Grace Aza-Selinger is an independent fine artist working in London. Her paintings hang in private collections all over the world including Oman, New York and London. Grace's work is primarily rooted in nature allowing a range of styles to evolve. The poet Tom Westerman describes her oeuvre from a recent exhibition; 'Through the artist's experience of natural beauty spots within cityscapes and raw pastoral settings the sense of awe these works instil work as a powerful reminder of the infinite colour, diversity and multi-dimensionality of human experience.'
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
So many but probably number one would be Impressionism - their works really encapsulate the feeling of being immersed in nature.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
I work from my studio at home but great art can be made anywhere, you just need a little imagination!
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
I would say I am quite intuitive. I don't often work to a brief as I find this can slow down the movement of the painting and make it look constricted.
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
It's difficult to say one..basically, any artist who creates an immersive alternative reality - a few examples would be Cornelia Konrads, Antony Gormley, Hokusai, Edmund Dulac, Brad Kunkle, Gustav Klimt etc!
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
Difficult question as art has always been so intrinsic to my life.. but probably a psychotherapist as I loved philosophy at school and finding out about the different ways people interpret the world!
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
Anything upbeat to keep the creative energy going in my art.
7) If you could own one artwork, and money was no object, which piece would you acquire?
I'd love to own one of Berndnaut Smilde's clouds!
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
It's not necessarily a specific collector/museum who is important to me, rather the fact that they love my work.
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
Try and keep trying.
Don't let insecurity or self-doubt put you off.
10) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non-fiction)?
I love Rose Tremain's "Music & Silence".
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
In the forest - I did, in fact, create an installation in 2012 in Grunewald Forest just outside of Berlin. You can find it on my Tumblr page.
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
My decision to study at University College Falmouth was intrinsic to me finding the confidence to pursue an art career. I actually did a classics degree first at the 'The Courtauld Institute' in Art History but I soon realised I needed to be creating the art, not studying it.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
Still creating artwork which inspires others!
