The art of Lockdown

We’ve seen so much on line this past 12 months that not much surprises us … but then, all this art! Pottery, drawing, painting and sculpture on Instagram grids from hairdressers! We love it.

Back up to last Summer – we were thrilled to see British Hairdresser of the Year Sally Brooks get her creative mojo going with pottery. Then Sal turned to drawing – her brand of cartoon figure is delightful. See @cotondoodleart on Instagram. Browsing social media, we spotted more artistic hairdressers: Rosie Briscoe; Jason Miller; and Mark Woolley among others. We invited them to tell us more. You’ll love what they say:

Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks, London

“During lockdown I really wanted to try something new. I have always wanted to try things like learning pottery, so in the first Lockdown I spent time outside on my wheel trying to conquer it! It was hard and it honestly made me respect how, as with any creative artist, the skill required is underestimated. I thought it would be something I would be able to do; don’t get me wrong I can throw a small pot on the wheel and I can hand build a pot, but the more you start delving into an art you realise it takes time to learn the skill properly. In the second Lockdown I decided to drawn and paint. I definitely have my own style. Both pottery and drawing are new projects which I realise are not so different from hairdressing; to be really good at something you have to learn the basics first and that the best thing is practice. 
“I have always loved things a bit ‘kookie’ a bit odd and a bit, well me I suppose! I am so happy that my ‘art’ has made people smile, it has made the people who I have given it to really happy and I couldn’t ask for more. But I will take courses and I hope I find time to get better and to see if I can actually learn a new creativity properly.”

Jason Miller, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

“I’ve been painting for about 20 years now and it’s just naturally evolved. I’ve always been inspired by art for interior spaces and recently have put some of my art in our salons. Also I’ve been lucky to have exhibited in a few Edinburgh galleries and have my work sprinkled around a few houses. It’s a passion I need to do, but I just let it happen as it comes. I go through periods where I don’t do very much especially when we are so busy running our salons. I am fortunate to have created a studio at home so I can shut the door and come back to it later. I have had more time in Lockdown to experiment and have definitely changed direction, incorporating different medias as previously I have always stuck to oil on canvas or gouache on paper. 
“Even though we have had more time in Lockdown, you still need to be in the right creative mind set to get into art. I find it very similar to creating a hair piece for a hair show.  My best tip for myself is a deadline; then I get it done. I love my job, love our industry and love art and the two seem to go hand in hand so I will just keep going with them both. But I definitely won’t be giving up the day job.”

Mark Woolley, Electric London

“I’ve been creating art pieces since school and it gives me a similar feeling to when I’m hairdressing – you’re working with shape, balance and colour, so there’s a real synergy there.  Also, it’s also a bit of escapism from when I’m running my business, too.  I tend to work on my art at night after family time. I’ve actually been working a lot through Lockdown either getting the Electric Falmer Court head office progressed, opening our new Electric Space in central London, plus hosting virtual meetings and education, so my art has kept me focused. As I do with hairdressing, I’m always learning with my art. When I’m able to, I visit interesting art exhibitions, and I read a lot of art books too.  As with anything creative, you constantly keep learning and you never tire of it.

“I’m a creative, so working with my hands is natural for me. We’re seen as a creative hub in the UK – if you think of all the outstanding hairdressers, artists, musicians, designers, architects and so on, UK creativity is where it’s at. Within my art, I often change my genre, whether it’s abstract painting, creating a collage or installation.  I enjoy mixing up my art and will often have a few pieces in development. I doubt I’ll retire but either way, art is always something I’ll be doing in my life as I really enjoy the variation and creativity. “

Rosie Briscoe, Matrix Artist @rosiebriscoehair

“I’ve always loved drawing but since leaving art college and getting into hairdressing, I’ve not really had the time or creative head space. I love colour, I find making things very cathartic. I think a lot of people are trying to strike a new balance when they return to work and for me, not being so busy at the salon and having days to do artwork will be my aim after the initial rush. Drawing is a lot like hairdressing; you need a good eye for texture as colour and form, although you need more scale and proportion in drawing which I’ve had to practise. Thankfully in Lockdown there’s the internet full of tutorials on drawing and I’ve had the time to study. 

“Because of the drawings I’ve uploading on to Instagram, Matrix contacted me about their brand relaunch. They asked me to draw the artistic and education team, and on 1 March everyone changed their social media profiles to the illustrations I’d done. It was a really proud moment seeing all my work and to feel part of something big and new! This also pushed me to raise some money for the Hair & Beauty Charity, as a newly self-employed hairdresser I’ve not been entitled to any Government help. But thankfully with commissions and illustration work I’ve been able to support myself. For a lot of hairdressers, Covid has had a huge effect on them and the charity had seen a huge rise in people asking for financial support. I’ve done illustrations of 6 hairdressers work and had them printed on to postcard-sizes, recycled card print, which I’m selling with all proceeds going to the charity. It’s wonderful how these huge hairdressers all agreed to me using there work to raise some money! Sally’s image is in the pack and is one of my favourite things I’ve ever drawn!”