Updated October 2025
Research (PhD)
I have been taking a break from writing, but was thrilled to be part of a artist residency with some of my fellow researchers at The National Gallery in London. My research began with looking at the work of Peder Balke, Norwegian artist (1804-1887), and I began to develop ways of working akin to his for future use in Wales. This is the work I was inspired by:
The Tempest – Balke (1860), 10x14cm, oil on wood
It’s a shining jewel of a painting, tiny but impactful. More to come here regarding this.
Talking to the Freelands Foundation at the National Gallery about my research.
personal
A move to live and work in Wales – renting rather than in the van for this winter. New communities of singing, Welsh language, the soil and swimming in ever more chilly waters!
Nutrition, rest.
art
Recording my surroundings, developing a sense of place, animals, plants, scenes in sketchbooks for now as a daily practice. Embedding. Walking and drawing a lot! Becoming an artist who walks. There is a tribe. I like it solitary mostly, but I like to here of other members of this tribe!
Drawing made in the sun to warm up after swimming, October 2025
A walk in the woods, October 2025
reading
Now reading ‘In The Dark Places of Wisdom’ by Peter Kingsley – looking at the development of philosophy and an area that has been missed or bypassed rooted in southern Italy, which opens philosophy once more to wisdom and insight of Permenides and away from knowledge – the path it has followed pretty exclusively since Socrates and the development of his arguments. Permenides has so much more of an Eastern wisdom about his, which resonates with my PhD and general approach to life.
Walking and painting in Cors Cochno (Borth Bog) on a windy day, October 2025.
community
I have enjoyed singing in Welsh and English in several choirs. I love the Natural Voice Network which forms the style of all the groups I enjoy.
I love my small group of artist friends – four of us who meet fortnightly with an agenda – we talk about art practice and politics, ways of being and doing. We are online and live in Canada, the U.S. and England – not a bad spread for four people. We bring our life perspectives and concern in a safe space. We feel free to question the narrative in all senses.
I also belong to a book group looking at Patanjalis Yoga Sutras and Sanskrit – weekly (based in the UK but online)
Another Eastern Philosophy group – weekly – currently looking at the writings of Tibetan Buddhist **Pema Chödrön.**
I hugely cherish these honest and searching conversations
current ideas
Drawing combined with print making
other writing
pondering another substack post
current grapplings
- Living with values which can be different to the norm
- Identity
- Resourcefulness
organisation
I keep track of my thoughts, notes, pondering and a lot of my life admin using NOTION – I love it as I love ‘Building a Second Brain’ by Tiago Forte which was my inspiration for using Notion.
Thanks to friend and member of aforementioned artist community Liz Ruest for pointing out the value of a changing NOW page like this and guiding me to Derek Sivers and his idea of a now page on a website. Since one of my greatest teachers has been Ram Dass and his ‘Be here now’ philosophy it’s very apt!!
I use a NOTION calendar to keep my business calendar tight. Thanks again Liz for this suggestion.
I use a Leuchtturm1917 bullet journal as a paper resource to keep my head straight – invaluable for someone juggling multiple projects and a home / van life with an aging and neurodivergent brain. (Shameless purchase link to Cult Pens here! – alert to looking at rest of site if you like all things paper and mark).
socials
art:
degrowth and a more natural living: https://www.instagram.com/clare_wassermann_naturally/
pondering another substack post
website: www.clarewassermannart.compersonal
A move to live and work in Wales – renting rather than in the van for this winter. New communities of singing, Welsh language, the soil and swimming in ever more chilly waters!
Nutrition, rest.
art
Recording my surroundings, developing a sense of place, animals, plants, scenes in sketchbooks for now as a daily practice. Embedding. Walking and drawing a lot! Becoming an artist who walks. There is a tribe. I like it solitary mostly, but I like to here of other members of this tribe!
reading
Now reading ‘In The Dark Places of Wisdom’ by Peter Kingsley – looking at the development of philosophy and an area that has been missed or bypassed rooted in southern Italy, which opens philosophy once more to wisdom and insight of Permenides and away from knowledge – the path it has followed pretty exclusively since Socrates and the development of his arguments. Permenides has so much more of an Eastern wisdom about his, which resonates with my PhD and general approach to life.
community
I have enjoyed singing in Welsh and English in several choirs. I love the Natural Voice Network which forms the style of all the groups I enjoy.
I love my small group of artist friends – four of us who meet fortnightly with an agenda – we talk about art practice and politics, ways of being and doing. We are online and live in Canada, the U.S. and England – not a bad spread for four people. We bring our life perspectives and concern in a safe space. We feel free to question the narrative in all senses.
I also belong to a book group looking at Patanjalis Yoga Sutras and Sanskrit – weekly (based in the UK but online)
Another Eastern Philosophy group – weekly – currently looking at the writings of Tibetan Buddhist **Pema Chödrön.**
I hugely cherish these honest and searching conversations
current ideas
Drawing combined with print making
other writing
pondering another substack post
current grapplings
- Living with values which can be different to the norm
- Identity
- Resourcefulness
organisation
I keep track of my thoughts, notes, pondering and a lot of my life admin using NOTION – I love it as I love ‘Building a Second Brain’ by Tiago Forte which was my inspiration for using Notion.
Thanks to friend and member of aforementioned artist community Liz Ruest for pointing out the value of a changing NOW page like this and guiding me to Derek Sivers and his idea of a now page on a website. Since one of my greatest teachers has been Ram Dass and his ‘Be here now’ philosophy it’s very apt!!
I use a NOTION calendar to keep my business calendar tight. Thanks again Liz for this suggestion.
I use a Leuchtturm1917 bullet journal as a paper resource to keep my head straight – invaluable for someone juggling multiple projects and a home / van life with an aging and neurodivergent brain. (Shameless purchase link to Cult Pens here! – alert to looking at rest of site if you like all things paper and mark).
socials
art:
degrowth and a more natural living: https://www.instagram.com/clare_wassermann_naturally/
pondering another substack post
Clare Wassermann Art 