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Digital_Isolation_Handbook_PDF by the Harris Young Producers

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Welcome to your very own Isolation Handbook!

Lockdown has been tough, but we’ve all discovered

our own unique ways to make it a little brighter…

Here’s a compilation of the amazing submissions that

we received. This pocket guide is busting with helpful

pages that you can turn to when you need a pick me

up, a creative challenge or just a place to reflect.

Each of these ideas is tried and tested by a real-life

person who felt it worthwhile sharing.

So, all we ask is that you give each page a go.

The activity you think isn’t really your style may

surprise you and be exactly what you need.

What is there to lose, eh!

The book is sectioned off into three chapters:

Mind, Body and Soul. (it sounds mystical, but

you’ll realise when you flick through that

we’re just trying to sound a bit fancy!)

Now, go create! Connect to yourself.

Be playful but most importantly, Enjoy!





“Having been sat in the same room day after day

during lockdown I found it calming to draw objects

around me.

Often drawing things that I am familiar with

gives me great comfort, as does repetition and

drawing the same things over and over.”

– Hester Ellis



Lockdown can make us feel like were being closed in, surrounded by

clutter and stress. But your space is filled with beautiful things. Look

around your room as though it was a treasure chest.

You may notice your hairbrush on the dresser, your funky bed

spread, or a pile of old DVD’s stacked on a shelf.

See how they are placed. Think about what each thing means to

you and why you’ve kept it. Sketch whatever catches your eye and

makes you ponder!

Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @harrisyoungproducers with the

hashtag #theisolationhandbook



Prior to lockdown I had been struggling with severe anxiety

which has had a profound effect on my life. Simple activities

such as short walks and everyday tasks were always difficult

and rarely completed.

During lockdown I have been able to embrace the

quietness and solitude of the outdoors and able to carry out

everyday tasks. This has given me the opportunity to relax and

appreciate everything that we have already in the natural world.

I decided to illustrate a subject every day that I saw on my daily

walk relating to nature. I have been painting with handmade

charcoal ink on mulberry paper.



Nicole has found beautifully shaped stones

while walking coastal beaches and laid them

over family photographs to make a connection

between her home and family in Ireland that

she couldn’t visit. The layering of the stones

creates a new set of characters that allows

the mind to roam and create new stories.

What objects remind you of home more than

anything else?

First, find an old family photo or print a new

one out, then look around your house for

meaningful or interesting objects to lay over

your pictures.

Make some pictures!

Upload them to Instagram with the hashtag

#theisolationhandbook









“Memory is a delay.

Memory is a fragment.

Memory is of the body that passed.

Memory is the trace of a wave

goodbye made with a slightly

clenched fist.”

Robert Morris, 1994

How do we read memories?

My practice seeks to explore processes of memory

and remembering, reflecting and drawing ideas from

nostalgic material from my family.

Working with multimedia processes I create

works of abstraction and suggestion set in spaces that

trigger feelings of familiarity in the audience.

The processes of abstract marking, texture built through

layering, and its residual traces, aim to

depict confusion and ambiguity.

I worked in collaboration with my grandfather, using

his equipment, his memories, to create pieces. As his

memory gradually worsened, the work mirrored him;

gradually becoming more deteriorated. Where I can, I

will use materials I have found throughout to make the

work; through reclaiming old furniture, old photographs

and equipment, to using found and weathered material

as the base to the pieces.

These discarded, often forgotten about materials

reinforce themes present throughout my work.

I push materials and work with them in quite unique

ways depicting abstract expression of process and

thought: these are individual depictions or moments

where the audience are invited to apply their collective

memories to the pieces.

The idea of the home has become more prominent as

a place to make work from but also to exhibit in; these

domestic settings reinforce individual memories of

times in my home that create.













Let the R.A.I.N. cleanse your mind with Tanya

We loved hearing how Tanya has been reflecting on

her thoughts and feelings whilst on daily morning

walks by using the R A I N method. Isolation, and

having limited contact with others, can cause our

minds to cloud over with overthinking, but this simple

method may allow you to shed some light on what’s

really going on inside, and leave your mindset clearer.

Give it a try!



ecognise the issue

llow the feelings to arise

nvestigate the cause of your suffering

urture your feelings.



