Eden Waters

This weeks Artist Feature is with young creative Eden Waters!

Her work covers everything from Pointillism illustrations of animals and sausage rolls to the issue of Classism in art- if interested keep reading…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

Im Eden, I’m 23 and I’m based between Birmingham and Norfolk at the moment after finishing uni in Birmingham

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

My main areas of practice are pointillism drawing and publication making. I am completely self taught at drawing and developed my practice (outside of drawing) whilst at university. I’ve always had odd aesthetic preferences, which I think were shaped by not being directed by school or anyone else. I like things that are perceived to be a bit crap and I am usually drawn to things that go unnoticed – it’s important to me to be curious about mundane things, and invite these things to be praised.

In uni I discovered a love for self-made publications and zines, and spend a lot of time making and planning them for documenting just about anything!

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

I like my work to have an underlying importance. My work can be fun, or strange, but the foundation of it is often the most important part. Working with found objects is an important part of my practice.

My final major project surrounded Classism and exclusivity in the arts, and I have also previously focussed on the impacts of sexism, food wastage, and I am always inspired by the normality and hidden politics around me.

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

As my surroundings are one of my biggest influences, it’s been really interesting to see the world close down, change, and re-emerge… and of course I’ve been planning publications!

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

Honestly, it’s just life. It sounds like a cop-out answer but really, there is something beneficial to be taken from everything we experience.

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

I haven’t given it much thought, that is one downside to taking things as they come. However I would love to still be involved with artist publications, and like the idea of encouraging others to create them too.

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

In general – It’s okay to be unsure.

In terms of artistic practice – Even if your practice seems to be uncommon, it doesn’t mean you’re doing things wrong or your work is bad; your audience will come. Make as much as you can, even if it seems to be going nowhere because you will find something great. Be curious!

**The Nation’s Favourite pointilism drawing is part of my FMP for university.**

This Arcadia quote is an extract from my FMP book (which is on my online degree show https://baaad.org/portfolios/eden-waters/ )

To check out more of Eden’s work follow her Instagram @edenwtrs !

And you can also see her University FMP on Classism in the Online degree show… https://baaad.org/portfolios/eden-waters/

-THANKYOU FOR READING GANG-

Cassie Waters

This week’s mini Artist Feature is from Zine creator Cassie Waters!

Read the full interview below for more info about her c reative Zine work!…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: My name is Cassie Waters, I’m 23 and I’m newly based in East London, although I am originally from Suffolk and have spent a few years living in Norfolk.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: I have always been very creative but was put off studying art academically at A-Levels by a particular teacher who was not encouraging of practices that weren’t similar to his own. I quit early on in the year and switched to History. However, by not having an Art A-Level my options to study Art or Animation at university as I had previously considered, were slightly inhibited and I eventually settled on my other love, English Literature. In between then and now I have explored my practice in various ways and have now found my calling in creating zines (a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialised and often unconventional subject matter). Since the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been obsessively making zines everyday and have amassed a pretty large collection in a short time!

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A: My zines tend to be about my experiences of living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, anxiety, depression, agoraphobia and being a working-class woman, but I also make zines about any subjects, from The Simpsons to racism in rural communities. I like to think that there’s no topic I wouldn’t explore in my zines and I don’t want to be held back by fitting into too strict a theme.

Q4: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: One of my greatest inspirations has always been Tracey Emin. I am fascinated by people’s inner lives and her work is so honest and confessional. She conveys love, sadness and inner pain like few other artists can. I also love how she combines the written word within her art, I suppose because that shares a likeness to zines. My favourite piece of Tracey Emin’s is her installation ‘Everyone I’ve Ever Slept With’. Her work inspires me to be honest and embrace my pain and experiences when creating art.

‘Everyone I’ve ever slept with’ by Tracey Emin

Q5: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: In 5 years time I would like to be able to split my work 50/50 between my current full time job in publishing and my art and Zine-making. I love working in publishing and believe enormously in the power of books for change! But I also really enjoy the freedom and creativity that making and selling zines and art allows me. Having the best of both worlds would be amazing!

