LAURA IVES
Visual artist Laura Ives creates otherworldly illustrations using guache, ink, water colour and pen. Focusing on portraits of fictional people, Laura creates a world full of fine detail, unique technique and beautiful colours. Currently a part of the Yen Young Australian Art Award, you can check out her work and help her win by voting on the yen website. I had a chat to Laura to find out more about her art, creative process and other interesting things...
How and when did you become interested in art? Is it something that has always been a passion of yours?
Well I found a bunch of old high school exams the other day, had a flick through and found a whole bunch of random crap drawn into where I was meant to be writing answers. So I guess it has always been a passion! I remember drawing onto other stuff when I was younger too - coffee cups, furniture etc. Every surface is just waiting to be scribbled on.
Did you study or receive any formal training in the arts or are you self taught?
No formal arts training as such. I'm studying graphic design now which is brilliant, it's great to integrate my love of drawing with digital design and use it for something practical. As nice as it would be to be an artist there are only a lucky few who can make a career out of it, plus the extent of what you can do on computers these days is freakin phenomenal to learn... especially as it's progressing so rapidly. It's mind blowing!
Where do you find inspiration for your work? Are there any areas of your life that have shaped you as an artist?
I think having a strong design background has shaped what I do a lot. All that colour balance and line and direction and space and time
blah has been drummed into me and that all has more influence on what my brush does than anything else. I don't want to create works that necessarily have to have some deeply personal and complicated meaning to them - I hate elitism in art, anyone can have an opinion on something and I guess I just want to paint things that evoke some kind of reaction/emotion. Even if it's a bad one!
Can you describe your style and what are your favourite mediums to work in?
Pen, gouache, water colour, ink, a good thick 250gsm water colour paper! That's probably the most important thing as I tend to chuck pools of water onto my paintings and anything less will buckle completely out of shape. Learned that one the hard way.
Can you describe your workspace and creative process?
Mess. I can't own nice clothing or furniture or carpets - everything is stained. I think people think I'm trying to be edgy with my paint covered jeans but no... I just don't own anything clean. The thing about watercolours and inks is that you've gotta let each layer dry completely otherwise all the colours will just run together and go brown. So I paint a little bit... have a snack... paint a little bit... have a nap. Not a bad life.
What would you be doing if you weren't creating art? Do you have any other passions and interests?
I would be in training to become a chess master.
What is one essential that you always carry on you?
A posca and a pair of pliers... you'd be amazed at how often they come in handy (in separate situations and the same). Oh that's two things.
Where do you hope to be in the next 5 - 10 years?
Living on some tropical beach where I can paint and swim all day with a turtle who brings me mojitos.
Images courtesy of Laura Ives