A new exhibition has opened at Penrith Museum.
A Time to Stare, by David Boyd, captures the artist’s perspective on his lockdown experience over the past year and includes five large paintings, seven drawings and over 20 watercolours, pen and ink drawings and sketch books.
The title of the exhibition comes from what David describes as a different way of looking at life.
He said: “The paintings, in particular, come from a sense of staring through the everyday world and into an unreal and weird world of lockdown.
“Before March 2020, my work had been much more outdoors and all about Cumbrian landscapes across the Lake District, Eden Valley and North Pennines.
“However, the pandemic confined me to my house, studio and garden for months at a time.
“The subjects of my work had to change and this exhibition is evidence of that very unusual time and a new approach.”
What started as humorous sketches for social media posting about lockdown activities – from online yoga and baking to home haircuts and gardening – gradually developed into more intense canvases and examples of both are included in A Time to Stare.
“Some of the paintings kept the humour of the sketches but others now have more of a focus on the psychological impact of COVID-19 and the fears and anxieties that I associate with lockdown,” he added.
A Time to Stare runs at Penrith Museum until Saturday July 31 and is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
