Jocelyn Allen
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jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Jocelyn Allen
@jocelynfreya.bsky.social
96 followers 150 following 91 posts
Artist (photography, performance, text+).
Awkwardly dancing on YouTube since 2013.
Mum of two.
linktr.ee/jocelynallen
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jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Starting to introduce my kids to Disney films that I haven't watched since I was a child with a small video collection.

Yesterday we watched Sleeping Beauty.

L (3): Why is she [Maleficent] so unhappy? Maybe she needs a friend.

What's your favourite Disney film from your childhood?
June 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
If you're in Charlotte, North Carolina between now and 6th June, stop by Goodyear Arts and see MOTHER curated by @amynherman.bsky.social.

I'm grateful to be showing an amalgamation of my motherhood work amongst such a great list of artists ❤️

www.goodyeararts.com/calendar/202...
May 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Photo of the year.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Fowl play: flying duck caught in Swiss speed trap believed to be repeat offender. Image shows mallard snapped at 52km/h in same 30km/h zone as a duck on the same day seven years ago.
May 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
I’m delighted to be showing work in MOTHER at Goodyear Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA from 16th May to 6th June.

Thanks to @amynherman.bsky.social for the invitation, and I’m pleased to see my name amongst such a great list of artists.

Let me know if you can visit the show :)
Mother. May 16 - June 16. Goodyear Arts. Curated by Amy Herman. Featuring works from: Jocelyn Allen, April Dauscha, Lauren Frances Evans, Niki Grangruth, Maya Gurantz, Janna Ireland, Madina Joldybek, Justine Kurland, Reneesha McCoy, Abigail Ruth, Grace Stott, Amber Toplisek, Andi Gáldi Vinkó. Opening reception May 16, 6-9pm with reading and performances from: Amy Bagwell + Xavia-Margrith Miles, Kadey Ballard, Joy Davis. A special thanks to the sponsors and private donors who helped make this exhibition possible: Resident Culture, Atelier4, El-Co Colour Labs.
May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
This week I listened to the audiobook of Minnie Driver's Managing Expectations.

Highly recommend. Well told/written. Some funny stories where I laughed out loud. Loved her different voices.

This morning I started listening to Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg.
The cover of Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver - a red background with white headers, quotes in black and white, and a photo in the middle of Minnie when she was younger.
March 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Recently, I answered a few questions for CanvasRebel:
canvasrebel.com/meet-jocelyn...
Screenshot of CanvasRebel's website with a large portrait where I am looking straight at the camera, and my daughters have one hand each on my face. Below it says 'Meet Jocelyn Allen'.
March 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Last week, I finished listening to Marina Abramović's Walk Through Walls. Would recommend 👍

Started listening to Minnie Driver's Managing Expectations today, and I'm currently reading Abi Morgan's This Is Not a Pity Memoir.

What's your favourite memoir/autobiography?
One of the cover's of Marina Abramović's Walk Through Walls.
March 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Lovely to receive Men Asleep zine from Jordanna Kalman.

You can buy a copy here: jordannakalman.bigcartel.com/product/men-...

The brief: Take a picture of a sleeping man and send it to [Jordanna].

The 19 responses that J received are in the zine. The second image is my photo of my husband.
Cover of Men Asleep zine - a black background with an artistic font saying Men Asleep. A photograph of a page of the book: My husband with his eyes closed in our bed. A list of women who responded to Jordanna's emails and contributed a photograph of a man asleep (or trying to sleep) to the zine.
March 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Yep, I'm as awkward at online events as real life events...

Though I'm glad more things are online these days 🙏

(Thanks to Artquest for organising the 30/30 party!)
My avatar in an online gallery space as part of Artquest's 30/30 online party.
March 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Trying to find my new normal after 30 days of Artquest's #thirtythirty art challenge & a busy theatre schedule.

All my works are on my profile, or you can see them all here: artquest.org.uk/user/jocelyn... until the end of March.

Congrats to the 502 others who completed the challenge!
A certificate of success from Artquest saying: I completed 30/30 2025.
March 6, 2025 at 12:59 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Last day! Day 30 of #artquestlondon 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: How are you?