My work is quite gothic and fairy-tale like,

and I thinkthrough lockdown, this has only

become more emphasised. As my practice

has developed over the past year, I’ve delved

far more into surrealism and still life.



To maintain a healthy working routine Ellie has

been dedicating her time to her artwork “I set

aside whole days to simply sit and my desk,

move around my room and make”.

Ellie likes to keep her thought processes

fresh and exciting by taking normal photographs

and manipulates them with a range of digital

processes, until they become something

completely different from what they once were.

To keep a healthy mind, it’s important to be

playful and carefree sometimes.

Life doesn’t have to be serious all the time!

Try this; cut out the images at the dotted

lines and create your own compositions

on the next page.

No wrong answers!



A big coping mechanism for me was focusing on my

work. I was lucky enough to maintain my job through

these hardships which is a huge privilege that I know

a lot of people didn’t have this year. I can’t talk much

about the work I do due to NDA’s but it’s a creative

one where I can use my brain a lot to distract myself

from feeling anxious.

Of course, this attitude can quickly lead to

burnout and it did at some points, especially during

the struggles had with moving.

During the lockdowns I have felt really lonely, I live

with my partner so there’s only one other person and

I have worked from home since lockdown began.

As someone with a long-standing history with

social detachment anxiety it has been tough and I

have been left to face my “demons” head on for

almost a year.

We used to live with others, however this came

to an abrupt end when two of our other housemates

moved out towards the end of the first lockdown.

The landlord said we would have to leave too due to

a family needing a home. The position we were in

meant we had to give away our two cats which was

incredibly heart-breaking.

We moved house into what we thought would

be our next home to find that the house we had put

a deposit down for had a rat infestation and was unfit

for inhabitation. It took two months (we paid full rent

and bills for this time) for us to be allowed to leave

the contract.





I’ve always been a doodler. But since Lockdown

I’ve noticed I’ve been doing it A LOT more often.

Sitting on a Zoom webinar, my hand would just

start free drawing across my notebook, and I’d

think, ‘Man, I’m so rude’ or ‘Wow. I clearly have

zero concentration levels anymore. WHAT HAS

LOCKDOWN DONE TO MEEEE?!?!’…. I later

discovered I was being a tad dramatic when I

read an interesting article and learnt all about….

Look at this watercolour.

Let your eye wander, and doodle wherever

you see something popping out at you.

There is no right and wrong, just give it a go

and see how it makes you feel!

THE TOP 3 BENEFITS OF DOODLING :

It can calm you down.

Yep! Doodling is often described as

Yoga for the Mind.

It allows you to connect to the present

moment and throw out some of those

busy thoughts clouding up your brain space.

It improves your focus.

(It’s been proven to help you

process and remember information

as it’s coming at you!)

It’s creative!

It’s not only a lot of fun to scribble

in your book margins but it allows

total freedom to be expressive, show

your individuality and communicate your

unique thoughts effectively to others.

They say a doodle speaks a thousand words, right?

Once you’re done, share your doodles

on Instagram by hashtagging

#theisolationhandbook



My art practice has really kept me going - but with limited access

to materials and space, I have been working with things found around

my home. I’ve really honed in on lumps of material that usually end

up in landfill.

The lockdown has encouraged me to make the most of

what I have, which saves money and limits waste, but also keeps me

occupied in unexpected ways! I really encourage you to take something

you might usually throw away and explore the material; consider

how you might transform it, or just play around!







This series of work, ‘Domestic Isolation, was heavily how

I navigated the first lockdown. I think, now at least, many of us

have formed routines and ways of working through long periods

of isolation at home, but the creation of this work took place at

the very beginning, back when this was all new.

The pieces act as a diary, and at the same time explore

typical household objects within a new context, pulling together

the emotion and recontextualisation that the pandemic has

caused. At the time, these work allow my partner and I a space

to vent, to think, to reflect, and a direct outlet to put that all on

to. Now, once again navigating a lockdown, I often revisit these

piece - revisit our scrawls and thoughts and rants - and conclude

that now is not as bad as then. It pushes me forward.





Spending time outdoors in nature has healed me

and enabled me to fully appreciate what I have in my life.

Taking the time to stop and reflect during the lockdowns

has made us all realise what really matters and slowing

down our pace of life is something some people may

never have done, pre pandemic.



