Interview

Jan 9

Tracey-Lee Selby

Tracey-Lee is a mixed media artist from South Africa. She enjoys using charcoal, acrylic paint, pencils and pastels.

Tracey-Lee’s work is inspired by the emotions elicited by daily life, and the people she is fortunate to come across.

She’s been painting professionally since 2020, selling original artwork and various commissions.

What is your background and how did you start your journey?

“I grew up in a family of creatives, and I loved drawing as a child. My passion for art grew as I did. Growing up with many obstacles, I persevered, and I have taught myself all I know regarding art.”

What inspires you most?

“I am inspired by emotions, interactions with my surroundings, as well as people. Music is also a wonderful source of inspiration for me.”

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

“I pursue raw, honest emotion in my work. Depending on my inspiration, the messages are not always the same. I’ve had a chaotic piece about what love is—messy—and I have a piece that elicits a feeling of home; security. They all vary.”

How would you describe your work?

“I’d describe my work as raw, sometimes a little in your face, but always honest.”

“I find that creating art acts as a great stress reliever.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I have artists that I’m inspired by, and sometimes wish that my work was of the same aesthetic. Going through their work helps get my creativity flowing. Tahlia Stanton is amazing. So is an artist that calls himself Mad Charcoal. Color By Feliks is also a great mentor type to keep an eye on.”

What is your creative process like?

“Depending on what has inspired me, I’ll first do some research, find some references that match what I’m feeling, and work from there. I plan the colors around what I’d like to achieve, and then get to my canvas. I like to work from the ground up, so this includes building custom canvas sizes to match what I’m envisioning.
There are also times where I just need to pick up a brush and simply start something.”

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

“An artist’s role is to make spectators feel and think. When you walk into a gallery, you put your phone away and get lost in the artwork. You try to figure out the ‘why’. By the time you walk out, you feel happy and inspired, and if you’re lucky, you will walk out with a piece to call your own.”