Zoe Willey

Artist Interview

What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?

I work primarily with oil paint, which I love for its tactility and intensity of colour. I typically paint ‘alla Prima’, beginning with thinner layers of paint in background areas before painting more generously in foreground or focal points. I also use gouache sometimes, which has a very different effect. It dries quickly and very matte, which changes the way I layer and blend paint. Growing up I drew a lot in pencil and painted with watercolour, which I believe still influences the way I use both oil paint and gouache.

How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?

My process varies depending on my subject. For house portraits, I will photograph homes I find that have an interesting character – particularly older Queenslanders, beach houses and terrace houses. I pay particular attention to factors such as lighting and greenery. I will then work from this reference photo in my studio. With still life works I will compose and photograph scenes at home, combining items I already own such as ceramic crockery and chinoiserie vessels with seasonal produce, flowers or plants. I utilise natural lighting to create interesting shadows that elevate the interest and manipulate the mood of a scene. Sometimes a body of work will form organically, or be an ongoing exploration of certain themes and subjects. Other times I will plan and create works specifically for designated exhibitions.

Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?

Historically my ‘studio’ has always been a desk in the corner of my room. As I typically paint quite small this was always reasonably workable. In the last 6 months I have been lucky enough to expand the scale and volume of my practice considerably, and I now have a dedicated room that serves as my studio. I have a station permanently set up for painting, and another for ideation, framing, packing and computer work. A feature of my studio I love is the IKEA picture ledge shelves that line the walls, which I use to store and display works as they dry. It is a great way to see how a body of work is coming together.