Artist Questions and Answers - October 2018
I answered these questions for a blog post that never ended up being published. I recently found them and thought why not, let's put them out into the work anyway...
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My name is Amy, and I currently live in a tiny suburb outside of Cape Town with my girlfriend Maryke, our two tortoiseshell cats and a border collie named Kelpie who we rescued.
2. Your current work deals with lunar themes. Can you talk about your interest in the moon?
I have always been fascinated by the sky, for as long as I can remember. There is something mysterious and magical about the endless space and the continuous motion that it is subject to.
I became obsessed with the moon while staying in Observatory in Cape Town shortly after I moved here. This lunar fascination began with the need to ground myself with something beyond my control. The moon controls so much of our female body, we are connected with it in ways that I don’t feel a lot of women understand.
3. What was the first creative project you can remember doing? What was its impact on you?
When I was young my mom ran a play school from our home. At 3 years old I remember waking up early with her and helping her in our kitchen to make the play-dough for the day. I remember it being hot in my young hands and her allowing me to mix the colourant into the dough. When the other children arrived we would sit together and build tiny sculptures around our colour filled table.
4. On your website you have ceramics, paintings, and ink drawings. Are you drawn to one art form over the others?
I’m definitely currently drawn to painting more. I’m in the process of mixing colours, and I’ve been exploring this more in my recent work, which I will be releasing soon into the world.
When I paint, I find myself submerged in meditation. It is like creating poetry with paint.
5. Your use of colour is especially beautiful - especially in your paintings/ceramics. Can you talk a little bit about the impact colour has on your work?
As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed how much my fascination with colour has developed. I love that every colour can be found somewhere in the sky or on the earth. I’m always noticing colour, I have countless images on my phone of rocks, water and ground. Maryke tells me that I point out colours to her everywhere. I love the way colour makes you feel.
6. What's a recent project you did that was especially meaningful for you? Why was it meaningful?
The project that I’m working on at the moment I think has been personally the most meaningful. I’ve been exploring larger scale painting, which I, at last, feel brave enough to do. My previous lunar works were mostly grayscale, these new pieces are warm tones of ochre, rust and flesh. The moon turns into sun, turns into moon.
This year I have also started working on a project called La Luna / La Femme - A Moon Journal which was created by Keri Bainborough out of the desire to harness the power of the moon and to record our natural female cycles in one tangible and tactile space. So far we have had a mind-blowing response and I can’t wait to see how it grows in the future!
7. You also work full time for Dear Rae. Can you talk a little bit about what it's like balancing your creative side and your 9-5 job?
Gosh, this is the million dollar question. Luckily my full-time job is really creative. I’m allowed a lot of freedom with my ideas within Dear Rae. It is still a balancing act though as I find that I must be creative personally to bring my A-game to work with me. Plus not working constantly is important, you need space to breathe and explore to feed your creativity. I’ve recently started working a four day work week, with Fridays to focus on my art. I love it, I love this time to myself.
8. What does your future look like in an ideal world? Will you go creative full time?
I’ve never seen myself being alone in a studio all day every day. I love people and the satisfaction that comes with working together. I’ve recently starting working with some smaller brands on brand identity and content creation (now under the name of Visually). My fiancé Maryke has recently started her own company, Rose and Stone, and I have the project of building the personality. I love developing a voice and exploring how beautiful businesses can personally impact so many lives. So I guess I’m going to keep on painting and keep on exploring.
1. Where did you go on the last vacation you took?
The last real vacation I took was a trip into Botswana last year. I spend driving through dirt roads and into national parks with 6 friends and Maryke. The land and wildlife that I saw there were incredible. I’m longing for another adventure.
2. Last book you read that you loved?
Stolen Beauty by Laurie Albanese. The way they describe Gustav Klimp’s paintings is mesmerizing.
3. When was the last time you put your toes in the ocean?
Today. I have the pleasure of watching the ocean grow with the sunlight driving to work each morning.
4. What's your favourite source for following your horoscope?
@lalunalafemme and @spiritdaughter
5. Do you prefer watching a sunset or a sunrise? Why?
Sunrise. It’s the quietest time.
6. Favourite piece of jewelry that you own?
All of my Dear Rae pieces are my favourite of course.
7. Last movie you saw that made you cry?
Call my by your name.
8. Are you a dog or a cat person?
I used to be mainly a crazy cat lady, but since we found Kelpie I am firmly in-between.
9. What's your favourite dessert?
My Mom’s self-saucing chocolate pudding.
10. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Librarian.
Images captured by Claire Vogeli