World Mental Health Day: An Interview with Deborah Porter

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and The Nutshell is presenting a session on Teenage Art Journaling with artist Deborah Porter. We sat down with Deborah to talk about what will be happening in her workshop, her creative background, and why art journalling is so important to her.

You can book your place on the workshop here.

Can you tell me about the workshop you will be running at The Nutshell?

My Art Journaling workshop will be using mixed media. We start with free flow writing to unload thoughts and feelings, and then this then gets covered up to start the layering process of intuitive collaging and creating without any rules. This workshop will be part of World Mental Health day and I am really happy to be highlighting Wellbeing in Winchester by offer Art Journaling for teenagers at The Nutshell.

 Can you talk about your creative background and creative education?

I studied at Winchester School of Art and in London, and worked in the creative industry in London for 14 years after which I chose to move into more caring roles working with children and Solent Mind.

In 2014 I was looking for ways to help me articulate what was going on in my head and found that visually connecting and processing creatively my feelings was a really powerful tool. Since then I have been passionate about art journaling, wanting to share this tool with young people and adults.

 Can you describe what you aim to do through your work?

The art journals become part of you; we create in them to let go. Art journaling is about process not perfection, but the magic is the letting go and teenagers often find they love the work they do in their journals which in turn inspires them to create other work. Through art journaling teenagers get to unload and find a creative tool to help build their own resilience to their own wellbeing. Art Journaling is like having a visual conversation with yourself, and the aim is to enjoy progress, not perfection.

 Who or what were your biggest artistic inspirations and influences?

At college I studied German Expressionism and how they used art to express the reality and feelings between the wars. I am drawn to American Abstract Expressionism enjoying artistis like William De Kooning. I love Cy Twomblys beautifully layered free marks and Roger Hilton for his free expression. With regards to Art Journaling I was hooked by reading Frida Kahlo's visual diaries and loved the rawness and honesty. 

 What are you currently working on?

Every day I connect by writing and covering and using the release of creativity to help with my personal growth. I work on at least two books at the same time as I work fast, play and explore.

 What kind of space and environment do you like to create your work in?

The joy of art journaling is that you can do it anywhere. In the summer I move out to my studio by the river where I spread all my materials out but in the Winter I minimise my mixed media trolleys and bring them inside. I use my kitchen table and set a small space at the end of the table with my journal and materials so I can just come in and pick up every day.

 In what way is your process collaborative? 

In my workshops we work alone and as a group. It’s important to let teenagers silence that inner critic of wanting everything to look like its come through an Instagram filter! That’s why I have designed the workshop to be fun creatively and incorporate collaborative exercises.

How do you feel the Winchester creative community can best be described?

From when I moved back in 2007 and then in 2016 Winchester has really grown creatively. With graphic designers and artists and lots of creative networks. I love the strategy of councils supporting their artists and aspire to other local areas such as Eastleigh, Portsmouth and Southampton who have used their local buildings to accommodate and create artist studios.

www.coreartjournaling.com