To see more of Cassies work follow her Instagram !

Or check out her Etsy store… https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ThisIsYourLifeZine

THANKYOU FOR READING, SEE YOU AGAIN SOON

James Greenhalgh

Seeing us into the new month of July is a fresh Artist Feature with London based photographer James Greenhalgh!

Keep Reading to find out more about his work based around Identity and Masculinity and creative inspirations…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: I’m James Greenhalgh, 21 and I’m based in London.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: I first got into photography by total mistake. I had never studied anything creative at school and I thought I was going to be a computer scientist. I had to pick my A-Levels and one of the subjects I selected (Anthropology) was removed from the curriculum because not enough people picked the subject so I was pulled into my head of year’s office to quickly pick another random subject. I selected photography as I thought it might be a cool skill to learn but I thought I was going to focus on my more academic subjects. My teachers then introduced me to artists such as Wolfgang Tillmans and Nan Goldin; suddenly I saw how photography was able to communicate emotions, stories, and people’s experiences in a way that words can’t achieve. From there I started working on how I could use photography to capture my own identity and the people around me.

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A: My work explores my identity, in particular, how the way men challenge and express their masculinity has changed as we grow up in a generation where identity expression is more fluid and the traditional archetype of ‘Man’ is developing.

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

A: COVID-19 has resulted in my graduation show being massively altered, final major university project being rushed to completion, and job prospects being put on hold indefinitely or canceled. I’ve taken this time to look back over my archive and reflect on what I’ve been creating, I’ve done a couple shoots over video call but for the most part, I just can’t wait to get back into the studio and creating work again.

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: David Armstrong: I was introduced to David’s work really late in my university degree and I only wish I found his work earlier. His portraits of people he encountered in his life (friends, lovers, and even acquaintances who left an impact on him) are so simplistic but through them, you start to see the life of David come through the images. He was also Nan Goldin’s flatmate for a long time (who’s work really inspired me when I was younger) and it was super interesting to research how they collaborated on different projects as their photographs tell similar stories of identity expression through other people.

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: In 5 years time, I hope to be working with amazing designers, stylists, artists and models for magazines and fashion campaigns. I’m currently working for other photographers and hope to follow in their footsteps.

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

A: Please listen to your Black friends when they share their experiences of racism, don’t argue, just listen. If you need a place to start your research into racial inequality, read “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race” by Reni Eddo-Lodge or “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo or if you need a short book to get you started, read “Dark Days” by James Baldwin. Black Lives Matter.

To see more of James’ amazing photography work visit his website… james-greenhalgh.com

Or Instagram ! Where there is also a link to his BA Degree show!

Thankyou So Much For Reading, see you again soon…

Tilly Edgley

This week’s second post is a mini artist feature- from 19year old Photographer Tilly Edgley!

We couldn’t be more excited about Tilly’s work and to see where her talent takes her in the future!…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: My name is Tilly Edgley, I’m 19 years old and am based in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.

Q2: What is your creative practice/ Artwork?

A: I’m currently studying a Level 3 Photography degree!

Q3: Are there any main themes you explore in your work?

A: Prior to photography I studied art and design, and have always been obsessed with Portraiture! From the very beginning, I ruled out anything landscape, still life etc… And knew that I wanted my work to be surrounding people. I have a lot of appreciation for things that have been well put together and the smallest of details have been considered. I think music is a good example of this and I’ve always found inspiration from album art, music videos and lyrics. They make for good prompts.

Q4: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: I actively address themes that other people tend not to. For example, I love images that make you feel uncomfortable, exposed but also intrigued. I like to pay attention to what people love to see and what they choose to avoid and make something that challenges that. One Artist who I take inspiration from is Tomas Xio Oliveras I love the style of their drawings, and always wondered how they would look as photos.

