From a cosy corner of the Parlour’s studio comes video artist and animator Lucy. As the first resident artist in the studio when it was founded, the space simply wouldn’t be the same without her. Part Ruscha, part Hockney with a dash of the Orient; her dexterous leather shapes are a sight to behold, indeed.
The colours, sights and sounds of her trips from Iceland to Istanbul are explored in her work as much as her curiosity and interest in modern culture and new technologies.
How did you become an artist?
I have always liked drawing and taking photographs. As a child, I used to draw animals from books using oil pastel on sugar paper, which is fairly consistent with what I am doing now.
Describe a recent project.
I’ve been using the Brushes iphone app to draw with. You can only use your finger plus a brush or eraser, so you have to be very loose and simplify the subject right down. But you have a complete palette of colours with you and you can sketch on the spot wherever you like, batteries permitting.
I’ve also have been working with the intriguing shapes formed by unfinished origami projects. They are abstract but at the same time instantly recognizable as origami and they give the impression of being planned and considered, not at all random.
I am going to get them laser cut from Perspex and try some experiments with casting them. They are small multicoloured flat little sculptures which could be editioned.
Where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Being out and about. Visiting places.
My work environment.
The lifestyle, science and nature and history pages in the media.
A big variety of films.
Who or what are your artistic and professional influences?
Ed Ruscha for turning every day words in to paintings.
David Hockney for his studies of unremarkable hedgerows and grass verges and for exploring new technology.
Photo journalist Inge Morath’s colour images showing stories around the world.
But probably the greatest influence comes from friends and colleagues.
The Papered Parlour has had a big affect me. I now have the urge to find out how to make everything, rather than buy it. With craft projects, you have to work slowly and be very methodical and be prepared to make mistakes at every stage. It is a good way to work.
How would you describe your style?
Graphic.
Strong flat colour.
Figurative.
Observational.
Reserved.
There is some humour in it too.
How has your work evolved?
I’ve become more comfortable in doing what I want and following my instincts.
New web technologies like Blogging, Flickr streams and Vimeo have made it easy to show designs, short notational videos and photography enabling others and myself to get an overview of my practice.
Watch Prehistoric Landscape on Vimeo here.
What will you be doing in 10 years.
Learning the latest version of Adobe Creative suite.
Describe your hometown.
Brighton. The smell of the sea. Sound of the seagulls. Seaside colours mixed with Regency terraces, an ‘oriental’ Royal Pavilion. And being high up on the hills or the Sussex Downs.
If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
Zoologist, Ambassador, TV Presenter.
Where else in the world have you lived?
Nowhere else but London and Brighton, but I am making up for it by taking trips, and I can’t believe it but I’ve taken the Trans Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing.
