Interview

Mar 22

Terri Sullivan

Based in the U.K. a full time emerging abstract Artist . Her works are inspired by climate change to our beautiful planet. Bold and impacting they tell a story of emotions, confusion and harmony on imagined landscapes. A fascinating look into the minds eye .

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“Originally born in London, I was a very creative child. Painting, drawing and crocheting and I even owned my own sewing machine before I was ten. I would spend hours in my room creating and making puppets. I loved reading and hated math with a passion, far too regimented for me. Before I retired, I spent over thirty years supporting and teaching art to young adults and children with various special needs, mainly autism. Most of my pupils were non verbal, many could not walk or hold a pen or brush. Autistic minds tend to have a different reality of the world to us, they see shapes that we don’t, different lights and sounds so in order to engage and teach art in these lessons I had to dig deep and so the rumblings of my love for abstract began. Most of my work was upright and on a large base , sometimes larger than me. I would drip paint in different colour lines, spray, use large brush strokes to show movement. I taught colour alongside emotions and music. If the colour was yellow we would play and paint to happy upbeat music , spray the scent of lemon, etc. It was so rewarding to see the reaction. There was little point in painting realistic pictures. I wanted them to feel the emotion that comes from colour and art. I used assortments of sensory materials, some of the verbal children would see different things and explain what they could see. They used their imaginations. As I taught them I learnt myself . Abstract is the minds eye. It tells a different story to however sees it and it continually changes depending on the observers mood and emotions at the time. I still continue to paint this way today.”

What inspires you?

“Imagination to see the unseen. To tell my own story so others can make there’s. Recently, I have unconsciously been inspired by covid and global warming. I never set out to do this it just came flowing out in my work I’m not someone who talks about things like this, it was all in my subconscious mind.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I think the uncertainty of our world shows in my work. What we know is our reality and what it can be. In my painting, “Paradise lost,” I see a beach covered in oil, the beauty and colours peaking out of what once was paradise. A lot of my work has a back drop of a imagined land, with a dramatic bold devastation over the top or it can be silent and chilling as in my painting “Artic” which shows the melting ice in the Antarctic. It’s almost serene and very silent. I try to show movement in my brush strokes in “tsunami.””

How would you describe your work?

“Bold, impactful and sometimes silent. I also have moments of painting the beauty around us and happiness through colour.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Lowery was my inspiration as a child. I would spend hours studying his paintings looking for the stories in each character a bit like a ancient “Where’s Wally?””

“I think the uncertainty of our world shows in my work.”

What is your creative process like?

“Hectic, I’m very messy and totally in the “zone “ when I start painting. I never plan, have themes they just evolve. The only thing I plan is the colour of the base, I make a mark and it just starts to appear. I do have a strange painting schedule that isn’t deliberate. I can go all day without wanting to paint then around twelve at night to three in the morning, I suddenly get up and paint. Almost all of my work has been done in this time zone. I think it’s when I’m at my most creative. I never sit down and think let’s paint. I just get an urge and have to do it . It plays havoc with my sleep.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“The digital world is here to stay. It can be daunting to think that a computer can create beautiful art in minutes. I sincerely hope there will always be a place for the physical and the artist. I think online gallery’s are amazing and the future. They allow disabled and low income people to enjoy art all over the globe.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“Some of my work will be shown in a 3D exhibition by the brouhahaart gallery on 19th April - 5th May. I also have work showing in the “Regeneration” exhibition in The drawing rooms in West Malling in Kent.”

Instagram: @art_by_sullivan_