Work in progress

During this art residency Rawnie  listened to what the island (La Gomera) had to say and the outcome was visualised in different art forms, such as spoken word, oil pastel works and sculpture. The stories that Rawnie heard and the spectacular nature on the island were her main forms of inspiration. 

Sharing a concept with others can sometimes be difficult to express in words. Through Rawnie’s workshop, she introduced her idea to multiple groups, ranging in age from 8 to 85 years old. Participants engaged hands-on, immersing themselves in a world where they first observed and listened to nature before creating a small painting using egg tempera. This way, Rawnie shares here artistic process during exhibitions.

The project "an enormity that has no words" that started in 2022 was the starting point for a collection of paintings where Rawnie explores the language of the wind. In her paintings she translates the lines and shapes that the wind creates​ into balanced compositions. By using egg tempera, natural pigments and oil pastel on bare linnen, Rawnies paintings are almost completely biodegradable in the right conditions. 

Rawnie Parsons-Lock and Lydia Burgess explored the Oud Noord Amsterdam neighbourhood, focusing on the language of wind and water in the Buikslotermeer area. This land, once a sea, was reclaimed in the 17th century using windmills, making wind and water integral to the region's history. Lydia concentrated on water, while Rawnie focused on wind, both inspired by the canals, bridges, and the historical connection and division between old and new parts of Amsterdam. This project was in collaboration with Pexpo Amsterdam.

This project began as an attempt to collaborate with nature, specifically the wind—an untouchable and pure force. However, while testing the concept on a Zeeland beach, the presence of the Delta Works revealed how human intervention shapes nature. Wind drawings were later created in Dutch  "natural" landscapes altered by mankind, symbolising an impossible collaboration with nature. The project raises questions about humanity’s relationship with nature and whether true collaboration is still possible in an era of environmental manipulation and decline.

The project was inspired by a photograph taken in China of an elderly man writing calligraphy on a stone path, only for his words to vanish moments later. This fleeting form of art, leaving no trace, sparked the idea of documenting memories temporarily. Using biodegradable materials  a unique paper was designed. Memories were written with special, self made ink that faded over time. This meditative ritual allows individuals to confront and  release personal stories.

In quarantine in 2021, living room shadows were explored through art. A fleeting moment captured in time. Daytime shadows were captured on cotton using cyanotype and nighttime shadows were traced and repeatedly recreated in vibrant coloured paintings. 

Patch Talks was a project organised by Rawnie and three other Amsterdam-based artists to spark a conversations and connect with local residents. Clothing reflects personality—some use it for self-expression, while others prioritize comfort. During each session, one artist engaged in casual discussions with participants, sometimes leading to unexpected topics, while another created a personalized patch inspired by the conversation. The final patch was then explained to the participant. This interactive project transformed personal stories into wearable art.

Blue is the colour of the sky and sea. Blue is strongly associated with tranquillity and calmness. Blue is also often associated with different religions. Also, light is associated with religion and often represents the presence of the almighty. Some religions believe that it gives life, destroys evil and represents the soul. Light is hope and energy and without light there would be no life. Blue belief was inspired by these two divine subjects (blue and light). 

During the covid quarantine, the "Plant Hives" were created to repurposing plastic bottles and fruit nets. Designed to resemble beehives, they form a self-sustaining ecosystem. Anyone can build one at home using minimal tools and recycled materials. This ongoing art project allows nature to take over the unnatural.