(Tip : Set a timer to keep track)

THIS EXERCISE SHOULD

TAKE 15 MINUTES

Breathing can enhance mindfulness which helps the brain

to relax and regain focus or wind down from a day’s work.

Find a place to lay down comfortably on your back:

Make sure your neck is lengthened and your head is

looking towards the ceiling and your eyes are softly shut.

As you breath in the hands brush the floor in

a snow angel like movement stopping above

the head, as you breath out thehands reverse

as if finishing off the snow angel coming

back by your sides.

Release tension in your legs and hips.

Bring the knees up and place your feet firmly on the ground.

Breath in using the stomach pushing

the hands towards the ceiling.

Like inflating a balloon into the hands.

Place your hands softly

on your stomach.

As you breath in imagine your left knee

is floating towards the ceiling bringing

the foot lightly from the ground, as you

breath out place the foot lightly back on

the ground. (Do this slowly with deep,

long breaths). Repeat on the right side.

Repeat both sides 4 times = A total

of 4 in and out breaths).

Now imagine letting the air out of the balloon

deflating the stomach and lowering the hands

as you slowly breath out.

Repeat this finding this time place the

hands down by your side on the floor.

Repeat this breath cycle multiple times

until the time is up. (Once your time is

up, slowly open your eyes and allow the

body and mind to re-adjust to the space

around you before sitting up and

finishing the exercise).

By Dance Artist and Young Producer: Chloe Morrisey, 2021





“My mum taught me to knit with a giant

pair of knitting needles when I was a tiny child.

Since then, I haven’t stopped. When I’m busy

with life a jumper will sit half-finished in my

cupboard for months, waiting for me to pick it

up again when I’m low or bored, or out of ideas.”



“Safe to say lockdown has been a time

where I’ve picked the needles back up, clicked

away and watched as the ball of wool gets

smaller and smaller. The feeling of achievement

I get when I finish something (however lumpy

it may be) that I can wear on my body has been

getting me through this difficult period.”

Were you taught anything when you were

younger that you may have shelved for years?

Well, now is the time to revisit them!

Have another go, the results might surprise you…



“Playing Stardew Valley with my partner has

been so therapeutic for me. It’s primarily a farming

game, so you get to tend to your plants and animals,

you can also go fishing, to the pub, and interact with

the villagers – all the things we can’t do in lockdown.

It makes me feel like I have some freedom despite

not leave the house.”

– Sophie Hershaw

Here are some other recommendations of

free apps or online games you can play to

make you feel a little less isolated:

• Among Us

• Nail Salon

• 3D Subway Surfers

• Mario Kart Tour

• The Sims Free Play

• Big Farm Empire

• Mine Craft

• Skribblo.io 8

• Ball Pool



Escape Reality with Mark and Dan Parkinson

Over Lockdown Mark kept himself busy by

learning to use Blender, a 3D modelling programme.

Dan played video games to beat Lockdown

boredom and created some awesome designs.



Why not try designing your own video game character or monster below!

Nickname:

Super power:

Secret talent:

Mortal enemy:

Be sure to share your creation on Instagram by tagging us

@harrisyoungproducers using the hashtag #theisolationhandbook



This is a slide that was produced as a result of a project

I did during Covid-19. I have been extremely interested

in embeddedness into place in terms of research and

material. The womb was made from found objects that

I collected as a part of an embedding tactic that allowed

me to connect to place when I brought them back home.

To be able to reconnect to place when you’re restricted

has been a running theme during the lockdowns.



When Boris locked us indoors for 23 hours a

day, it’s fair to say we all absolutely relished

that 1 hour of outdoor exercise. But if your

anything like me, running isn’t my idea of

leisurely fun. But walking, I can get behind!

Since Lockdown, I’ve found I don’t pace along

the pavement but rather, stroll. I notice the

little things; the quirky garden gnomes in my

neighbour’s gardens, the sounds of the birds

conversating and the delicious cooking smells

wafting from kitchen windows as I wander by

on my evening walks.

And Is it just me, or did the colours of flowers

and trees look SO much more vibrant over

this past year? Maybe I was just searching for

something to brighten up my mood.

Either way, I was grateful for the colour.

