Artist
From Bristol, UK
Based in Bristol, UK
" I love to explore the contrasts between refined, raw, planned, and accidental marks within my work and when I see them in other creations. The marks are just as important as the painting subject for me.."
A: Please, tell us a bit more about yourself. What brought you into art?
F: I have always been creative, I think all children explore creativity and my love of drawing and painting just happened to stick with me. I think it’s one of those things if you are drawn to it, you can’t suppress it and at some point, it will rise in some way, shape, or form.
However, in adulthood, I didn’t find much time to create, until I was made redundant from my Recruitment job 5 years ago, and I decided to return to my art, this time as a profession as well.
A: What inspires you the most?
F: People - I find people fascinating. Both physically and in the stories we all carry.
Mark making - I love to explore the contrasts between refined, raw, planned, and accidental marks within my work and when I see them in other creations. The marks are just as important as the painting subject for me.
A: Do you have any specific rituals while working (creating)?
F: I mostly work in silence but occasionally I have music playing, but prefer silence, I have a very busy brain and I’m also aware that music could inadvertently affect the feel of a painting. I like all of my materials really close to me. I don’t like anything to interrupt my flow of work. I ideally like to be alone as well.
A: What would you recommend to someone who's new to art (an artist or just an admirer), what to begin with?
F: From both perspectives, trust your gut in terms of what you like and enjoy. There are plenty of artworks I have seen that have a deeper level beyond their aesthetics, such as the work of Jenny Saville, but if you are excited by it on a visual level alone, then this is completely fine- no one can tell you how to view art and no one can tell you what to create.
If you are looking to create more, then the key for me is to just keep trying and try regularly, and try different things, The art you create may differ from other art that you enjoy viewing. As an example, I adore abstract artworks, but I don’t enjoy making them as much, I don’t believe it’s something you can force. You’ll find what is meant for you if you remain open about it.
A: Your top 3 adjectives related to art?
F: Engaging, Storytelling, Intuitive
A: The best angle to look at art is from ..?
F: Whatever grabs your interest, the experience is different for everyone.
A: The perfect phrase to start any conversation about art is:..?
F: "Do you enjoy creating/painting/ drawing etc?”- think this opens a lot of conversations and is not knowledge-based, just more about an individual’s experience
A: Must-read books to help us talk about art (or do we even need them)?
F: I love reading but I don’t really read books about art. I am visual when it comes to learning about art, but it is a great way of recording someone else’s perspective. History and opinion of art. From a practical/learning perspective, I prefer to observe to learn rather than read, but I completely appreciate we all learn in different ways so they definitely have a place.
A: What would it be if you could change one thing in the art world?
F: The snobbery- That creating art is reserved for the “talented”- Art is for everyone to view and create, for pleasure, for therapy, for any reason. People are made to feel apprehensive about creating as though it’s something prestigious reserved for the “talented”, “prize-winning”, art school trained when literally all of us possess the ability to be creative and all should be encouraged.
A: Please, share your favorite quote (not necessarily related to art)
F: "What if I fall?"
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?”
― Erin Hanson
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