Thursday, August 19, 2010
An interview with Toni Robinson
Q – Could you introduce yourself briefly to the readers?
I am a visual artist driven by political and social ideas. I start with a concept, often precipitated by issues of social exclusion and prejudices and then explore suitable media with which to express this, to create awareness.
Q - How did you become interested in art?
I have always had a passion for the arts, earlier on in life as the viewer. Only later in life when I realised I can do and be anything I want to be did I return to university to study and have now been working full time as an artists for ten years now.
Q - What inspires you most as an artist?
My inspiration comes from a deep need to creative myself and from the numerous participants on projects I regularly delivered with people who do not believe they are creative.
Q - What is your favourite medium or media? Why?
I have two favourite mediums and love both.
Oil on canvass – painting alone in my studio where nothing else and no one else exists.
Installation art made in consultation with communities listening to other people’s views on life.
Q - Could you tell us some more about your work?
At this time I am painting portraits and love the intimacy of this.
I am also delivering 2 long term projects:
The Intergeneration Partnership Project with Swindon Borough Council- An arts and culture collaboration between children, young people and senior citizens in sheltered accommodation, aiming to foster a greater understanding between younger and older people to reduce the isolation of older people and engage the community.
A Heritage Lottery Partnerhsip project – to bring together young people from different comunities and cultures to explore diversity in order to gain a better understanding and respect of differt cultures.
Q - What are your influences; artists from the past or present who inspire you?
I love the freedom of the work of Louise Borgeois and Egon Schiele and so wish I could be as out there in my work. Also greatly admire the architect Frank Lloyd Right
Q – How do you choose the subjects of your works?
I collect people to paint by introducing myself to interesting people sometimes in the street and invite them to stay at my house while I paint and draw them, luckily my husband and children are very understanding and I have made some great friends this way. My installation work comes from conversations with people abut life.
Q- How do you prepare yourself for an exhibition or a show like the Open Studios?
Sadly I leave it to the last minute and then rush around preparing just like the rest of my busy life.
Q - Are there territories (media, subjects, etc.) you want to explore in the coming years?
I would love to have a mentor for my painting.
Q - As an artist, what would be your dream?
Q - Could you share one thing that you have learnt in your own art practice that would be useful to other artists?
Give yourself six months of uninterrupted time in your studio
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Vanetta Joffe's favourite picture
SECRETS 50 x 50 cm mixed media on canvas/MDF
"The theme is "What lies beneath....". Leading on from the Elements series, this painting started as an abstract of the Wiltshire landscape, using acrylic washes , inks , rock salt, fine twigs.
When all this was dry I drew the ammonite in water-colour pencils, sealed with clear varnish, and then applied gold leaf .
The original theme has opened up so many avenues to explore; I hope to have one or two more completed or in progress for the Open Studios weekends."
You can read Vanetta's interview from last year Swindon Open Studios and visit her website.
Friday, August 13, 2010
An interview with Gordon Dickinson
Q – Could you introduce yourself briefly to the readers?
I am Gordon Dickinson a self taught artist.
I paint, sculpt, film and photograph.
I am Swindon born, serving an apprenticeship in Swindon rail workshops as a coach builder.
I run a participary art company, called No Added Sugar, with my wife Antoinette.
Naughty Boid - Steel sculpture by Gordon Dickinson
Q - How did you become interested in art?
I can’t really say how or when I began taking an interest in art, it just started to happen, and grew like a lichen until I became completely covered.
Q - What inspires you most as an artist?
My recent work has been mainly sculptural and is based on nature and wildlife.
Q - Could you tell us some more about your work?
This year I have exhibited at sculpture shows in Henly, Devon, Norfolk, Tetbury, Cirencester, Cotswold Water Park and the RHS show Tatton Park.
Shows booked for the rest of 2010 include Walcot Chapel, Bath, Cotswold Water Park and Kent
I am currently working on two large scale commissions for two new Swindon schools.
I have tried to listen to my heart and not my head and take my work to somewhere we haven’t visited before.
I enjoy a challenge and like to push myself beyond my comfort zone.
Q - How would you define your style?
I would describe my style as traditionally contemporary.
Perch - Steel sculpture by Gordon Dickinson
Q - What are your influences; artists from the past or present who inspire you?
Artists I like …. Louise Bourgeois, David Hockney, Picasso, Antony Gormley, Poly Morgan, Adam Crossland and many more.
Q - How do you choose the subjects of your works?
