Friday’s presentation is still looming on my mind- decided to do a little Q+A about my work to help take my mind off things…
Tell us a bit about your style!
Above all, I think my style is quite girly- I use a lot of traditionally ‘female’ imagery, ideas and shapes; curves and soft edges. I think there’s other certain themes that keep coming back in my work, too (flora and fauna, Asia-inspired imagery, patterns…)
Aside from that, I really don’t think I have a distinct ‘style’ per se, which does bother me a little bit. That’s definitely something I want to work on this year!
I remember reading a Q+A with illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi, whom said:
“…an artist’s “style” is simply an expression composed from a combination of the elements in other artist’s work that the artist finds appealing”. (DiTerlizzi, n.d.)
What inspires you?
Inspiration is literally everywhere (what a horribly cliché answer…)
I think mostly, my personal inspiration comes from travel, women, nature and cinema (in that order)
Artist-wise: Amy Sol, Claire Keane, Heikala, and James Jean are some of my favourites (more info in my references below!)
I also really love Space ♥
How do you know when a work is finished?
I don’t think a piece is ever really finished- at least not for me. I can nitpick my work to death no matter what stage it’s at, which can be both detrimental and helpful. I’m able to self-evaluate for the most part.
It’s all too easy to overwork a piece, but I’m starting to be able to tell when it’s time to step away. Usually though, I only overwork personal art- the timescales of academic projects mean there’s no time to overwork anything!
What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without within your process?
I think there’s often a bad stigma surrounding digital processes- I still have a great appreciation for traditional work (as we all should), but the power of digital allows an artist to have more textures, brushes and media at their disposal than any traditional art setup.
I only started working digitally after A-Level (it was frowned upon by my teachers back then), and I’m so grateful to have been able to learn digital in such a short space of time- it’s been immeasurably helpful.
Is there an element of art you enjoy working with most? Why?
I LOVE pattern- I’ve always loved repetition for some reason! I find it very calming because it’s so organised, but not too orderly or mapped out. There’s room for variation in pattern; there’s an infinite amount of ways to repeat something.
I also love to include figures in my art, although to be honest I need to sharpen up my anatomical skills quite a bit before I’ll be able to fully realise what I’m envisioning in my head when it comes to figural work. More than anything, people can instantly feel emotion through human form; the pose, the expression, the surrounding imagery. Maybe it’s too literal, but it’s one of the easiest ways to connect with an audience.
How did you start making art? Why do you make art?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to create. I’m not much good at anything else.
Is there a piece you are most proud of? Why?
I think it’d be my Cheltenham Illustration Awards entry from 2017 (thus far)- it was a bit of a mixed process that culminated in a ton of stress, but it was worth it. I threw everything I’d ever learned at that piece, which sort of shows because it’s a bit ‘all over the place’, but strangely I think it ultimately works- at first I hated it!
Of course, there’s still a plethora of things I don’t like about it- always room for improvement.
What food, drink, song inspires you?
Coffee is the root of all creativity (jk)
I’m not sure about being inspired by food? I think patisserie is really pretty though. I went to China in April of this year, and did a few little ‘Bake Off’-esque studies of the cute baked goodies they had there. There was lots of food shaped like other things… I even saw an ice cream shaped like Kim Jong-un ^^”
Song-wise, I most like to listen to film soundtracks when working. Right now, my flavour of the month is the Call Me By Your Name (2017) score, which is lovely to work to. Because they are predominantly designed to be ‘background noise’ to accompany to what’s happening on screen, film scores are the perfect thing to passively listen to when creating.
Also, The Legend of Zelda soundtracks~
And songs with lyrics that I can’t quite make out (or even better, songs in foreign languages). I don’t know any of the words to most of my favourite music, but I like it that way. It’s nice to not have to know everything.
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
Honestly, I find solace in being alone. Not that I don’t like good company -I do-, it’s just that it’s often easier to organise my thoughts when I’m working by myself. I can’t even draw a straight line with someone looking over my shoulder!
In Western society, people seem to think of quietness as an undesirable trait- people favour extroverts. I feel quite strongly about this, maybe I’ll write a post in the future about it.
What do you dislike about the art world?
I think the current art climate is becoming all about politics; it’s OK to make things just for the sake of their beauty or design.
I admire people that can put a deeper meaning in their work, but there’s definitely room for artists who create for the sake of making something lovely. Art is a creative outlet that’s different for each person… it doesn’t always have to equate to something expected.
As I said, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t trying to draw or make something. I first gained a proper interest in art when I was doing fashion illustrations for my GCSE course- from there, I progressed onto Textile design (interiors, fabrics), and then finally illustration (which actually came from a last minute degree course change).
Also, once my art teacher told me my work was not fine art, as it was “too illustrative”.
Ha, this became a short essay! I know I won’t be able to help myself from expanding on some of these tangents in the future.
…And now we resume our scheduled program; worrying about the presentation!
References
Beckett, K. (n.d.). Kelsey Beckett Illustration – Gallery. [online] Kelseybeckett.com. Available at: http://kelseybeckett.com/# [Accessed 1 Oct. 2018].
Collingwood, C. (2018). Chinese Bakery [Photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2018). Chinese Novelty Ice Cream Shop [Photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2017). Haru- Springtime [Digital, various traditional techniques].
DiTerlizzi, T. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions: Art and Illustration – Tony DiTerlizzi. [Online] Diterlizzi.com. Available at: http://www.diterlizzi.com/faq-category/03-art-and-illustration [Accessed 1st Oct 2018].
Jean, J. (n.d.). Work. [online] James Jean. Available at: http://www.jamesjean.com [Accessed 1 Oct. 2018].
Keane, C. (n.d.). Portfolio. [online] Claire Keane – Art and Stories. Available at: http://www.claireonacloud.com [Accessed 1 Oct. 2018].
Sol, A. (n.d.). Amy Sol. [online] Amysol.com. Available at: http://amysol.com [Accessed 1 Oct. 2018].
Various Artists. (2017). Call Me By Your Name (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). [CD] Sony Music Classical.
chalon joy collingwood 