Interview with:Melinda McCarthy [artofmelush]
ART
 | What do you do? How do you define yourself as an artist? I define myself as a Visual Artist because during my career I have explored many mediums from screen-print and textiles to painting and illustrating to photography film and installation. However my most recent work is predominately painting |
| What is your message? I like to delve into ancient legend, folklore and ideas. The fundamental message behind them still holds relevant today, and there is often hidden gems of wisdom. It is like when you work out what a weird dream means to you, and their imagery inspires me. Each work tells its own story or has its own message. Sometimes even hidden messages exist within the work.
Also in past filmwork, I have explored issues of identity as an adopted person (as I am one myself).
Lately I have been studying up on Alchemy which has fuelled my most recent pieces. |
| Your biography in four lines. Australian artist Melinda McCarthy has been an exhibiting artist for over ten years, with shows in Austrlia, England, Italy and soon the USA and Mexico. Her inspiration comes from the ancient stories and songs of various cultures collected on her travels for which she has a deep passion and her work is held in private collections worlwide. |
| Do you upload your work to the web? If so, where could we see it? |
| How is an idea born? For you, what is inspiration? Hearing old tales, legends, or snippets of history or ideas from the ancient world, sparks my imagination and fills my head with imagery. Sometimes it can be the smallest snippet, that creates the most detailed image. |
| What role does technology play in your creative process? I mainly only use technology to promote my work and create promotional material for myself and others, but not to actually produce the work itself. Even my photos are still taken with a 1970's film camera, although the film is burnt to cd for storage and I guess are now digitally printed and colour corrected. |
| What is art? ART is an idea, image or inspiration interpreted by the artist and conveyed creatively to the world! |
| When do you get your best ideas? When I least expect, never when I am desperate for them! I usually am talking to someone or reading something and will learn of some quirky little fact of history or legend, and my mind fills with ideas. Always keep a Visual diary to write them down ! |
| How do you evaluate whether an idea is good or not? whether it connects with people |
| When and how did you begin to see yourself as an artist? Ever since I can remember I have always drawn or painted or did something creative. I guess when in high school and you start thinking about what you wanted to do with your life I always just thought ART |
| Which artists do you admire and how do they influence your work? I love artists from a range of styles but my favourite would have to be Hieronymus Bosch as there is so much hidden within his work and symbolism. I am very drawn to old mediaeval works of art and illuminated manuscripts and I think all of this influences my work. The use of colour and the way they always have stories woven into them and sometimes hidden within them. |
| What do you think about public funding for the arts? Its great if you can get it, but if you can't dont let it stop you from creating work. |
| Is art necessary? Yes |
| Does it pain you to let go of a piece you have sold? The thought of letting go of a work, initially pains me, but when someone tells me they want my work and I can see they love it, it is kind of nice and I think I would rather it be on the person's wall being admired and cherished than being in storage and so I let it go with love. |
| In art, there is no guide. How do you know what the next step is? who knows? But that is all part of the journey. Keep your eyes and heart open the universe has a way of pointing you in the right direction if you listen to it! Do what feels right for you. |
| How do you feel about the fact that the pieces exhibited in contemporary art museums are often of artists already deceased? Whilst I think today's artists should have more representation, I also think that taking someones work down because they are no longer of this earth would be a terrible shame. There is much to be learnt from those who came before and much inspiration to be gained. |
| What advice would you give to those just beginning? Believe in yourself and don't let others discourage you. Keep a visual diary and write down all your ideas even the silly ones. They may not seem so silly when you look over them later in another headspace.
Do your thing any way you can.
Get your stuff online somewhere, form networks with other artists.
Dont give up, create create CREATE :)
Goodluck |
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1034 visits Whohub
Melinda McCarthy
London
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