In this activity, I’m offering you the change

to go for a walk and try to find the boldest 7

things that are each a colour of the rainbow.

Then take a quick photo of them and make

it into a collage like I did here!

The free picture editing website I used:

www.befunky.com

Try to stay present on your walk, search for

the colours around you and notice how it

makes you feel.

Then hashtag #theisolationhandbook with

any of your rainbow creations; we’d love to

see them!



Alea’s job as a chef is one of the busiest occupations.

From working all the time to doing nothing at all has

shown her the stillness and peace within the mundane and

showed her the “beauty of simple things like nature and

phone calls and drinking wine with my mother.

Lockdown has taught me a new definition of freedom,

and what it means to be alive”

It’s too much of a good thing.

so it’s hell,

but only some of the time.

A year has passed

and what’s been achieved?

Two million bodies

buried or burned

at the hands of incompetency.

I learnt how to paint,

gained some weight.

Went blonde for a man who doesn’t want me.

Went mad over and over again

every evening

under a tent of dirty, warm sheets.

But

when morning hit,

I went walking for the first time in my life.

Noticed the beauty around me in my slow little hometown,

birdsong sounded like joy,

trees moved like they were in love with the wind.

I danced in the living room like when i was a child,

ate Cornettos,

wrote songs about how good it feels to be free.

It feels so good

to be free.









Top Tip : Play some peaceful music

Exploring the spine - Take some time away from your technology.

Come into a quiet, comfortable area away from all outside distractions.

(Tip : Set a timer to keep track)

THIS EXERCISE SHOULD

TAKE 15 MINUTES

Start seated on the floor or on the edge of your chair

sit up tall lengthening the spine. Imagine the top of

your skull is reaching towards the ceiling.

Place your hands on the top of your thighs gently.

Tilt the upper body side to side as if

pouring water from each ear slowly.

Tilt as far as you can go without moving the lower body.

*Do this alternating sides 4 times on each side.

Drop the hands down by

your side and sit up tall.

Begin to snake the head and

upper body moving side to side

Count to 8 slowly whilst snaking.

Now take the head forwards and backwards

curving and arching the spine.

Imagine hugging a big beach ball close to your

stomach to curve and hold for a count of 4.

Come back to tall, seated position.

Now imagine trying to get your hair to touch

the ground behind you but only moving the

head and upper back to get an arch

in the spine and hold for 4 counts.

*Repeat the curve and arch 4 times.

If able then stand up and begin to

move around the space repeating

these previous steps with the

upper body, if unable to stand

remain seated and repeat these

steps in a NEW seated position

Repeat all steps until timer is up.

By Dance Artist and Young Producer: Chloe Morrisey, 2021



A Song for Every Season with Chloe Robinson

Can you believe we’ve been in isolation over all 4 seasons!

We loved hearing how lockdown has allowed Chloe to spend

some quality time with her brother and make some special

memories together.

“We got to enjoy being out in the snow again, snowball

fights, stuck in our hair and just running around enjoying it

while our cheeks went bright red with the cold.”

- Chloe Robinson

Take a while to reflect on what your favourite

memory was from each of the Lockdown seasons:

Spring:

Summer:

Autumn:

Winter:







Yin and Yang with Purple Brad

Photographer Purple Brad has been taking this time to meditate

more, practise yoga and learn about the Yin and Yang of life.

Trust

(Written by Beth Nolan)

With Yin there is Yang.

Out of darkness, shines the light.

Instability will find balance.

And after wrongs,

There will be rights.

Trust the process.

Trust the patterns.

Though there is badness, there is still good.

Once believed, you’ll hold the key to unlock

Inner peace, true courage

and love.



Date Night with Josie Eckersley and Grant Boyne

Lockdown has meant we are spending a lot more

time with our house mates. It can put pressure on relationships.

That’s why Josie and her boyfriend Grant, have been

having a date night each week, making an effort to wear a

nice shirt/dress, to play games and music. It made us feel

some normality and spend some quality time together – even

if we were both working in the same room everyday – it just

gave us an escape.”



Fill up this silhouette with meaningful reflective words that make up who you are



A few recent sunset pictures I have taken.

Something that has been keeping me going throughout

lockdown. The fact that I know, and can be certain

of, that each day the sun will rise and will set again.

