Why
are you an artist Stephanie?
For
me its kind of like breathing or walking, I don't think I
could not be an artist. Ever since I started painting I just
couldn't imagine stopping.
Could
you tell us some more about your paintings?
My
paintings are primarily abstracts, the big colour canvases,
like the horizon or nature collection come from emotion and
vision. I love nature and that idea that one day I will be
able to totally capture the beauty that you can see in a sunset
or a landscape, so I carry on painting with each canvas being
another opportunity.
How
do you start a painting, particularly your abstract works?
And how do you know when the painting is finished?
Starting
a painting is very automatic for me when I'm in front of a
canvas I try to feel like I'm there standing on the beach
or on the hill looking at that scene- and sometimes you cant
- I'll stand in front of a canvas and know that if I try to
work it will just be a waste of paint. After, I guess you
can look at a painting and know it's done, when you cant think
of anywhere else to put the brush, I guess you just know.
What
artists have influenced you, and how?
Mainly
Francis Bacon, he just painted from such a raw emotive place-
you can feel it on the canvas. His work has such incredible
movement in it, in places its like he has distilled the feeling
in to a motion that he's then scratched on the canvas. I think
my grandmother probably influenced me too. I didn't really
know her but in a remote way I guess she has. Knowing that
someone else related to me has painted spurs me on, it kind
of drives me, as if I have to keep on painting to keep that
skill in our family.
What
other interests do you have (besides painting)?
As
I said I love nature, I grew up on a farm so I get a kick
out of just being outside. I spend a lot of time with my camera
too, I love taking black and white photo's like the is something
instantly sad and beautiful about them. But I think my favourite
thing is just spending time with my friends, getting into
insane conversations at BBQs that last until the wee small
hours, lubricated, of course, by a fair amount of wine.
What
inspires you to paint and how do you keep motivated when things
get tough in the studio?
I
don't think I have tough days in the studio, if I don't feel
the painting then I just stop, I've ruined too many days and
too many canvases by carrying on - that now I just stop. I
have tough life days though, but you have to think about how
lucky you are and how whatever it is really, probably, doesn't
matter in the long run, and if it does, matter that is, then
the is always a solution - it might require hard work or it
might just be bloody hard to find - but a solution's always
there.
How
have you handled the business side of being an artist?
I
think the really tricky bit is the long hours - when I'm finished
painting I have to go up to the study and manage the website,
do emails and all of that Internet stuff. Then if I'm not
doing that its wrapping and packing paintings, or doing the
accounts - all of that stuff takes up so much time, it's like
having two jobs one as a painter and the other as a businesswomen.
But at the end of the day this is my choice and I love it.
Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
As
a painter, maybe having a couple of galleries. I would like
to travel between now and then, live in a couple of different
countries. I guess the main thing is that I'll hopefully still
be having as much fun as I am right now.
Could
you talk about your latest series of paintings and what you
are trying to achieve with them?
I
guess the latest set would be in the periphery collection
- a couple of angels, I guess I'm not trying to achieve anything
with them, more trying to explore. I love testing myself -
if I get a picture in my head - I love trying to get it down
on the canvas exactly the same as I can see it. With these
two it worked, I guess the reason they are angels is because
I love to think that the is something more, something kind
and protecting looking out for us
What
advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
I
don't know- I think I qualify as artist just starting out,
so what would I tell me - keep on going I'm sure it will all
work out!
