Before the year is out, I've updated my portfolio to include key works from 2000 - 2020, in my usual postcard format. The images are quite small to keep it light.
If you would like a higher quality, printable  version email me lee @ lasimmons.com

Below are cards from the last three years, 

And fun with lava cube... if you click on the image to enlarge it, you can then use the arrow to make me climb at speed, like a digital flip book. 

Yesterday I received a PDF of my article (previous blog post) from Mountain Training, in their magazine The Professional Mountaineer​. 

You can download it here: 

Van on Hill ® ​

Introducing Van on Hill: a vehicle that enables art, therapy and climbing under one small roof, or internet connection.



 #art #painting #installation #socialart #writing #soundrecording
#climbinginstructor #climbing #rockclimbing #hillwalking #scrambling #tradclimbing 
#climbingtherapy #therapeuticclimbing
#onlinetherapy #emdr #arttherapy #psychotherapy #traumarecovery 

Tonight this fun event will take place online. I’m on first for 400 seconds of The Birthday Projects:

'L. A. Simmons, is an artist whose practice is based in painting; moving to and from that traditional format as if the canvas is a trampoline.⠀
⠀
Her paintings have incorporated sheep, goats, firemen, a choir, a band, the ocean. They are often temporary and social, resulting in photographic evidence.⠀
⠀
Lee's talk will share The Birthday Projects, where she biennially uses her birthday to make a new fine art piece or actualise a project outside of the usual framework.'⠀

'Come and join us for another PK Leamington Spa night online. We will be streaming live to your home on Youtube.
Our wonderful line-up of speakers offer a broad range of subjects. These include spoon carving, cake, how our cities speak to us, a body percussion tutorial, birthday art projects, community supported agriculture, darkroom photography, a plant swap, design as remedy, and we even have a professional viola musician to play for us from Italy. Side note: be prepared for the body percussion tutorial...don't sit too closely to your family on the sofa!
Jamie Chalmers, otherwise known as Mr X Stitch, will be co-hosting the event along with our regular host, Sarah Lowry. Join us for some much needed distraction and entertainment. You might even learn something new!
Tickets are available at different prices: free or with a donation to the Ecotherapy group held at Foundry Wood, Leamington Spa. You choose which ticket you would like. 15% of the ticket fee will cover our admin costs.

Ecotherapy is open to anyone struggling with their mental health, social isolation or addiction recovery. It has been running every week on a Tuesday at Foundry Wood for the past 5 years. Sessions are free to attend and typically 20 to 30 people attend. 
The group operates as a mutually supportive community.  Participants take part in activities based around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing- including connection with nature, mindfulness, sharing a meal together and woodland maintenance. The social connection is also vital and the sense of acceptance by people who understand how you feel. 
Tickets are unlimited, location is no barrier, babysitters not required and pets are welcome. Points will be awarded for the most innovative drinks and snacks, and make sure you save the best spot on the sofa! 
Wherever you are, we would love you to join us.

The talks will start at 7:15pm BST.'

What an unusual three months.  I've not been in the painting studio but have been putting my creativity to use elsewhere. It won't be too long until I open the studio again, though it will likely feel quite different.

I've moved back to making some sound recordings, where in the past this has been a bit of a sound based sketchbook alongside projects; during the COVID-19 pandemic I made some that have a very different slant to share psychological methods that can be useful for managing stress. You can access them here: https://soundcloud.com/user-123906279 

The tour of libraries I was planning to continue with 'The Orange Tree', clearly isn't happening; however the month of November with Chapter Two looks to go ahead in West London. Please email lee @lasimmons.com if you would like information and an invite. Along with everyone else, I'm not sure what that will look like yet, it is likely that two or three people at a time will be able to visit.

---- update Oct 2020, we decided to either postpone or cancel as access is still very limited and limiting ---

March. 

Generally not a month I'm on friendly terms with. 

So much changed in the last week with this virus...

Below is a collaborative document that it might be useful for you to take a look at.

If you have something that would be helpful to add, that is possible. 

coronavirustechhandbook.com

One day at a time. 

x

Recently I decided to make my studio based paintings, photographs, prints and books available to buy online. It's interesting listing output and remnants from my art practice as 'products'! I'm considering it as a project in it's own right and feel pleasantly curious about where it might end up and what I will learn along the way.
We started by listing a handful of resolved paintings but I'm thinking to branch out as I learn the ropes. I've committed to a year developing and testing this out. 

It will be a little while until the site represents the range of pieces that exist in my studio and are possible to own / ship,  but we have started: simmons.shop ! It is also possible to send funds here: paypal.me/leeasimmons for artworks and events that are not on the shop site. Please email [email protected] with / for info. 

(Thanks Getshop.today : a friendly and enthusiastic startup in Whitechapel, London