INTERVIEW

Question
What or who has been the most influential factor in your development?

Answer
Being creative is my passion...pure and simple!! I have always been creative
from a very young age and over the years, I have developed various
ideas and various styles in whatever I've artistically done, but after
losing two girlfriends to cancer in 2004, in the space of three weeks
apart; it made me re-evaluate my own life, making me realise that we're
only on this planet for a short time and I still have many things to do
before I 'go' anywhere!! I was driven by this experience to further
develop and fulfil my artistic dream and to go into this as a business, which is why I'm doing what I'm doing now, and I'm soooooooo much happier for it.....people say I'm a different person!!! I'm truly blessed and I pay tribute to Glen and
Paula...

Question
What is the best tip you can offer an enthusiastic budding artists?

Answer
Follow your dream and find time to make things happen!! Over the years, I've
sold various paintings, but when I truely think about it, I waited a
long, long time to do what I really love. With such a busy lifestyle,
family committments and so on, my artwork has ALWAYS 'on hold' until,
as expressed in the previous question, circumstances made me re-think
my own destiny......and here I am......I work full-time and paint in
the evenings and weekends...basically, when I can to make things
happen!!

Question
What is your favourite media to work in/with and why?

Answer
Personally, I like to decide what I'm going to be working on and then choose which
media to use!! I don't like being beholden to one media
really...sometimes, I feel it can be boring and restrictive...but don't
get me wrong...not always!!! Sometimes a painting needs simplicity and
that's ok too!!!
I specialised at college in Fine Art and Mixed Media, and I LOVE to make my own
handmade papers, use wax, sew into my work, etc....it makes for
interesting techniques and effects!! Using Mixed Media can really enhance ones work
if done well and I find people are fascinated to hear how you've
prepared surfaces before painting on!! I guess this is why I like the
whole broad spectrum of media; but I suppose if I'm honest, I use
acrylics mostly thesedays and am known for my specialism of using dry-brush acrylic - using no water.

Question
As a rough guide, how long does it usually take you to complete an artwork?

Answer
Gosh, this is a difficult one to answer...
I have a sketch pad next to my bed cos I frequently wake up with ideas
whizzing round my head and I just HAVE to draw and anotate that idea
down before I have a 'senior moment' and forget them!!! :-D I also have
a little sketchpad in my handbag and car too!!
But when I start on a painting, I work quickly and providing other
commitments (ie: family) don't get in the way, it can be finished at one sitting or last for DAYS!!!! For example, NEBULA was finished...incredibly...in an hour and
a half...you just know when something works!!!!!! That's how it goes sometimes!!!!!! :-D I've never worked on one for months...YET!!

Question
Are there other artists in your family?

Answer
We are a very creative family in many ways really, but not all in the
'paintily' sense!! By that I mean, my sister is incredibly gifted with
words; she has a passion for poetry and infact she is in the throws of
writing two books at the moment. When we were at school, we used to
have this wonderful arrangment whereby she would write my synopses for
projects and I'd do all the drawings for hers!! If only our teachers
knew!! :-D I'd love to illustrate her books if ever I get the chance!!
My Dad is very artistic. He went to art school but his way of working
is very different to mine; he is precise and likes intricate detail.
He's done some amazing paintings but doesn't seem to do much
thesedays...sadly.

Question
What is the best thing somebody could say about your artwork?

Answer
One thing that I'm clear about and that is that people don't have to like
my art!!! :-) But to answer the question in more depth, I think that if my painting
provokes reaction/s, however they might be, good or bad, then my work
has done it's job!!
I'd obviously feel flattered if they knew where I was coming from in my
thought processes and whether hopefully this comes across in my work
and whether one appreciates the preparation that goes into a painting.
That's very important to me.
Say for example with my painting of GOSSIP (1), which sold
INCREDIBLY FAST...in a gallery in Chester on the Sunday and was sold on
the Monday!!! That was a painting of a proverb from the Bible; it's
one of my favourite quotes actually....."GOSSIP IS SO TASTY, HOW WE LOVE TO
SWALLOW IT" . I think my written text accompanying it actually helped
to sell that piece as the couple who bought it seemed to be of the same
understanding and wavelength as me. Hope that makes sense!! :-D

Question
What media would you like to try out and why?

Answer
As you can see from a lot of what I do, much of my artwork is based on
Mixed Media techniques. I studied Mixed Media (textiles based) and Fine
Art, so like to incorporate these skills to compliment one another in
what I do.
I love getting mucky and trying different medias but, yes, although I do use 'todays' oils, I'd love to go into much more depth with them...done the traditional way, mixing paints like the Masters used to, with egg yolks (egg tempera)!! One day when I have more time, eh?!! :-D

Question
What was the last art exhibition/gallery you visited?

Answer
I get to see the Macnchester Galleries because they're near to home. I really enjoyed The Walker Gallery in Liverpool when I went to see Alma Tadema paintings.
It was beautiful work and I was in total awe!!!!!!
I must make more of an effort to venture further afield to see more galleries.

Question
Do you find art relaxing? Explain.

Answer
YES and NO to this question!! I suppose it all depend on what I'm working
on at the time, but on the whole, I see my time being creative as a
relaxing therapy. In an ideal world, I'd prefer to be somewhere on my
own to crack on with things without interuptions. I use acrylics a lot,
and because the paint dries sooooo quickly, I dread folk barging in on
me incase I might be on a crucial part and acrylic paint and I can't afford
to wait!!!! So, I don't like to be interupted and will lock the door if I need to!!
When I do get stuck in, I don't necessarily need to have quiet...on the
contrary, I sometimes need to have music blaring out to help me
along!!! (Plus, I sometimes dance on the job too!!! :-D)

Question
What do you like least about being an artist?

