“I chose my course (Fine Art: Painting) as it is a specialised course that priorities studio-based art making. Before coming to university, I knew I wanted to paint, so I needed time and space to be fully submerged in my practice.”
Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences
“My painting practice takes place using the medium of oil paint. Abstraction and figuration make playful accord, where the flower motif exists as the grounding component, and abstraction exists as the aftermath. By rendering these images as paintings, I am exploring the possibilities of the flower as an icon, freeing it from its familiar contexts to create works that use but go beyond the recognisable. Through energetic arrays of sweeping and excessive application of vivid colour, I aim to evoke more than literal representation. The distinction between the real, the decorative, and the imaginative become blurred, and the motif becomes the key to articulating emotion. I allow it to transform into an extension of my identity: a young woman flourishing into adulthood.
The flower pays homage to my farming heritage, where my affinity with nature materialises in an array of romantic colours and gestures. My sources come from days spent in antique shops with my mother where we would search for novelty objects decorated with floral imagery. Floral displays within floral vases, here the perishable flower turns permanent, fixed in a timeless entity. My work aims to explore the same idea, using oils to mimic life, preserving its beauty.”
How have you found your course and what made you choose it?
“I chose my course (Fine Art: Painting) as it is a specialised course that priorities studio-based art making. Before coming to university, I knew I wanted to paint, so I needed time and space to be fully submerged in my practice. Choosing this specialised course has allowed me to focus all my attention on creating work, as well as receiving tutorials and group crits from other practicing artists. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course and recommend it to anyone who is wanting to build a studio-based practice.”
Was the location of Brighton more important than you thought it would be?
“During my three years at Brighton, I have gained a full appreciation of the benefits of working within a creative town alongside other artists. The shared environment has encouraged a sense of self, where I have been able to gain lots of confidence as a young adult. Brighton has everything you need at walking distance, including a pub every 100 meters. It has a very liberal, welcoming community where everyone is free to express themselves.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“Now graduating, I hope to find a studio where I continue my painting. I am also applying for multiple residencies both in and out of the UK.”
If you could give your 16-year-old self any advice about going to university, what would it be?
“If I could give my 16-year-old-self advice, it would be to stop putting so much pressure on yourself and prioritise an enjoyable future.”
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