Today is Laura Menzies, here she is in the Lifeboat Studio...
We asked her a few questions to get to know her a bit better (and dotted a few of her paintings through the text as well)...
How did you get into art?
I have always enjoyed art and making things, but in the last few years it has become an integral part of my life and the thing that I enjoy doing the most. Growing up I was really into performing arts and attended dance and drama classes several times a week. This passion lead me to study a degree in Performing and Visual Arts, which allowed me to continue developing both. It was during my degree that I realised how important the visual arts were to me and it is this that I have since focused on.
'Inscribed'
Where did you study?
I studied a multi disciplinary arts degree at Birmingham University, which combined aspects of fine art, theatre and contemporary dance. Studying this way allowed me the opportunity to work in many different ways and to combine elements of different disciplines together, which was a very exciting way to work. In September this year I completed an MA in Fine Art at Falmouth University, where I spent a year focusing on developing my painting practice. I decided to study for an MA as I was looking for new ways to develop my work and challenge myself. I now feel I have the skills to be able to take me practice forward independently and am currently focusing on getting my work into the public realm.
'Deluge'
What are your main inspirations in your work?
As an artist I am interested in the visual remembering of personal experiences and seek to communicate this through the medium of paint. My most recent work, developed during my MA, is formed from construct of memory, emotion and in-direct references to place.
I try to integrate the sensations I feel whilst in the landscape into the making of my work. The extremes of weather and light I witnessed during my explorations have had a strong influence on my colour pallet, which has gravitated towards atmospheric, darkened hues. The paintings are not of specific places, but are of elements that have been experienced and then fused together using imagination, exploration and chance.
'Flux'
How did you get involved with Midsummer nights?
I attended the Midsummer Night event in the gardens of St Michael’s hotel in August. The great thing about the event was the location and how each artist responded to the site in a completely different way. The diverse mix of artwork shown and the ways it was displayed was very inspiring and original and after the event I approached Cathy and Natalie expressing my interest in any future exhibitions.
'Percolate'
How do you wait out a storm?
I grew up on the island of Portland in Dorset which is very exposed and gets regularly battered by storms during the winter months. When the sea is fierce and sprawling I love nothing more than wrapping up and heading outside. One of my most recent paintings was inspired by the sublime feel of the ocean and how at times it can feel completely overwhelming and incomprehensible.
Check out her website and Facebook here:
Website: www.lauramenzies.co.uk
Facebook page: Laura Menzies Art
We hope you enjoyed this post and we'll keep introducing you to our artists as we get closer to the event date!
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