Celebrating women artists on International Women's Day

At a time when the world is in chaos, let's take a step back to reflect on, support and celebrate all the women who are facing huge challenges ahead and all they have achieved in the past.

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” - Maya Angelou.

While any day can be an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the women in your life, International Women's Day [IWD] on 8th March recognises the achievements of women and raises awareness of gender equality. This challenge is ongoing.

Tree of life by Smita Sonthalia £500

At Skylark Galleries we have many strong women who are talented, support each other and create original art. We are a community of artists with an inspiring Director Gill Hickman who is talented, supportive and accepts everyone for who they are on an equal footing. We rejoice and celebrate each other's achievements in the galleries and have a mutual respect for each other. Many of our artists are multitasking, running homes, family, school runs, then painting and running their own art businesses.

Greenfinch by Amanda Gosse £110

International Women's Day is a global celebration dating back to the early 1900s when over 15,000 women marched in the streets of New York to protest about equality, better working conditions and right to vote. From then National Women's Day was established and has reached several countries, raising awareness and encouraging others to advocate gender equality.

Reclining lady by Ruty Benjamini £240

This year's theme is 'break the bias' looking at creating an environment free of stereotypes, bias, discrimination and focusing on gender equality in the workplace, colleges, schools etc and creating a balance in communities.
Educating and empowering all women is paramount and we can celebrate by acknowledging those around us who make a difference.

River Deep Mountain High by Eryka Isaak £600

My all time favourite poet Maya Angelou said, “do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

As women we are always striving to do better so let's sit back for a minute and appreciate how far we have come. Let's be proud to be women. I know I am.

Bud by Sangeeta Bhagawati £120

So let's celebrate women all over the world who are brave, inspiring, strong, vulnerable and true to themselves. Sometimes our strength comes from asking for help when we most need it, acknowledging our fears, our vulnerabilities and uniting with women everywhere who are like-minded and supportive.

Stress Less, Yoga More by Viven Phelan £295

I now understand that our strength is in knowing ourselves, rebuilding ourselves daily and pushing forward with hope and optimism.

Brighton beach by Stella Tooth £195

My motto has always been 'onwards and upwards' aspiring to do better and look to the future.

Ascending by Gill Hickman £390

Let's celebrate by looking at the artwork of some of our wonderful women artists who create because they have passion, enthusiasm and a heap of talent...

Amber, grey, white II by Carol Edgar £225

My painting 'Connection" above celebrates humanity. With our friends around us, and by being connected to nature, we can find peace even if it is for a few minutes of our day. This piece is about protection, kindness, friendship, humanity and hope.  It started with images in my imagination and memories of visiting the Sakura blossom festival in Tokyo. I love relating to how the Japanese picnic under trees celebrating the arrival of spring and new life. Sounds of nature and a canopy of pink.

The more that the terrible news of the war invades our lives, compassion, and kindness are uppermost in my mind. I’m dreaming of euphoric utopian places where nothing can touch us.

My imagination is full of visions of  idealised heightened nature where the flowers are huge and the chirping of birds surrounds me. My meditations are taking me to these imaginary places on a daily basis. When the world is so horrific I need to use distraction to breathe.

Summer Pale by Jo Hogden £65