Recent Interviews

I understand that this is your first Open Studios?
Yes. I was told about it by a friend who I met at art class. She started to cajole me last year. This year she has encouraged me again.
Lack of confidence stopped me last year. This year she was in contact again and gave me all the information and told me I should try it.
I started painting in 2003, and I have always been creative. I designed and made glamorous evening dresses for my friends and did interior design for other peoples homes. I have lots of friends who are artists and they fascinate me.
This year I have had a little more time and decided to try SEOS.
I have exhibited, at the Mick Jagger Art Centre in Dartford.
I have been asked to exhibit in November in another group show and will consider after SEOS.
I use photos and images from my head in my work. I paint whatever inspires and excites me.  I do find that I have a natural affinity with the triptych and many of my works are in this form and I am quite happy working on a large scale.
I am influenced by Henri Rousseau, Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock and Kandinsky. Recently I sat in the Rothko room at the Tate and I was bowled over by them.

Do you have your own studio?
Yes, I have a studio in the garden. It’s a big shed! Ten foot by ten foot. I have friends who come and we paint there and have nice days, especially in the summer.
I did consider doing SEOS there but my husband, who is very supportive, said he was quite happy to hang my work in his office.

So you are hanging SEOS in his office?
He is an Independent Financial Adviser and we work together. I had my own business as a holistic therapist and I am a trained nurse. 
Opening my art to the public is a new phase of my life.
I am really excited by art. I love painting. I find it very stimulating and motivating. I just love the use of colour, particularly the variations on canvas with the use of oil and acrylics.
I will be using four office rooms to hang thirty seven works for SEOS. I have invested in studio picture rails.  I am also planning to use a window display with the use of an easel and the SEOS logo which will include my opening times.
During SEOS I will be opening much as everyone else but after SEOS anyone is welcome to view my work by appointment.

You already have your paintings hung up?
Yes. The studio picture rails are so handy as they allow me to easily move the paintings around to my liking. I had a Sunday lunch opening with wine and nibbles and invited my friends and church family. It was well received and a great buzz. I sold about five works and got a couple of commissions.

At this point how do you feel about SEOS?
Excited and nervous. My husband’s clients have seen my work and admired them and I have received and completed a commission from one of them, with several in the pipeline.

Do you feel you have learnt anything useful from setting SEOS up?
Yes all sorts of things. Having to write an artists statement for a start. You don’t want to sound too boring, but you don’t want to sound too ‘arty’ either. Doing it in so few words is not easy – you really have to think hard.
Then you have to choose an image. One that will show well at such a tiny size. I decided to use a detailed section of one of my works because it looked sharper in print. I was lucky in that a friend who is a photographer offered to photograph some of my work one of which I have used in the SEOS booklet.

Why did you choose your image?
It is part of my West Indian heritage. It has a tropical rhythmic vibrancy, and it links to my main interest in tropical flora.

What do you expect to get out of SEOS?
I’d like to see people smile -and enjoy my paintings.
I have never exhibited in such a big way so I’m sure it will be a useful experience. I visited lots of SEOS studios for the first time last year. Artists are such lovely people. I was quite amazed. They were so welcoming. I shall try to be the same.
I also hope to be able to get to see more studios this year when I am not open. This time I shall be trying to go further a field.
Viewings and sales would be encouraging.  I look forward to meeting new people whether fellow artists or potential purchasers and having the chance to discuss my work.
Most of all I want to enjoy the experience.

Many thanks to Jacqueline for her time.

If YOU would like to be interviewed for the website by our reporter please contact the chairman to arrange it.  Contact details can be found here