Title: The End & The Beginning

So proud of myself. I was ready to quit after day 5. It's been a stressful, but fun experience. Not sure if I'll do it again next year. Let's see 😅
Poem: The End & The Beginning by Jocelyn Allen. The kids are ill and so am I Slept nine hours, but still nine shy I'm writing this while still in bed I’ve got to decongest my head My nose is runny and now crusty My body is tired, voice is rusty I gargle 'til I start to wretch My back is sore, so need to stretch But no time to rest, got to make people laugh Long days ahead, hope I make no more gaffes Nightmare dreams of forgetting lines Try to relax and follow signs Well, goodbye thirty thirty, today is the end It’s been stressful and fun, though I’m glad to hit send.
March 2, 2025 at 9:20 AM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 29 of #artquestlondon 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: A manifesto for utopia

Title: Some Never Got To See The Sun

I followed the prompt, then diverted. A bit cliché at times, but it's what I think about. Not much time today, but maybe I'll revisit it one day.
When I hear that someone has died By the hands, weapons, buttons of another I think of the seconds, minutes, moments That collectively made up their life I think about the tedious times Their mother, carer, guardian Changed them, cradled their cranium Spoon-fed, safeguarded their survival I think about the work that went into Them learning about life, their being, The energy, the dedication, the time It took for them to become who they were And how it took no time at all To extinguish, destroy, obliterate What once was there But now has turned to dust.
March 1, 2025 at 12:36 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 28 of #artquestlondon 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Title your work with the cost of making it

Title: Five Years of Mothering

We're all sick (there's snot on my top and it's not mine). I'm surprised the kids co-operated. 🙏
A woman in a pink top is in the centre of the picture staring at the camera. There is some snot on the shirt. A hand with a red sleeve touches close to her right eye (left side of the picture), and a hand with a light blue sleeve rests half on the left side of her chin and neck.
February 28, 2025 at 3:02 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 25 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Use someone's 30works30days post as inspiration

Title: Mother With A Red Chair (Inspired by Licia Bronzin)

I was inspired by two paintings by Licia Bronzin (the colours and the hat): artquest.org.uk/user/Verissi...
A woman stands in front of a navy blind, wearing a sparkly blue jumper, with her hair down, and a red plastic child chair upside down on her head (the seat is on top of her head, with the back support touching her upper back, and the legs up in the air). She is looking at the camera.
February 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 23 of #Artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: The future of art

Title: Festival da Canção by J (36), B (4) & L (3)

I felt bad for not drawing with my kids for yday's prompt, but today's fitted too. B can colour in better than I can...
6 drawings on a floor. One has a big blue heart which has mostly been shaded in and partially coloured around, two colourful felt tip drawings with a lot of different colours and repeating lines/patterns, two drawings with random black felt lip lines/drawings, and one abstract crayon drawing with various colours.
February 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 21 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Make art using your last rejection

Title: Portrait Of A Mother Of A Thirty Five Month Old And A Fifteen Month Old (10th May 2023) (2025 Remix)

'Nice idea', bad execution. Reader, I ran out of time!
A digitally collaged self-portrait showing a mother discreetly breastfeeding her fifteen month old daughter, who is wearing pink butterfly pajamas, and has her hand close to her mother's mouth.
February 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 20 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Hate It

Title: Hate Is A Strong Word

I know I can't draw (that's probably why I was drawn😅 to photography), but I do like to doodle. I used some oil pastels that I bought before Xmas, but hadn't used due to fear.
Two oil pastel drawings, with three shades of green for grass, and one has flowers with orange centres and red 'petals', and the other has yellow centres and red 'petals'. The petals are just red lines.
February 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Book recommendation: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. For anyone needing a bit more hope in their lives.

www.bloomsbury.com/uk/humankind...
Review/summary: www.innatenonviolence.org/readings/202...
Cover of Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
February 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 18 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Make it green