Q5: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: In 5 years time I would’ve finished uni, so hopefully I’ll be getting a job! As it stands right now I’d love to create images for magazines, go down a more editorial route. But I’m really open, my motives may change. I may want to create something more meaningful depending what takes my interests and what I feel needs addressing. Overall I just hope I’ll just be happy and enjoying whatever I’ve chosen to do!

If you want to see more of Tillys work and Support her, follow at @ tillytookthese

Thanks for Reading!!

Sophia Wakeman

Today we are very excited to be publishing our first Artist Feature of summer 2020! !WOOHOO!

Myself and Sophia had a “New Normal” Zoom call meeting to discuss life, art, and the future!…

Q1- What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: Its Sophia Wakeman, I’m 19 and I’m based in Cambridgeshire, well just in-between Norfolk and Cambridge.

Q2: What is your creative practice/ work?

A: Digital artwork at the moment, I used to do traditional art but didn’t have the facilities. I use a free version of Procreate for my computer to make the work. Its nothing fancy but works well for me!

Q3: Are there any main themes you explore in your work?

A: Drag Queens! I gravitate towards celebrities and mostly Drag artists for their eccentric looks and makeup, its different than just drawing a regular portrait. I tried landscape but it just fizzled out, then moved more towards portraits. People message me asking if I will do specific portraits of Queens, thats why I drew Crystal Methyd because someone asked me to do her, they helped that person become themselves.

Q4: How has the COVID-19 Pandemic affected your work?

A: I think I’ve been more motivated, as I have more time on my hands. I don’t have the pressure of completing my college assignments, so I can explore the work that I want to produce.!

Q5: Highlight one of your inspirations!

A: There’s is one person, her name is Francoise Nielly, she creates portraits using just pallet knives and spatulas, not tradition brushes. She’s one of the first artists I ever took inspiration from in secondary school, and I want my work to be bright and colourful like hers! When you scroll past it you can’t help but look.

Q6: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

A: Hopefully the goal is to be a self-sufficient full-time artist, selling work that supports myself. Thats the dream! I want to have a year or two focusing on myself and my work and maybe go to University, but that could always change.

Q7: If you could share a message young artists, what would it be?

A: Just- Do your art work for you! Don’t do it to gain an audience or please people, I did that for a while to create a following on Instagram but it doesn’t make you happy. Now I produce work to please myself. I feel like if you enjoy making the art and put yourself into then people notice your passion.

To see more of Sophias work and support her, check out her Instagram– @ wakemanart

And Website– https://linktr.ee/WakemanArt

Thanks for Reading!- Elsie.

Sophia Wakeman- Crystal Methyd Portrait.

Sophia Wakeman

Lauren MacGowan

Today myself and Daisy, (co-creator of the OP) are heading to Taylor Made Tattooz in Kings Lynn, for an appointment we have been thinking about for months! Which was finally happening on the 2nd of August, and we also had the amazing opportunity to talk to Lauren MacGowan about her creative practice…

Q- What is your name, age and where are you based?

A- Lauren… MacGowan, i’m 21 and i’m based at Taylor Made Tatooz in Kings Lynn! (followed by some freaking out about the voice recording!) (‘Don’t worry everyone hates their voice’)

Q- What is your art practice about, or what do you specialize in?

A- I tend to specialize in Mandalas and Dot work Style, I like doing realistic stuff too but prefer the dot work now. I also like to do painting if I get spare time but I’m very busy with the tattooing at the minuet.

Screen Shot 2018-08-06 at 16.53.14.png

Q- How long have you been tattooing?

A- I Qualified on the 2nd of January, this year, but I’ve been tattooing for about a year and a half since I was 19. I’ve always wanted to do it since I was 16! I did my Alevels, and then I started taking my portfolio around everywhere until I found somewhere that would take me on.

Q- Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

A- Hopefully being invited to different Tattooing conventions, like in London or Manchester or guesting at different spots! I would like to have my own shop one day but I think that’s a bit further in the future.

