We all submitted recipes and did interviews for the covid artist support cookbook last year – but they didn’t add the Interviews in them – which is a shame because it’s nice to know a bit about artists who made the images
(There’s a copy of my interview below) – I’m not sure if I made sense, I’d been in solitary confinement for three months
I like art, but I don’t like artists. And I don’t even think I really like art anymore
Tell us about a seminal experience, person or influence that put you on this creative path? Tell us about an artwork or artist that really inspires you.
I spent a lot of time in the early nineties learning to draw ponies. I was 4 at the time, and this was important work. I realised that, instead of holding the pen and hoping that a horse shape will appear, If you move the pen in a certain way, you can control the lines (?!) – I was Palaeolithic man and this was my cave-drawn bison. Or crayon pony. Whatever.
Ponies were never going to be enough, I grew to love the pure aesthetics of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Tamara de Lempicka (cold, inaccessible beauty) Aubrey Beardsley (art for arts sake?) and Alphonse Mucha (sensuous, flowing perfection) I was lonely, and art was beautiful- I copied everything I could. I’ll probably always love and appreciate pure aesthetics
What do you consider to be your main achievements during your artistic career? How do you measure success as an artist? Is it having a big museum exhibition or just completing the latest work in your studio
The only achievement that means anything in the art world is continuing to make art. So I guess since I’m still here #winning
What do you think of the wider artistic community in Teesside and do you feel part of it? Do you feel artists have an important role in society? And what might that look like? How would you improve the connections between artists and the public?
I like art, but I don’t like artists. And I don’t even think I really like art anymore.
I’m not sure I have a relationship with the Art Community in Teesside – It’s both frustratingly stale, and also wildly brimming with potential.
Let’s be realistic; we’re a working class, post industrial, poverty stricken northern town. Attempts to engage with the general public are usually over-thought, and misguidedly ‘arty’.
If your main art events (which have the majority of funding, and are aimed squarely at the general public) are actually prioritising conceptual art aimed at ‘art academics’, if your artist statements are convoluted intellectual nonsense, and you’re creating shows for the same audience that always turn up, and not considering why most people don’t turn up – what are you even doing?
I mean, saying that, I’m delighted to see steps by the Art Scene to engage with the local community in accessible, physical spaces, such as Pineapple Black and the Auxiliary. Like I said, there’s potential in a less formal art movement.
But yeah, I know I talked a lot of aesthetics and art for arts sake, but I do think artists have a role to play in society. Traditionally, we’re (artists) supposed to be changing identities, moving around between classes, documenting and representing. Using imagery for propaganda and protest.
I’ve been watching with absolute delight at the rise of Memes as an organic art form that is Reactionary, funny, touching, and relatable – which have their own life cycle and language and can be made by anyone. It’s great, if anyone is writing a dissertation on memes and modern culture, then please send me it I’d love to read it.
continuing to make work during the COVID-19 crisis? If you have adapted your practice at this time, please tell us how? Have there been any positive outcomes to this?
Adapt and overcome – I can’t visit my studio because Im in contact with a lot of different people for work, and it would be completely irresponsible to come in a rub germs all over everyone else. I haven’t even seen my studio (or my friends and family ha) in months!
Being stuck inside alone is incredibly frustrating, but I work best when I’m lonely and overthinking anyway, so how perfect.
As someone who values traditional drawing and painting techniques, I was obviously loathed to try moving to digital art, but I supposed it was that or do nothing (tempting). Over the last few weeks I’ve been learning to draw with an iPad & a copy of Procreate. And. Wow. It’s more difficult than it looks! The lack of resistance between the pen and the drawing surface was something I did not expect to be a problem.
Learning to draw in a digital medium was tough, but as I got better- I started excitedly messaging people to tell them how much fun I was having, and how quick it was to try new colours and styles on sketch ideas quickly without having to re-draw everything. I’ve finally been able to put together a body of sketches around illustration ideas I had months (and years!) ago.
I’m looking forward to using these to inform physical paintings, or as a medium in their own right.
I’m currently taking part in a ‘lockdown art challenge’ on Instagram, which keeps me engaged and sane. I think a lot of people are approaching new ways of working (Including art classes and life drawing via Zoom, Online gigs and variety shows, even online nightclubs!) it’s been great to watch this happen, as the art world rises to the lockdown challenge.
Aimee Charlotte 