What inspired you to become an artist, and when did you first realise that you wanted to pursue this career path?
I have always felt drawn to nature and being outdoors. During my studies in photography I realised that I would love to pursue a career path in art making as I wanted to create images that others could purchase and hang in their homes. I am passionate about bringing nature into interior spaces in the form of art.
What are some of your favourite materials and mediums to work with, and why do you prefer them?
I love photography as a medium as it can really focus attention on light and texture. I also enjoy creating mixed media pieces and love the tactile process of creating these, which can sometimes be missing in the digital photography process.
How would you describe your artistic style, and how has it evolved over time?
I would describe my style as being organic and minimalistic. Over time I have pursued the study of creating calming images that will transform spaces into a peaceful haven.
What themes or ideas do you explore in your artwork, and why are they important to you?
Most of my themes focuses on botanical elements. I love the simplicity of leaves, trees, flowers. It is a quiet and unassuming beauty that the world needs more of.
Can you walk us through your creative process, from the initial concept to the finished piece?
Often my print series' start with a colour scheme in mind, or I will be particularly drawn to how light falls on a certain tree or leaf found in my wanderings. From there I will either collect the plant materials and bring it back to photograph in the studio, or take some backgrounds etc out to location. I like isolating botanical elements on a simplified background as I feel this draws the attention to the details of the plant. When I have the raw images, editing begins and this can be a lengthy process where I often combine multiple images together or include textures and other scanned images of watercolour or painting work that have been done separately. Most of my work is a combination of several images to form my final vision. I also always work in series, so it will not be one image but a set of images that can be used in interiors together.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out on their artistic journeys?
Start small, find your unique voice and be in it for the long haul. It is a journey with lots of ups and downs so be committed to yourself and your vision and keep at it steadily.