I never plan too far ahead, most of my ideas are spontaneous, I need to carry them out as soon as possible or they get left behind.
Q- How do you prepare yourself for an exhibition or a show like the Open Studios?
I leave it until the last minute, then just go for it.
Q - Are there territories (media, subjects, etc.) you want to explore in the coming years?
I would love to try all things, but in particular stone carving, casting and silver work
I would love the time and space to work on lost ideas.
Q - As an artist, what would be your dream?
My dream would be to be to continue doing what I am doing now but with a bit more money.
Q - Could you share one thing that you have learnt in your own art practice that would be useful to other artists?
My snippet of wisdom would be “Don’t just talk about it”.
Please visit Gordon Dickinson's website, Pavenhill Sculptures, to see more of his sculptures.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
An interview with Esme Wheatley
Q – Could you introduce yourself briefly to the readers?
My name is Esme Wheatley, I have lived in the area for 20 years. I am a mother of two daughters, Alexandra and Freya and I am married to Shaun.
Q - How did you become interested in art?
Since early on at school, I have always been interested in all creative areas.
Q - What inspires you most as an artist?
I am inspired by everyday objects and the desire to creative something I would love around me or my home.
Q - What is your favourite medium or media? Why?
I love working with a sewing machine and fabric. The colours and effects that can be created are endless.
Q - Could you tell us some more about your work?
My work involves creating pictures using recycled fabric with accents to enhance the design using polymer clay. I also use polymer clay to design small pieces of jewellery and accessories.
Q - How would you define your style?
Modern with a hint of vintage.
Q - What are your influences; artists from the past or present who inspire you?
My influences are not from specific artists but from everyday items and images.
Q - How do you choose the subjects of your works?
I sketch everyday items first then see if I can then recreate that with fabric or clay.
Q- How do you prepare yourself for an exhibition or a show like the Open Studios?
This is my first time at such an event and I have never shown my art before so it will be a whole new experience.
Q - Are there territories (media, subjects, etc.) you want to explore in the coming years?
I have over the years tried different mediums such us cake making and decorating, reupholstering so I am always open to new ideas.
Q - As an artist, what would be your dream?
For people to love the items I create.
Q - Could you share one thing that you have learnt in your own art practice that would be useful to other artists?
As this is all new to me, I am hoping other people will be able to share their experiences with me.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
An interview with Sarah Sollom
Q – Could you introduce yourself briefly to the readers?
A former teacher of languages, then an illustrator and writer of educational materials. I have developed my art in recent years.
Sunrise shanty - Painting by Sarah Sollom
Q - How did you become interested in art?
Watching my mother painting.
Q - What inspires you most as an artist? Where do I begin?
Apart from beautiful skies, the sea, city skylines and places I visit, I love intriguing objects, dilapidated buildings, old windows and doors and resourceful people going about their daily lives.
Q - What is your favourite medium or media? Why?
I love both acrylics and collage as I can add textures, special effects and fragments of scripts.
Q - Could you tell us some more about your work?
I am constantly experimenting with different techniques and subject matter. I have painted a lot of stylised animals, mainly elongated, decorated elephants. I have also done many collages of makeshift buildings and shanty towns which have proved very popular and led to numerous commissions. I like a picture that tells a story.
Jiangsu waterside dwelling - Painting by Sarah Sollom
Q - How would you define your style?
Quirky, very diverse and I believe unique. No ‘polite’ local landscapes or vases of flowers for me!
Q - What are your influences; artists from the past or present who inspire you?
I love art that shows people and how they live (or lived in various periods of history) – not portraits or posed-for pictures but ordinary working people, as painted by some of the impressionists and many other artists of the past.
Q - How do you choose the subjects of your works?
Pleasing shapes, things that make me smile – objects that intrigue me, scenes that ask me questions, e.g. Who used to live here? Scenes that show resourcefulness and the human spirit, often in adversity.
Q- How do you prepare yourself for an exhibition or a show like the Open Studios?
I produce things that are always popular – my shanty towns never stay around for long! I also like to put in some new, experimental stuff.
Q - Are there territories (media, subjects, etc.) you want to explore in the coming years?
Cities with wonderful buildings for skylines in experimental colours.
Q - As an artist, what would be your dream?
To own my own gallery with a coffee shop.
Q - Could you share one thing that you have learnt in your own art practice that would be useful to other artists?
Always be true to yourself and paint from the heart. It will shine through in your work.
To see more of Sarah's work, make sure you visit her website: www.sandsollom.com
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