Slow Art & Sketchbooking with Agnes

Over the past few days, I’ve been going live on TikTok, sharing my process of creating slow, memory-based illustrations in real time. These sessions — five so far — have become little rituals of drawing, reflecting, and piecing together personal memories into sketchbook pages.

Each artwork has been built from scratch using fragments of real life: old cinema and train tickets, handwritten notes, and leaflets from cultural places and festivals that left an imprint on me. The process resembles how sketchbooks are developed for fine art university entries — thoughtful, layered, personal.

In total, around 300 people dropped in across the sessions. Some stayed for a few moments, some longer — and to each of you, thank you. Your presence made the space feel gently shared. 🌿

This project has been very therapeutic for me, and I think in the future I’d love to explore doing it in real spaces, with groups, like a collective memory-sketching practice. For now, I’m sharing a few of the illustrations that came out of those sessions — the rest will be available online soon, once I manage to edit the recordings.

Thank you again to everyone who joined — and if you feel drawn to memory-based art, quiet processes, or sketchbooking as reflection, feel free to follow my TikTok @aga_loft

#SlowArt #SketchbookPractice #Illustration #TikTokLive #MemoryArt #CreativeProcess #ArtAsTherapy #SketchbookingWithAgnes #VisualJournaling #StudioDiary #ContemporaryIllustration #FineArtSketchbook #AgnesPrygiel

Kilcreggan Calling Me Back!

In my recent Walks for Mental Health project, I randomly found myself in Kilcreggan yesterday — only to realise I’d been there before, during my first motorbike trip to Scotland back in 2022. It’s a small town on the coast of Argyle and Bute.

3 years ago, I arrived in Kilcreggan overland from Loch Lomond on a Sunday — no ferries running — and parked on a slightly sloped drive outside a café. I remember a man telling me to watch my bike or it might roll down, in that way people sometimes do when they assume a woman can’t park a motorbike properly. (Cheers, mate.)

Yesterday, I came by ferry from Gourock and didn’t recognise the place at first — not until I saw that same café and the drive. It was almost majestic, how the place gently called me back.

The 901 bus ride from Largs to Gourock was stunning too — a proper coastal journey.

These walks aren’t really about fixing any particular issue. They’re about exploring, navigating a big life and career shift after leaving London for Scotland. And most of all, letting nature steady me.

I attach a timetable for the ferry from Gourock to Kilcreggan for those who may want to take the trip as well! Bear in mind, it’s only a small ferry that can oniy accommodate passengers on foot and cyclists! 

#WalksForMentalHealth #Kilcreggan #ScottishCoast #NatureHeals #WestScotland #FerryAdventures #NorthAyrshire #QuietPlaces #SlowTravel #MentalHealthAwareness #CreativeRecovery 

A Quiet Hour in Kilwinning

In my recent Walks for Mental Health, I wandered into Kilwinning today. I’ve gone past it many times on the train or bus, but this was the first time I stopped to visit.

What I found was a small but elevated town, with a pleasant high street and the remains of Kilwinning Abbey — peaceful and grand.

There are thoughtful touches of art in the public space: commissioned mosaics, and a hidden mural next to Kilty’s Lounge. I also loved the historic architecture of Mother Lodge, dating back to the 12th century. It is said that it started as a place for skilled stone workers who built the Kilwinning Abbey to train and stay at. In warm months you can also climb the abbey’s clock tower, see the original bell and take in amazing views of the town.

Lately, I’ve been exploring North Ayrshire during my Walks for Mental Health. They are not really about fixing any particular mental health issue, but looking after myself, discovering the area of Scotland I moved to from London, and allowing small places to speak softly for themselves.

#Kilwinning #WalksForMentalHealth #NorthAyrshire #AbbeyRuins #ScottishTowns #PublicArt #HiddenScotland #MindfulWalking #kilwinningabbey

Modern Art at the Heart of Glasgow

            A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Glasgow, a space that blends charm and intrigue with its eclectic collection of fun and significant artworks. The experience begins with Eduardo Paolozzi's vibrant mechanical sculpture—a fantastical, non-functional machine that captivates with its bold colours and imaginative design.

             The upper floors offer a fascinating exploration of the intersection between art and design, showcasing pieces that balance functionality and artistic expression. Nicola L.'s whimsical inflatable yellow foot-seat is a clever reinterpretation of a chaise longue. Ettore Sottsass transforms the concept of a bookshelf into a striking red, harpoon-shaped sculpture. Rabiya Choudry’s vivid painting, Dream Baby Dream, offers a reflective dive into the chaotic beauty of human thought. Niki de Saint Phalle's cow-shaped flower pot and her iconic perfume packaging are vibrant, standout pieces that exude her unmistakable artistic style. 

       

 

         Although my visit was cut short due to arriving late, the variety and depth of the exhibits left a lasting impression. I didn’t manage to see everything, but it’s a place I will definitely revisit to explore further.

        No trip to GoMA is complete without admiring the iconic Duke of Wellington statue outside, humorously adorned with its signature street cone—a symbol of Glasgow’s playful spirit. The gallery bridges art, humor, and everyday culture.

Agnes Prygiel, 20/11/2024

Activism or Vandalism: Van Gogh’s Art Targeted by Soup

 

Phillipa Green, Stephen Simpson and Mary Somerville at the National Gallery in London

 

    On September 30th, three activists entered the National Gallery in London and threw the contents of a Heinz tinned soup onto Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers paintings as part of an environmental protest against the damaging effects of the oil industry on our planet. A similar incident occurred in 2022, prompting the National Gallery to ban bringing food and drinks onto the premises.

    One may wonder: do these sorts of attacks effectively highlight the cause? Activists upset many people with their controversial methods, yet their intention is to convey that the nature depicted in the artworks is in danger and requires protection, along with the systemic changes that are not currently in place. They argue that they don’t cause any lasting damage to the paintings since they are protected by thick glass. However, gallery curators claim that damage to the expensive frames and walls occur with repair costs estimated between £10,000 and £20,000. While this might sound exaggerated, it underscores the fact that some work to restore the display will be required.

    Industrialists and governments seem to be unmoved by the tangible effects of climate change—such as droughts, floods, and wildfires. Is it realistic to expect an oil company executive to shut down their business and suddenly begin installing wind turbines just because someone threw soup on an oil painting in a distant fine art gallery?

    We often see activists as extreme, detached, and even contemptuous of societal norms. In some ways, they do highlight issues that are crucial to us all. Right cause, wrong method? One could say that. Yet, there seems to be an underlying logic: if nothing else works, maybe this will shake the public and refocus the conversation.

    Although driven by noble intentions, activists often target an easy option: an art gallery that isn’t prepared for such attacks. In this context, Van Gogh's painting becomes a vulnerable victim in an unrelated battle. Is it activism or vandalism? If anyone else, without a "higher" motive, walked into a gallery and threw soup on a famous painting, they would surely not be able to walk away without consequences.

    Disrespecting art, which often embodies higher ideals, seems inappropriate—regardless of the cause. While I appreciate the protestors' courage to stand up for their beliefs, I think they should reconsider their methods. Splashing a tin of soup on a painting in the National Gallery is unlikely to lead to real change in the oil industry; in fact, it may undermine environmental efforts by causing them to be taken less seriously. While protests are necessary, especially as our planet faces an uncertain future, the format of these actions requires more in-depth thought and reflection.

 

Agnes Prygiel

20.10.2024