Sue Keong interviews artist Fiona Hayes about her progress in the art world.
When did you become interested in art?
It started in March 2015 when I stepped inside Art on King shop where Jill and Sue had their studio. They were offering art classes and I was interested in watercolour classes having never done art at all in my life but I had been making things (craft) all my life but art was a new beginning for me. It started there with Jill and Sue. I took a watercolour class because that was the medium I wanted to learn and I am interested in pen and ink, sketching, pen and wash.
Did you have an interest in art as a child?
No, perhaps a little but it wasn’t something I was drawn too. (Laughter) No pun intended. After devoting my life and loving working with my husband, raising and supporting my two children chase their dreams. I feel I have been leading to this artistic time in my life. I found time for myself.
Who or what influences are you watching in art?
I follow different artists on Instagram and I read a lot of library books finding different styles that interest me and put my own slant on them. I chop and change a lot, I am bursting with ideas that I want to try and do in my own way.
What are you currently doing in art?
At present it is my version of botanical art. Botanical art has many rules and regulations but I am enjoying my take on my interpretations by drawing and painting seed pods, leaves, flowers from my garden. Recently I have been collecting and painting in watercolour and pen flowering Protea, Banksia Bottlebrush. I have completed a series of leaves, trees and flowers but I change when I have exhausted that idea I try other themes and I need to practice so I am always looking for the new and challenging. I am interested in buildings and I would like to conquer perspective. Rendering architecture artistically I feel needs to be just so whereas leaves, flowers trees you can be loose in your interpretation. With buildings I think it needs to be right.
How do you get your art out there?
I do put my art on Instagram and I have put together books, cards and drawings and watercolours and display them locally. I have done a few commissions which at first I was nervous about but I only hand it over if I am happy with the result and they have been too.
Where do you see yourself in a year?
I still want to keep doing art that it is enjoyable – not too seriously – as a business. I am feeling my way, exploring different areas and developing my style. I find I work best on my own if I am in a group situation all I do is talk, laugh and have a wonderful time but I don’t achieve much. I don’t want to be a hermit but I am most productive at home during the daylight hours and with the TV on in the background. I want to continue to push myself and I do enjoy entering my art in local shows and competitions. I have had some success with that so far, and it is a really nice accolade to either win a prize or sell my art to the public. I am very much encouraged and appreciate all those who give me compliments. I am, of course, always learning and open to helpful artistic criticism! I wish to continue with my Urban Sketching too (sketching on location), as this is something that needs to be worked on constantly to conquer the art of quick sketching of buildings and people.
