Here we are then. The final, final interview with the celebrated Living Artist: Dyan Reaveley. You may be wondering why I am describing her as a Living Artist when it's obvious the previous 12 artists are all alive. It's because Dyan has been included in the AQA GCSE scheme of work for art students at a school in Manchester so pupils can study the work of a Living Artist.
What can I say, I am a Mum, a grandma, a lover, an orphan, a
friend, a tutor, a business owner, an educator, a blogger, a designer and an
artist, a square peg in around hole
*Who or what are your
creative influences? And why?
I think the people who had the most impact on me were
- Eunice Braddock for her unrelenting patience
- Jo Sonja for introducing me to a world I didn’t know existed
- Claudine Hellmuth for her wonderful collage background techniques
- Teesha Moore for her imagery
- Lynne Perella for her use of alphabets
- Tim Holtz and Ranger for their belief in me
*What is your preferred medium of creativity? What appeals to you about this?
My journals are everything to me. Everything is in there,
painting, writing, collage, thoughts, emotions, experiments, inks, doodling,
life, imagination, truth, lies, dreams. Intentions. Anything can go in an art
journal and anything frequently does!
*What other areas of creativity do you dabble in?
I am a big rubber stamp fan, always have been, my
favouritest ever ever where from Stampers Anonymous. Their designs just gripped
my very soul and pulled me in. So unbelievable that I have ended up having my stamps manufactured
by them.
Mixed media is another passion. As well as journals I will
create on anything, wall art, canvas’s materials, you name it I will create on
it.
And also one of my big loves is sewing. I make most of the
dresses I wear. As a very hyperactive child I was hard to occupy and I owe a
lot to the little old lady who lived next door, Eunice Braddock. She taught me to sew, crochet, embroider, knit
and do tapestry from the age of 6. I love the feeling of accomplishment I get
when I finish something.
*What is one of your earliest creative memories?
Making a Bay City Rollers clock from cardboard and magazine
pictures. I took an old clock to bits, put it in the one I made and it never
ever worked. BUT you know what I loved
it and didn’t care and that is still my attitude today.
But also colouring. Again it was the only thing that would keep me
quiet. Every Christmas day you would find me, all other gifts disregard,
engrossed in a new colouring book and pencils. Every year up until she passed,
my Mum got me a colouring book for Christmas Day. I think it is one of the things
I miss the most.
*Pablo Picasso said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to
remain an artist once we grow up.” How
did you find this transition worked in your life?
Art had no place in my grown up life. Creativity did. I
cooked, baked, knit, sewed, made a home etc. It was only when I fell ill with
ME and was completely bedridden that it re entered. Confined to bed, unable to
read or stand watching television, I resorted to painting plant pots provided
by my mum. I started experimenting with patterns and surfaces and became
obsessed with doing up old crappy furniture that no one wanted. Believe it or
not I studied folk art painting and covered the whole house in flowers and
leaves, lol.
I was really crappy
to start with but I didn’t care, it was the process…of painting…of achieving…of
pride…of healing… Nothing else mattered, certainly not the finished result, it
is all about the process. It still is today and that is why I am so passionate
about teaching.
*How did you find
your creative style?
Oooh heck, completely by accident I think. Because I am,
albeit badly, self taught, I have no fear. I have no concept of what I should
be using, what I should be doing, what goes with what. No conception of the
rules and no fear of the outcome. I have tried and enjoyed many things, but
started art journaling more and more just after my Mum died 3 yrs ago. I had so
much grief and anger and confusion going on in my head and it became the
perfect vessel to store it in.
My journals are like me, attention deficit, hyperactive,
eclectic and free. They make me feel normal, they ground me. I am not sure if I
actually have a style as I am constantly careering from one look to another.
Maybe that is my creative style…gobsmackingly eclectic, lol!!
*What activity do you
use to jumpstart your creativity?
I get up in a morning, lol.
*Describe your style in using 5 different words. Share your thoughts about these words.
ECLECTIC…always jumping from one thing to another, and then
combining them all together
PASSIONATE…always, always from the heart…whether good or bad
always work from your heart
RAW…it is out there for everyone to see
ENCOURAGING…I think people look at and are inspired to go do
something themselves
Hmm can only get to four!!!
*Which is your favourite technique?
Eek I haven’t got one, techniques are like my children, I
love them all to death, but some days I love them a little bit differently to
the others. Not more, just different.
*Favourite quote(s)?
Life is Art…live yours in colour
*Favourite book?
The Shack…a Christian novel by William P Young. A
controversial novel about finding God.
It was loaned to me by a dear friend and I first read it on a beach in
Egypt. It made a massive impact on me and I re read it regularly.
*Where you can find Dyan
And here released this week:
If you were able to ask Dyan anything what would you ask? Please add your question to the comments below.
So there we have it. 13 amazing artists from a variety of crafts and all showing their great versatility.
I hope you have enjoyed the series. Thanks for dropping by every Friday
Bernice
P.S. Come back next Friday for a giveaway to celebrate the series.
Love itxxxx
ReplyDeleteFabulous, full of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. So many things said in there I want to write out and pin on my wall.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Santa will bring me one.....
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernice for saving our Dyan for the last interview! Perfect way to finish your amazing series of interview. Well done to you lol Susiesu xxx
ReplyDeleteI have REALLY enjoyed this post Bernice. I am a great fan of Dyan, I really would love to do a workshop with her one day.
ReplyDelete