Sheila Whittam

Artist Interview

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

The work that I had been producing – using varied materials in the same piece, such as hot plate encaustic, monotypes and other mixed media materials had moved me towards abstraction which opened up the possibility of expanding my perception.

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

The most recent work has taken me into a deep-seated knowing about working without making references – I paint and the process takes me into chaos, Usually I recognize something of the unconscious on my substrate as I work, I often can just let it flow while I work – deliberately and purposely extending it further into my work – I am in a liminal space between the minds eye and the process of painting, while using various materials and by cultivating if further – often using collage or monoprints stashed in studio drawers. As I step back and look into what my work is telling me – each move might be connecting to a further idea – sometimes creating chaos – which I know I must work towards order. This Influences me as I engage with materials and elements of abstract design – which are fundamental to my compositional aesthetics, using layers of mixed materials. This series reveals who I am, a soul searching for higher truths – I am most vulnerable at the point of exhibiting as all artists are. Some of the titles of the works are descriptive of the thought patterns of the unconscious mind – which seems to flow in and out like a river.

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

I work from a home studio designed at one end of the house, it holds drawers and areas to store the art works stacked one against the other. I can move in and out into my garden to be refreshed during the hours of work.