belinda of gretchenmist interview

I was lucky plenty to do an interview with Australian creative person, Belinda of Gretchen Mist last week, and I am and then excited to share it with you lot. If y'all don't know Belinda'due south piece of work yet, get ready to be smitten. I personally ain several of her pieces and they are gorgeous. Belinda'southward store and web log.

–Have you always lived in Australia? I accept a friend who was built-in and raised there, and I once asked him what it was like, since I had never been. He said it was pretty similar to living in united states. How would y'all depict it?


Except for three months of trying to live in London, I've lived in Australia all my life. I tin't compare to the states every bit I've not been there, yet!! I'd beloved to travel to the states. Living in Australia is groovy and pretty easy compared to what I've heard about living in many other countries – in general i think we are looked after pretty well. There's lots of beautiful beaches and country to explore.

gretchen mist studio

-You mention on your blog  that you were once a graphic designer. Do you experience that your previous occupation has influenced your work equally an artist at all?
My last position equally a graphic designer was with a commercial gallery. Being effectually artists and art actually made me know that i wanted to create art rather than be a graphic designer! The creative freedom I have now is then great. I think graphic design was, for me, all about limits and what could be achieved/produced inside the box and maybe that's helped me with the discipline side of things. It peradventure as well helped to develop a sense of composition.

-You work in a variety of medias, creating paintings, drawings, and collage work. Do yous have a favorite material to work with?


I love cartoon and working on paper. Paper is very liberating! Actually i love all these materials and choose according to how i'yard feeling at the time and what feels right for each idea.


-I would beloved to see your 2D piece of work brought to life in 3D. Would y'all ever consider doing an installation and/or sculptural work? If and then, what do you picture it looking like?

Oh, I've really not thought too much about 3D work!

studio-w-rosemary-shadowsv2

–I am lucky enough to ain one of your original drawings, and when I received it, I was taken back by the soft details and linework of your art in person. Are these pieces very fourth dimension-consuming?

Thanks Brittni! I've scaled my work down quite a lot since I gave up my studio space {which I did when I was meaning with our second child} and really work within my time and space allowances. The mixed media work takes 2 or iii sittings to finish. Cartoon and making collage is pretty quick, compared to painting which i like to practice slowly. My collage work takes a lot of time to get the 'pieces' ready to work with but the actual making procedure works best when i quickly make rather than thinking a lot nigh what I'thousand doing. I spend a lot of fourth dimension when I"g not working thinking about my work, and then it feels like when I do sit downwards it all just comes out {well-nigh of the time}, which I honey!

-How do you balance your work every bit an artist with being a mom?


Not certain that i do so well! This year I take a piddling more time during the week to work which helps. I still lean on my husband a lot to get things done at night and on the weekends. I have to say though that being a mum has taught me to focus and work relatively efficiently. I've learned allow go of a lot of judgment that used to become in the mode of finishing a piece. At present, I only practice it and make up one's mind after!

studio-3-2
-Your studio is clean and well-put together. How do yous stay and then organized? Any tips?


This is funny! I definitely cleaned upwardly for the photos. There is organisation in hither only when I'thou working it all goes out the window – it gets very messy. I need to have sketches, notes and other work visible as i'm working so i apply the floor and every other surface that i can at the time. i just have to remember to put information technology all away at the end!


-Tin can yous name a few artists or artisans whose work you admire? Who or what is your greatest inspiration?

It's hard to narrow down to just a few as I detect new fine art loves online almost every 24-hour interval. Some Australian artists whose work I love to encounter in real life: Joanna Logue,Steven Harvey, Abbey McCulloch, and  Marise Maas

Thanks so much for the interview and studio tour Belinda! Visit Belinda'due south shop, Gretchen Mist , and her weblog .