Meet the artists that have taken over our Instagram every Thursday in the past month! Showcasing exclusive interviews with Ottelien Huckin, Imogen Morris, Shakira Velasquez-Malik, and Hermione MacMillan.
OTTELIEN HUCKIN
1) Walk me through a typical day in the studio for you?
OH: A typical day starts with a large peppermint tea and a drawing to develop ideas and steady. The materials I use in the studio are often permanent so it’s important to feel confident with every brushstroke. I like to keep my activities varied, so for the rest of the day I will work on painted ceramics, gold leaf gilding, ink drawings and preparing japanned panels. The spring light in the afternoons is so beautiful, I’ll often sit back and watch my pieces glimmer and glow.
2) What is something viewers might not know about your work?
OH: The pandemic presented a perfect time to slow down, reflect and explore new mediums within my practice. I was intrigued by a craft called ‘japanning’, a 17th century European decorative technique that was developed to imitate Japanese lacquer. I felt that the time consuming process perfectly contrasted with my fluent approach to drawing.
3) What is the most challenging part of your process as an artist and what is most rewarding?
OH: It’s so easy to doubt yourself when all you have for company in the studio is you. However, with a little kindness and perseverance it’s incredibly gratifying to watch your creativity gain traction and develop into meaningful visual objects.
4) Is there any advice you have for artists/creators during this difficult time?
OH: The best way to create opportunities is to keep making, applying, and asking. Don’t sit back and wait for these things to come to you!
IMOGEN MORRIS
1) Walk me through a typical day in the studio for you?
IM:
2) What is something viewers might not know about your work?
IM:
3) What is the most challenging part of your process as an artist and what is most rewarding?
IM:
4) Is there any advice you have for artists/creators during this difficult time?
IM:
SHAKIRA VELASQUEZ-MALIK
1) Walk me through a typical day in the studio for you?
SVM: A typical day making work starts with drawing up some illustrations. Either through tablet, pencil or ink. I enjoy seeing what ideas I can come up with to then translate onto designs. I use my surroundings to pull inspiration from and embody that through my drawings.
2) What is something viewers might not know about your work?
SVM: Most of my work is constructed in an unusual routine. I tend to go backwards to old work I have made, or drawings I thought of as a design to go forwards in a new project. Therefore, most of my current work may have 'started' at leats a few months ago or even years ago.
3) What is the most challenging part of your process as an artist and what is most rewarding?
SVM: The challenging part is trying to find inspiration through multiple lockdowns and quarantine. However, it does feel rewarding being able to share work virtually with artists in similar positions.
4) Is there any advice you have for artists/creators during this difficult time?
SVM: Any advice I have for those young artists out there is to keep making work, although that may sound frustrating when you’re stuck it does help.
HERMIONE MACMILLAN
1) Walk me through a typical day in the studio for you?
HM: It’s a period of concentration, experimentation and creation. It may start with going out to take photos, making small studies or drawing, before translating these ideas into a bigger canvas!
2) What is something viewers might not know about your work?
HM: It gives me a great sense of freedom and satisfaction to create it. To be able to then share with others to enjoy is a wonderful experience!
3) What is the most challenging part of your process as an artist and what is most rewarding?
HM: Translating a creative idea onto the canvas can be challenging, but being able to express it through colour and form is very rewarding.
4) Is there any advice you have for artists/creators during this difficult time?
HM: Keep going! Keep creating!
