to brush their teeth at nursery.
Passionate about capturing the attention of youngsters during story time, Keysha thought this would be a great way to engage in dental hygiene from an early age. The Gum Chums was born.
John Culshaw
John is a Liverpool-based artist who paints a range of subjects, but specialising in portraits, especially, although not exclusively, of local icons in his (our) home city.