Answer
Not having enough time is the main thing for me, as I have other committments which sometimes get in the way. Sometimes it's all too easy to spend too much time online, updating my websites, networking, etc. but I'm not complaining as this is a key part of self promotion! I think most artists who don't have their own agents, whould agree that it's a case of 70% networking/promoting oneself and 30% painting!!

Question
Are you and your studio space messy or are you neat when you work?

Answer
Now ensconced in my new studio, I think people would say I'm a very clean worker but that's only because I tidy up after myself!! It's half exhibition space and half work space so I HAVE to be careful.
In the past, when I used to work from home however, it's true, I was more of a mucky puppy!! :-D I can be very energetic when I'm painting...sometimes dancing like Ainsley Harriet as he shakes the salt into his pans... and yes, paint DOES inevitably splash about a bit!! At home I had splashes on the walls, cupboards, floor and even the ceiling!! My clothes are ALWAYS covered in paint and anybody who really knows me KNOWS that I am never MORE comfortable than when donning my painting togs!! :-D However, that said, I am meticulously tidy with my equipment. At £20+ a brush...I choose to care for them!!

Question
What is the most expensive art related purchase you have made?

Answer
Probably my good quality, sturdy, adjustable easle!! When working in my studio, it is my stable base on which to work. Also, I don't scrimp on artist materials as I believe you get what you pay for and when one uses quality 'tools', I believe it shows in ones work. I use a terrific drawing board and comfy office chair for my illustrative work; couldn't do without that set-up...love it!!

Question
Who is your own favourite artist?

Answer
I don't have any ONE particular favourite artist. Hang-on, yes I do...TWO infact...Egon Schiele and Klimt!! I respect and admire SO many...most of the Masters and NUMEROUS living artists, like Pino Daeni and Jenny Saville.

Question
What do you like best about being an artist?

Answer
...Feeling able to express myself as I want to...
This is hard to explain but, I feel blessed to be able to 'see' things
in different ways. I fear that some people are blind (not in a physical
sense) and are unable to see or view things in creative ways, which I
think is sad. I think far too many people are artistically suppressed, maybe without even realising it, and have to be almost 'trained' to have an open mind in order to have the ability to artisticly demonstrate what they see, feel and think.

Question
Have any of your artworks ended up in unusual or famous places?

Answer
My first 'TURN ME ON' painting ended up in a clients bathroom!! :-D I'm proud to say that my DUERRS commission painting in jams) was bought by THEO PAPHITIS of DRAGON'S DEN and the painting resides in his Crewe office, with a copy donning the walls of THE MANCHESTER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, because the painting raised £5000 for the hospital. I'm very proud of that!!

Question
If you could pick only three colours to work with what would they be?

Answer
I'd choose the three primary colours because one can mix a terrific number
of tones....it requires skill and knowledge and having these three
colours, I'm guaranteed 'choice'.

Question
If your artwork could be displayed anywhere in the world where would you choose?

Answer
...Anywhere where the viewer was appreciative of what they'd bought from me!! It
wouldn't matter if my paintings were in a museum or palace or my Aunty
Joan's front room, as long as the viewer/s liked it for their chosen
wall space!!

Question
Where and when did you first exhibit your work?

Answer
My husband is a working jeweller and we have our high class
shop/business...(called PHILIPS the JEWELLERS on PICKFORD STREET, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE...plug, plug!!) :-D
I'm fortunate that I have wall space in the shop to display my artwork and the response in sales was encouraging from the start.

Question
What do you find most difficult as an artist?

Answer
Above all else, 'time' is the most difficult thing to manage. I find it very
frustrating when i have oooooodles of ideas swimming round my head that
I'd like to get on with, and yet I have to do other stuff as well;
plus juggle family commitments besides!!
(:-D I think 'He' got that bit wrong when He went about doing his
creative bit!! HE should have made MORE hours in a day for people like
me!!! :-D)

Question
Have you any future plans? What would you like to achieve?

Answer
I'm quite an outgoing person and need people in my day to keep my sane and
yet, the older I get, I also appreciate having space to myself too, to
do what my heart yearns for...and that is to be creative.
I HAVE A DREAM!!!!!!! If I won the Lotto or came into some money (or some kind person felt like leaving me some), my dream is to own a little white croft on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebredes; My maiden name is McNeill, and Barra is where my ancestors originated from. For me, Barra is my dream destination on God's planet and if I am ever in a position to go there, I would go like a shot and paint till the cows came home!!

Question
What is in your artistic toolbox?

Answer
Crumbs...this is a difficult one because I have a few tool boxes!! If I was to really break this down into something I'd take with me before running out of
the door on location, then, I'd have to say pen and water for my pen/ink and wash work, charcoal, pencils, stanley knife, putty rubber, masking tape, small tubes of acrylic paint, watercolour crayons, water, brushes, kitchen roll/cloth, pritt stick
and scraps of paper (ie: newpaper, brown paper, envelopes, etc.), and
not forgetting the sketchpad/s!!
I'd say that these items are a basic 'MUST' for any artist, at least for the foundational planning stages of a painting...tis for me anyway.

Question
What item could you simply not do without?

Answer
If 'my thoughts and time' could be called an item, then that'd be how I'd answer that question, without a doubt!! :-D

Question
Did a particular person or event spark your interest in art?

Answer
No, not really...as a child, I was ALWAYS drawing, painting, or creating
things, and as I grew older, I learned how to develop my artwork
further; although, my Dad went to Art School so I guess his enthusiasm rubbed
off on me!!

Question
Have you ever had an art-related disaster?

Answer
Just the creative splashes of paint somehow finding there way onto the
cupboards, ceiling, floor, clothes...you get the picture!!
(pardon the pun!!)