What are the main concerns of your practice?

Stability and balance would be the core interest of my work. I am interest in how these ideas work with sculpture – art works that give a viewer the impression there is a chance of them falling over, breaking, destroying themselves. I am interested in things that appear precarious.

 

What are your influences?

There are a few artists that have been really influential to me. I’m really influenced by Phyllida Barlow – I wrote most of my dissertation on her work, and also Richard Tuttle – I love his pictorial sense. I think his work has really influenced the painting aspect of my practice, and the way he introduces little objects into frame. I think most of my work has stemmed from an influence of Kenneth Draper – his combination of sculpture/painting – but my work has moved away a lot since then. With the work I’m making now, though, Barlow does seem to be the most obvious influence for me, because when I look at her work it really feels like those structures are about to collapse on you, and they make me think about those ideas behind balance and stability.

 

What’s the first thing you do in your process?

The way I would usually begin is by finding objects, stealing them, and taking them into the studio. Sometimes I have an idea in mind about which object I would like to come across, but most of the time I just pick what I can find and let the ideas about how they can be re-structured or balanced stem from the object itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you enjoy most about the studio?

The great thing about coming into studio is that, at certain times of day, it’s sociable! I also think it’s important to have a separate place, outside your house, to escape to do just do your work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How has your work changed over the course of the degree?

Wow, a lot. I guess in first year I didn’t really have a ‘thing’, I wasn’t sure which ideas or themes I was exploring – I was playing around with loads of ideas. In second year I made the decision to stick to painting, because I thought that would be useful. Until then I still wasn’t focused on any conceptual aspects. Now I’ve moved away from that completely, though. I’m way more into sculpture and I’m interested in really exploring these specific themes in my work.

 

What are your plans after graduation?

I’d like to go into teaching at some point, hopefully I can get the qualification next year!