Q- If you could give a positive message to yourself or younger tattoo artists what would you say?

A- Probably never give up! Because I went through a phase of rejection which was really hard, but I kept pushing myself to do it which worked out! Keep your portfolio open, I had pastels, watercolor, animals, script, portraits, flowers, a bit of everything, which really helps too!

Thankyou to Taylor Made Tatooz for letting us take images in your shop, you can find them and their amazing artwork on their Facebook page!

And to see more of Laurens work head to her Instagram!

Evie Chaplin

Today is Thursday the 19th of April, the hottest day of the year so far (its damn hot) and me and Evie have met up to talk about her work, brand and prospects for the future…

Q- What is your name, age and where are you based?

A- My name is Evie Chaplin, I’m 16 and I’m based in a little village in the middle of nowhere in Norfolk. Its tiny and Rubbish.

Q- Tell us what your creative practice/ art work is about?

A- I do a lot of visual arts ranging from photographic to print making and fashion, a lot of it is to do with the contemporary world and its effects on society and different groups of people. I focus a lot on the skating community and contemporary fashion and how these groups can feel really closed and regressive when your in a conservative place like Norfolk. Lots of my work comes from myself feeling creatively restrained because I live here, I also like creating aggressive and slightly vulgar clothing, mostly to get reactions from people.

Q-What are the main themes/ subjects you explore in your work?

A- I do lots of self exploration work, I often feel like a big fish in a small pond– and I think a lot of people feel like that who are from small communities-like you’re trapped inside yourself and need to grow. Im also starting my own brand which I want to explore a lot more- Ive named it ‘Dead Heading’ which is the process of cutting dead parts off flowers so they can grow again, so its to do with cutting of the toxic parts of your own life so you can grow again- because everyone has certain people or feeling that hold them down and I think it would help society if everyone was a “Dead header” so that we can all grow and be ourself freely.

Q-Who are your inspirations?

A- The Bratz Dolls! (BRATZ DOLLS) I think their fashion is great, I think what they stand for is brilliant! They came in at a time when Barbie was massive and she was an empowering image for feminism showing how women could do anything they wanted to, but Bratz came along and were so ahead of their time! They had a ‘fuck everyone, we can do what we want to‘ message about them and even the word Brat has negative connotations but they reclaimed it to be something so cool and empowering. Women can do what they want, and they can also do nothing which is fine too.

I also love an Artist call GIRLI, ( GIRLI , Feel OK MV) she dresses in all pink to represent female stereotypes but she’s so aggressive and has a great ‘fuck you’ attitude. Her music talks about the issues of being a women in the music industry and she’s a big role model for me and and other young girls. I like both male and female artists, I used to only listen to boys but have recently found lots of female artists I like and I think that reflective of a new age of women in music.

Q- What is individualism to you?

A- Its a very big part of my life, I love who I am and I think its brilliant to stand out but its also okay if you don’t want to stand out. People should do whatever makes them happy. You do you, and ill support that.

Q- Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

A- Five years, so ill be 21… Hopefully in London, I think thats where I need to be if I want to pursue things and have more opportunities, hopefully my brand will kick off and ill be able to explore lots of things. Its a great umbrella for me to be able to explore anything, fashion, magazines, photography its a header for all of that. Ive been thinking about what I want to do for so long and couldn’t find anything so thought id start something self.

To see more of Evie’s work check out her Instagram accounts and Website:

@dead.headd @deadheadinguk http://www.echapbusiness.wixsite.com/deadheading

Evie LR edits (3 of 9) — Self Portrait by Evie Chaplin

Evie LR edits (1 of 9) — Final Piece: Chance

Chloe Mountain

It’s a beautiful spring Thursday in Norfolk, and myself and Chloe are currently walking around Sandringham woods (one of the Queen’s estates), discussing life. We stop off in the coffee shop to talk about her practice and eat cake, the conversation goes as follows…

Q- What is your name, age and where are you based?

A-My name is Chloe Mountain, I am almost 21( so 21) and I’m based in London, and Norfolk.