Not the best, but a fun writing challenge at least.
Make It Green (18th February 2025) Jocelyn Allen Aquamarine? No, make it green Aquamarine can be green Well, I meant green green Green green? Very green Yellow green? Blue green? No, GREEN. Pear, Apple, Lime? Mint, Sage, Thyme? Light, Pale, Dark? Jungle, Forest, Park? Deep, Sea, Earth? Army, Rifle, Dirt? Grass, Lawn, Pine? Fern, Moss, Twine? Tea, Bottle, Gin? Guppie, Lizard, Skin? Emerald, Jade, Sheen? Zomp, Screamin, Screen? May, Bud, Spring? Pastel, Neon, King? Chinese, Irish, Paris? Artichoke, Avocado… Asparagus? On second think Make it pink!
February 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 16 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Rewild your work

Title: Rewilding (July 2016, April 2017 and February 2025)

See if you can spot 2017 me 16 times in a 2016 Azorean forest/woods/something...
A forest area with 16 versions of a woman with a hot water bottle in her trousers appearing (some are hidden behind trees, some are just the head, others show her peering out from behind trees).
February 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 15 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Today's prompt: Today's work should vanish by the end of the day

Title: Cob on Concrete

The birds (who usually eat up my offerings) haven't touched it yet... They must be suspicious.
A broken up bread roll spelling out TIRED on a concrete floor
February 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 14 of #artquest 's #thirtythirty creative practice challenge.

Prompt: Domesticate your work

Title: Domesticate The Domesticated (21st April 2017 / 14th February 2025)

Every day I feel like giving up with this challenge, but I hate quitting 😅
A woman stands facing the camera with a hot water bottle in her trousers. Around her is lots of red cleaning stuff. A polishing pad is on her head, a clock is to the left of her head, some shelves are below, one with a tub, and one with a wrapped heart box with red cloths hanging below. On the right are three shelves with three red cleaning bottles on each. The last one has a small brush hanging from it. She has a red apron over her trousers. A red sponge is falling down her leg. On the floor a red bin and small brush is to her left, and a dustpan is standing up on her right, with a fallen over red broom.
February 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 12 of #artquest's #thirtythirty creative art challenge.

Today's prompt: Force a change in your practice

Title: A Change In My Practice

On a trip to Portugal last year, I put some found wood against a wall & a dead lizard fell out, then I framed it with the table leg from another photo.
Five pieces of wood against a wall decreasing in size. The first is large and a plank is missing, the second is like an old table leg with a screw coming out of the top, the third is yellow, the fourth has some green paint on it, and the fifth is small with a circle on it. A dead lizard lies upside down beneath the first piece. A frame has been photoshopped using a rusty blue table leg, and it has been copied around the wood and lizard four times to create a frame. The whole picture is bordered by blue, the same colour as the table leg frame.
February 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 11 of #artquest's #thirtythirty creative art challenge.

Today's prompt: Make your last ever art work

Title: Last Ever (11th February 2025)

It seems that when I'm stuck with a prompt I turn to writing. I'm more shy with sharing my writing, so it's been a good exercise in editing & letting go.
Last Ever (11th February 2025) Lone on a light blue longue Approaching the inevitable Silver hair streaked with snow Testament to the time on terra Eyes fixed on the machine Very subtle movements Even clicks to nothing Recorded, packaged, sent
February 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
jocelynfreya.bsky.social
Day 9 of #artquest's #thirtythirty creative art challenge.

Today's prompt: Who is your champion?

Title: Champions (9th February 2025)

This one goes out to my fellow nervous drivers, who often park as far away as possible to avoid awkward parking situations, and our cheerleaders.
Champions (9th February 2025) Jocelyn Allen Circling the car park Inspecting before committing Too narrow Too awkward Too risky Too angled Okay, that one will have to do Not a straight drive through But park to a bumper At least we have beepers And it’s on the end Okay, let’s try Oops Too close to the line I reverse I correct myself Still not good I pause And quickly glance back I’m sorry kids I’m no good at parking You can do it Mum! Okay, maybe I can No, I can I reverse again I correct myself again That’s better You did it! You must be so proud of yourself! I smile They’re the cheerleaders That I never knew I needed I frown A person is approaching I watch They creep closer Then step into the car in front And speed away I drive forward Filling their space Perfect parking With an easy exit I look to my left A neighbouring car is parked over the lines The owner nowhere to be seen.
February 9, 2025 at 12:27 PM