Ruby Cascarina

Todays Orange Peel post its from our Youngest Artist Feature so far! And we are super excited to showcase Ruby’s art work!

Keep reading bellow to find out more about her creative process…

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

A: My name is Ruby Cascarina, 16, based in Hertfordshire.

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

A: Growing up I felt quite talentless. I wasn’t very sporty or good at any musical instruments etc, just average and there was nothing special about me.However, I was always a creative person but it wasn’t up until I moved into secondary school that I really started to enjoy art and thought it was something I could be good at. Particularly going into year 10, at the start of the GCSE course, I really started to practice more and it was encouraging to hear positive comments from teachers and classmates. From there I continued to draw and paint both for school work and for fun and it is satisfying to see myself improve over the years!

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

A: Doing art at school, all of my sketchbooks had a theme. Whether that be issues surrounding mental health, climate change etc. and it was inspiring to research artists and see that the majority of them had a reason to create art and a message they wanted to spread. Although I have made paintings about topics I am passionate about, including the Black Lives Matter movement, there isn’t just one idea that I always link back to!

I also know that I am still miles away from meeting my potential when it comes to my art so as I progress and find my style, I hope to find a purpose in the things I create

Q4: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: My whole family are creative people; my dad is an animator, my mum is in the fashion industry and my grandparents were artists. My preferred style of art relates closest to my grandparents and I hope to one day be as good as they were, so I would say they are my biggest inspiration. I am lucky to be surrounded by art in my home and be able to look back on the works of my grandparents as I think that it is important to experience other peoples art in order to improve at my own.

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

A: In 5 years time I hope to be studying art at university or maybe doing an apprenticeship for something art related. My biggest fear is ending up doing some sort of uncreative job that will bore me all day!

In an ideal world I will be able to sell my art full-time but ultimately I just want to continue to improve, challenge myself and experiment, but whatever I am doing in 5 years I will definitely still be painting!

If you want to find Ruby you can follow her on Instagram !

And to see more content from amazing young artists you can follow our Instagram and this blog!

-SEE YOU AGAIN SOON-

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-

2020…

Hello! The Orange Peel Art Collective is active again for summer 2020!

Stay tuned for new Fresh Art content and think pieces!

-STAY SAFE-

‘Depression and Creativity’

Hello! My name is Daisy, I’m the second co-founder of The OP along with Elsie, and I just wanted to write something introducing myself! A little background information about me, I had an easy childhood but always struggled academically due to Dyslexia which sometimes held me back + I am very open about my feelings and the challenges I have faced. I started writing this article weeks after finishing my A levels, which was an extremely stressful time in my life. And I think this may also help young creatives my age who are facing the same struggles.

Depression and Creativity

As someone who always has new ideas for projects and things I want to create it was extremely worrying and upsetting when my creativity seems to vanish. I realized this was happening over a few months, starting in August 2017 and it took me a few months to link my feelings together.

With the support of my boyfriend at the time I managed to open up to my mum about my negative and on going feelings, going to the doctors the next day at the start of October. I was hoping for help and support with these feelings that were so unknown to me, instead I was offered tablets and to come back 3 months later. I thought, like I’d seen on TV and movies that these anti- depressants would transform me into the person I previously was and fill the currently dark world in my eyes with rainbows and self love, how wrong I was. I was told it would take a few weeks for my anti depressants to start working, so I gave myself 2 weeks to almost relax and try to be stress free, watching my favourite programs and eatings as I pleased. I couldn’t even look at doing art of anything creative which was a completely knew feeling for me. I sadly started to realise that these tablets were not going to be the easy fix I had first hoped for. They made the days more bearable, I was able to get some sleep and have hours of not feeling completely drained and useless.

I’ve always seen articles about artists and how their depression and unstable mental health allowed them to create their best work, Artists such as Tracey Emin, Amy Winehouse or Ian Curtis, who I admire greatly. But this wasn’t me, I felt I’d let myself down. Not that I ever wanted to be in a depressive state but if I created something out of it then at least it would have some advantage . My life from September till January wasn’t blissful. I couldn’t sleep, didn’t feel like doing anything. Any art I created angered me as I felt it was of a low and boring standard. I kept trying but wasn’t interested or inspired enough to really delve deep into my art.

Screen Shot 2018-08-06 at 17.25.25

I had no ideas, no creative flare, nothing. For the first time in my life I felt let down by the ideas that has previously bombarded my head. I thought that maybe it was never going to come back, that my education was ruined and finished.

Finally, from February 2018 my mental health started to improve, not miles or leaps but little bits like being able to sleep and deal with negative thoughts of my own work.

So I have learned a lot in this last year about depression and creativity and how to deal with both on a middle ground. It’s just learning to deal with it and not forcing creativity, this only makes you more frustrated, try and be kind to yourself and allow yourself time to figure stuff out. Being open to the changes and Kind to myself.

Looking back on this academic year, I feel very proud of myself for not giving in and giving myself time to learn what triggers me and my negative thoughts. I feel I have learned a hella lot about myself as a person in both my mental state and the strength I had to keep going as well as the creativity that flows through me.

This is not a happy ending, I am still a long way from being happy and feeling ‘normal’ or ‘myslef again’ but I know I had a period of being rock bottom and I have made it through. I am far from an expert, I am only 19! I am still unstable, having days I do nothing but cry, but these are now followed by days I enjoy with friends and family.

It just takes time!

If you have any questions please email me at dnellherculson@gmail.com or message me on Instagram!

If you would like to feature on the orange peel or write an article please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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