Q- Tell us what your creative practice/ artwork is about

A- My field is ceramic, all of my work is basically plaster/ clay and glass that kind thing, but it always comes back to myself, the project I have been doing recently is very personal so it’s mainly my reflection/ response on how I fell about things opposed to manufactured ceramics. My degree is so ‘mass-made’ which I really don’t care about and I always try to stay away from perfect forms, I always try to push the mold, literally. The first project I created cups that had holes in them, they looked like perfect cups but they were completely pointless and unusable.

Q- What are the main themes/ subjects you explore in your work?

A- Because its obvious pottery, I explore textures and surfaces a lot as that interests me, I’d rather make something that you want to touch and engage with and not be something traditional. Its all about sensations isn’t it? I always try to incorporate that into my work.

Q- Who are your inspirations?

A- Noel Fielding (Noel Fielding), and I am massively into Basquiat (Jean Michel Basquiat)at the minuet, he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life, and I visited his exhibition at the Barbican last year which was amazing. Greyson Perry (Greyson Perry- what is art)who, everyone loves. But Basquiat is the main person at the minuet, I love his colours and bold forms.

Q- Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

A- Asleep, in my bed, if I’m quite honest ill probably be having a nap. Seriously tho, coming to the end of a masters degree in Sculpture, hopefully at the Royal College of Arts in London. I love doing my product design degree, but I don’t want to create things which are mass made so I’d love to move towards sculpture.

Q- If you could give a message to the world, what would it be?

A- Spend time with your grandparents! The older you get the more significant they and their wisdom will become. They’re not always going to be here bro.

Chloe w pot Grog pot

To find more of Chloe’s work you can follow her at @cm.syd and @chloemountain.art on Instagram.

Daisy Herculson

We meet Daisy today in an open art room in her local College. Plaster cast underwear can be seen amongst overflowing sketchbooks and pale pink and white canvases of the Female Form. This is “Tidy” she explains, shoving aside vintage underwear clearing a space so we can sit and talk about her work, the interview goes as follows…

Q-What is your name, age and where are you based?

A-I am 18 years old, 19 in April and my name is Daisy Herculson. I live in a small village called Ingoldsthrope, in Norfolk.

Q-Tell us what this work is about which you are sharing with us today!

A-For one of my Alevel Art projects I wanted to complete something which was very meaningful, that I could completely engross myself in- I’ve looked at the Female Form and researched deeply into Feminism and the female/ male gaze and how this has effected the art world as women are often not given the same opportunities as male artists. Just experimenting with different mediums and trying to figure out what I thought was the “Female Form” and how to portray it.

Q-What are the main themes and subjects you explore within your work, not just this project?

A-I create art quite spontaneously, I rarely have a plan and most often just take inspiration from artist and mimic their practices. For example in this project I’ve looked at Tracy Emin (Tracey Emin)a lot and mimicked the way she’s used sponges in her work, I collect artists that I love and think are amazing, which helps me move forward in my practice.

Q-Are you more inspired by English Artists?

A-I like the ‘Grittiness’ of English artwork, especially stuff from the 90s when young artists and collective would create work to prove themselves and often go against the grain. I think it’s really interesting how English artists portrayed themselves, I want to be seen like that.

Q-Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

A-Ummmm, hopefully, finished an Arts degree, living somewhere like Brighton where there is a young arts scene, definitely a City. However, I think if I lived in a city I might have a creative block/ breakdown as id want to do so much at the same time. I quite like the idea of teaching but maybe in 10 years time.

Q-If you could give a message to the world what would it be?

A-I think ‘If you enjoy it, you should do it!’. I’ve always been told that art isn’t a proper career and won’t be able to be successful but it makes me happy and I want to follow that path, don’t listen to anyone else just do what you want. Art is individual and subjective just do it!

Daisy portrait Daisy sketch book

Want to see more of Daisy’s work, follow her at @_daisynell_ on Instagram.