Sometimes I take the time just to watch the colours

change across the sky and it reminds me of the natural

beauty of the world and what it means to be alive.







Whatever time it was, it never seemed to pass.

I spent most of this neverpassing time sat on the windowsill of

the room where I lived my childhood, caged in a golden retreat with

the lonely company of imagined contacts, those left behind, those

missed, those expected.

“Everything that glows sees” wrote Bachelard in his “The

Poetics of Space”. If that's true, it means that we can be seen all the

time, it's enough to just look at the glints of light out of our windows.

Just look outside to not be alone, and in case there are no glints

to be found out of your window, I thought that a small, pocket glint

could work as a decent replacement, you can hang it on the wall as an

indoor glow, which always looks at you, and never leaves you alone.













Is it just me, or are you totally done with staring

at screens? The moment I’m off a Zoom call

I quickly close my laptop lid. However, after a

while of sitting solo in my silent room, I could

sense that lonesome feeling creeping in....

That’s when PODCASTS came to the rescue!

Here are my personal favourite podcasts as well as

a few recommendations by you guys sent in over

HYPe’s Instagram! (@harrisyoungproducers)

For The Nosey Parkers:

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Reasons I like them:

I can close my eyes and still be engaged.

enjoy !

I don’t need to chat back!

No dodgy Wi-Fi difficulties will occur...

It doesn’t cut off at 40 mins (Cough, cough. Zoom.)

I feel connected to the outside world as soon as I hit play.

For The Music Lovers:

Desert Island Discs

For The Calm Seekers:

Happy Place with Fearne Cotton

For The Laughter Needers:

Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed!

with Chris and Rosie Ramsey.

For The Foodie Makers:

Off Menu

with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

For The Advice Takers:

The Girls Bathroom

with Sophia and Cinzia





Beth started to buy herself flowers to brighten up her

house during lockdown, which inspired her to start

pressing and preserving them in resin, then giving them

to her friends as gifts.

“I would associate receiving gifted flowers as a staple

of achievement but in 'rewarding myself' and altering

the space I was inhabiting; I created a sanctuary. It

reminded me that getting through each week was an

achievement in itself! And somewhere between the

soft breezes of perfume and bright colours, I found

comfort. It was a productive way to wind down whilst

doing something kind for the people I loved - a huge

serotonin boost!”

Why not go and buy a bunch of flowers (you deserve it)

And then press one between this page of the handbook

to keep as a reminder of all you have achieved during

this time. Be kind to yourself, you’ve done amazingly.



Make sure you are in a safe open space and you are

comfortable enough to move freely.

Put on your favourite music and dance like no one is

watching. (Do this alone or involve the family or friends

for some extra fun).

Start off slow with a peaceful song you know or one you

find that makes you feel good and relaxed.

Start moving around the room in what ever way you

choose. Walking, skipping, crawling, galloping, dragging

your feet etc…

Start to add more energy, maybe increase the

speed of your travelling or travel in a new way

that you have not tried before.

Now choose a fun energetic song

that you get excited by!

Sing along to it, Have fun with it

Move around your space and be as wild as you like.

Note: This is just for fun so be open to try new

ways of moving. You may move like a slug, like

a horse, like a cat, like a lion, like a mouse etc…

or you may move like a ballerina or like a hip hop

dancer etc.., (Make noises if you like!).

Most importantly! HAVE FUN!!!

Move until the music track

you chose is over.

By Dance Artist and Young Producer: Chloe Morrisey, 2021



We would like to say thank you to the wonderful artists who worked

with us during this project and made the isolation handbook possible!

We’d like to thank,

Danielle Rhoda for the artwork for the cover of the handbook. (@danielle_rhoda)

Rochelle Asquith for the artwork for the Mind title page. (@rochelleasquith)

Obi Carter or the artwork for the Body title page. (@vampyr_studio)

Efea Rutlin for the artwork for the Mind title page. (@wip_efea)

With a huge thank you to Amrit Randhawa (@taxicabindustries) for using your

amazing creative and design skills to help the Young Producers achieve their

design goals for both the PDF and printed copies handbook!

A special thanks to the Harris Museum and Art Gallery (@harris_museum) and

Blaze Arts (@Blazearts_) for supporting the Harris Young Producers!




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