1. What originally made you want to become an artist ?
I have no memory of anything or anyone influencing me in my decision to work within art. I always liked the idea of creating something; it is the process that I have always loved.
2. Which living or dead artist would you most like to meet ?
I would have to choose Mel Ramos. He has always been one of my favorite Pop artists. I was in contact with him last year and he kindly sent me a print for my studio wall. We were back and forth extending invitations to each other’s shows, but we have not had the opportunity to meet in person as we are based so far apart. Mel's work is so strong and direct and is truly inspiring to look at. I have such respect for him as an artist. He has given so much to the art world over the years and is still such a kind person at heart.
3. Your work has a truly signature style: bold colors and bold lines with references to fashion and popular culture. Talk us through how you came to this.
It definitely did not happen over night, the start of developing my style goes back to maybe 2002. I had been working with Japanese Manga imagery for a year and I think this was probably the very start of everything for me. Over the years I have used Japanese advertisement, movie stills from the Silver Screen and many different themes to drive my style within Pop imagery. It wasn't until I moved to London in 2006 that I became interested and focused on contemporary imagery from the media and fashion.
4. What should people know about your art that they couldn’t tell from looking at it ?
Although my work is put in the genre of Pop Art, my influences are not necessarily 100% from my knowledge and love of Pop art. My strong line work is influenced from Picasso and Matisse’s line drawings and my use of bright colors also comes from my love of colored glass. My current work has a starting point of working with imagery from fashion magazines but my preliminary work is just as important as the finished painting. I can spend 2-3 years collecting images and working with drawings for months on end before picking up a paintbrush. My series of paintings are carefully planned and executed; I have no interest in just churning out painting after painting for the sake of making art.
" My series of paintings are carefully planned and executed; I have no interest in just churning out painting after painting for the sake of making art. "
5. Why do you think it is so important for emerging artists these days to have a signature style ?
I think to make it at any level within the art world, a signature style is so important to stand out from other artists. It can take years to finalize a signature within your work and it is not something that should be rushed. I see it as an extension of the artist and this needs to be taken seriously, as is it something that you alone will be known for.
" I think to make it at any level within the art world, a signature style is so important to stand out from other artists. "
6. What are some of the challenges you face as an emerging artist ?
I think the same as any other driven artist, you get to a stage where you want to make a jump to the next level of the art world within galleries, and it is difficult to figure out how to do this. I have been working on my art for the last 13 years and I have come along way in that time, but now I need to get into the next progression of my career. Regarding the art work itself, any true artist will keep working, but in relation to getting noticed in the art world, it can be difficult on finding that next important stepping stone.
" Regarding the art work itself, any true artist will keep working, but in relation to getting noticed in the art world, it can be difficult on finding that next important stepping stone. "
7. Your work has been exhibited in galleries worldwide. What was your most successful exhibition ?
For me I think I have always seen my exhibitions as equally successful shows of their time. When I was finished with one show, I immediately start looking for the next event to expand my audience further. For me, it is all about furthering my work within the art world, and it has been the base of what has driven me over the past 13 years.
8. What work of art would you most like to own ?
There is so much I would like from so many eras of art. But I think, at the moment, I would choose anything from Finnish artist Pekka Halonen. I started going to Helsinki 5 years ago and I have such a love of their national artists. Their styles are so unique to themselves and really represent such a high quality of individualism.
EMMA COYLE
Contact: emmacoyleart (at) gmail.com