Shema Ladva is an artist who deals with reality -whether it is people, nature or animals.
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
It has and always been the French Impressionist from Cezanne to Monet to Vuillard.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
To my studio environment whether it's a space in a warehouse with leaking roof and rodents in East London or an open studio space in Kew next to the river.
I'm currently in a space in leafy Hornchurch which unfortunately doesn't allow me 24/7 access so unlike creating work when I'm inspired, I have to wait for opening times. Rubbish!
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
When time is in short supply, you just get on with it. I have never dithered when it comes to producing art...some of it's great, others not so. So what!
I carry my camera as my sketch book. Everyone and everything moves so fast. I need to capture life as and when it happens.
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
Picasso
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
Die!
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
Anything that melts into the background. If there's a lull during the day, a bit of D&B always does the trick.
7) If you could own one artwork, and money was no object, which piece would you acquire?
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon or anything in Picasso 's Blue Period.
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
MOMA with its French Impressionist collection.
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
Experiment with everything. It's the only time you get to work in all disciplines and take full advantage of your studio space.
10) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non-fiction)?
George Orwell "Coming up for Air"
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
At my community centre in Southall. It holds religious events for Hindu and Sikh communities. It's a great place where families have a chance to meet and celebrate. I have often thought "art" has never been seen as a good career choice in my community. It would be nice to show the alternatives to the usual doctor/solicitor/pharmacist careers,
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
Learn everything! You might discover a skill you never had. Mine was printmaking. And I can't emphasise this enough... you get three years of a studios space, take advantage of it. Once you're out in the real world, rent can be your biggest expenditure.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
I will still be working. I've spent too many years to get this far. Having no money is not a good enough reason to jack it all in. I will, more than likely have more grey hair because I'll have no money...other than that, I think I'm on the right trajectory.
