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A LOOK INSIDE : MIA OATLEY

Mia Oatley  ||  Q&A  || October 2012

 

Image: Billy Plummer - Life in the Bubble

 

Can you give us some background to how you became a visual artist?

One of my first memories is of paintings with my Dad at 2 when my Mum was in hospital giving birth to my sister. My Dad taught me how to draw, and paint, and took me to all of the shows, and museums worth seeing. Our house was filled with artist friends, great books, and my Dad's garage where he welded giant sculptures. Art was all around me; I loved it from the beginning.

As a child art was something that I could loose myself in, something that I was good at, it also represented family.

Other artists that inspire you? - Do they change overtime/ year to year?

I'm inspired by many different artists, from Matisse, Monet, Rodin, Rembrandt, Ines, to Warhol, Basquiat, and Bacon and living artists such as Dumas, Doig,

Hockney, and photographers Bill Henson, and Nan Goldin. Basically I'm attracted to figurative work. People are what most interest me.

Where do you get your inspiration for each work?

I get my inspiration from Life! Books, magazines, people, design, furniture, The urban landscape, nature, conversations, films, put it into a big mixing pot, and let something happen on the canvas!

Where do you paint and what is your ideal routine/ daytime… or night owl

Daytime

How did you arrive at the title of this current show?

I called the show Venus and Me, because, my exhibition is about my relationship to Venus and everything that she represents, love, beauty, nature, sexuality, and sensuality.

What is your painting process; paint application and colour seem to be a key process, can you tell us about this?

Colour is really important to me. I pick up ideas everywhere. I use a lot of different materials to make the paint surfaces to bounce off each other, like enamel, against a matt, or built up oil paint. There isn't a real process as to how I go about it. What works stays, what doesn't is brutally painted over, hence the layered look, which people have commented on, which is more about me changing gears, and making different decisions in my work.

View Exhibition

Christina

mixed media on canvas
91 x 76 cm

 

ON NOW . . .

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blogs, editorial and interviews on mia oatley

BELL | October/November Issue | Mia Oatley

                   BELL, October/November Issue 2012, Bell Inbox

  Mia Oatley
Venus & Me
13 - 24 October

            Artist statement:

"Focusing on the desire, sensuality and beauty of the female nude I've created a series of mixed media paintings and drawings. I'm interested in my female subjects as a whole. Their dreams, aspirations, and desires, this enables me to rip beneath their surface image, and express on canvas how I see them, as well as providing a medium through which to express my own sexuality. The women emerge from a lush terrain. Languid visions from a sensual Utopia. Inspired by the goddess Venus and the powerful metaphors of love, beauty, and nature ‘Venus & Me’ explores the collective thread of women's secret desires".        Mia Oatley, 2012

View Exhibition @ Richard Martin Art

NOW SHOWING

Andrew Baines  ||  Q&A  || September 2012

Can you give us some background to how you became a visual artist?

I have always wanted be a visual artist from a very young age and tried to chase my dream after leaving school by I attending the SA school of art part-time and doing commercial art during the day but I became sidelined by commercial art and the need to survive.  My commercial work was very successful and took a lot of soul searching to let go of... I knew eventually I would have to, if I wanted to chase my initial dream. In my early 30s I took the plunge and have never looked back!

When did you start, why did you start?

In my early 30s, I gave up my commercial art cold turkey and through everything into my visual art! It took several years of struggle before I got to a point where I could survive comfortably.

Other artists that inspire you?  - Do they change overtime/ year to year?

The obvious inspirations are Magritte, Jeffery Smart and artists like Warhol & Dali due to their incredible self promotion abilities! Every year I discover new artists that inspire me...not only visual but street artists, musical & commercial

Where do you get your inspiration for each work from?

Nearly 50 years of sweat and tears

Where do you paint and what is your ideal routine/ daytime… or night owl

I wake up every morning at 6am and head straight out into my backyard studio, where I paint until 3pm. I then go on the computer for an hour or so and market myself, contact people, organise future installations, research. After this I read philosophy and auto biographies for a short time before heading in front of the box, where I channel surf the TV, trying to absorb the global culture for inspiration! And every second morning I either walk or run along my beach.

How did you arrive at the title of this current show?

“Museum of my Mind” is a broad title for just about any concept I’m working on!

What is your painting process, shadows / lighting and perspective seem to be a key process, can you tell us about this?

I love the contrast between light and dark, and the visual and emotional impact shadows have in helping to convey a mood or concept. I begin with my darkest colours then continue to highlight until I’m happy with the mood.

 View Exhibition:

Andrew Baines Museum of the Mind
22 September - 10 October