FELICITY CAVANOUGH - INTERVIEW

What attracted me to the world of Art?

Illustrations in books were some of my first journeys into the world of art, to me, the pictures sometimes explained more than the words did.

When did your artistic passion begin?

As a child I would pursue anything crafty. If I was creating something with my hands I was happy.

Have you always wanted to be an artist?

It took 20 years after completing a Degree in Fine arts at COFA UNSW to realise that Art was definitely my career path!

I arrived at that decision in a very roundabout way. There were lots of things that got in the way but my imagination persisted, and I always felt that I wasn’t living a full life unless I was being creative and pushing the bounds of what I could do.

Describe your work?

I sculpt wire drawings. Sometimes the lines are more simplistic like a single line drawing and recently I’ve explored weaving with wire inspired by preparatory sketches of my work done with a sanguine pencil.

A lot of emotion goes into my work. I always create with feeling, often finding inspiration in everyday moments with my 3 children. I observe connections and similarities between all humans and I aim to draw you in, hoping that my work becomes part of the viewer's story just as much as it tells mine.

Delight

Tie wire and timber

60 x 50 x 20 cm.

Felicity Cavanough

Do you have a set method / routine of working?

I sketch, write and draw frequently, capturing inspiration before it leaves. If I haven’t catalogued my ideas sometimes they leave me and I’m left unable to capture that connective element that’s so important to me in my practice. I have a large double garage that I’ve set up as my studio which houses all my art materials for my own practice and my teaching practice with Art by You. Most often though, I like to work on our very large dining room table, the light is great and the space is just right, I can store my work in my studio at the end of the day and bring it back out. My creative brain has no limits and I’ll happily spread out my Art making in different spots around the house and garden, it’s the best way for me to create and there’s still plenty of space for living.

Why do you choose this material / medium to work with?

I love wire, it’s so versatile, especially copper with all its varying shades and patinas.

I mostly use recycled copper as re-use, re-purposing and how we view waste is important to me. For weaving, I love the really fine wire, it reminds me of thread and takes me back to my teenage years when I sewed a lot of my own clothes. How important is drawing as an element to your artwork?

Drawing and preparatory sketches are a vital step in creating my work. I teach painting and majored in painting at Uni but drawing had always been my favourite expressive medium and I’ve found a way to combine my love of sculpting with drawing. Pursuing those two elements together is my favourite way to express myself as an artist. I’ve always found incredible inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci’s work, especially his ‘study of hands’ drawings, absolutely fascinated how body parts can express so much meaning.

You are enough my child Recycled copper

H105 x W137 x D10 cm. (Detail of sculpture) Felicity Cavanough. Right : I'm free Recycled copper. Felicity Cavanough.

Any particular style or period that appeals?

I’ve always been intrigued by light and how it influences the way we see, inspired by the impressionists as they captured light as it plays on the surface of their subject matter. Copper inspires me in the same way, it looks so different in varying light.

What are the challenges in becoming an exhibiting artist?

I sell most of my work through art competitions or exhibitions and I’m extremely lucky that I get accepted into most of the exhibitions I apply for, it is hard to take though when entry fees are not refunded and precious time is wasted when I get one of those awful rejections, to which most fellow Artist’s will attest seem to come with little or no feedback. Packaging! Oh gosh, one sculpture took 13 hours to package, I really should have added that time into the price. A very special dog made from hay made its’s way across Australia from East Coast to West Coast in W.A. At least I won the People’s Choice award!

Name your greatest achievement, exhibitions?

I’m lucky because the public seems to engage with my work so I've won a few People’s Choice awards: 2017 Just Art exhibition, Gauge Gallery, Artists Choice Winner ; The York Festival, Western Australia; 2018 -Sculptures on the Farm ; 2020 Sculpture Festival, Wellington. I’ve been thrilled to be announced in the top 400 of Bluethumb’s online Art prize over the last 2 years, there is so much amazing talent on there and it’s hard to get noticed. In 2022 I was voted in the Top 40 People’s Choice, It’s amazing to know that people love my work enough to vote for me. I’ve been honoured in my teaching career to be acknowledged by ADFAS for the creative work I do with kids and a special career highlight has been judging at The Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2022 and 2023.

What are you working on at present?

I’m working on some hands in prayer at the moment, inspired by Da Vinci of course. The serenity of taking time to honour our spirit inspired me to create this work. Your future aspirations with your art?

I’d love to have an exhibition at my local regional gallery, Mudgee Arts Precinct and my absolute dream would be to see my work hung in the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

I’m preparing sketches for an immersive work that connects city to country so I’d be honoured if my work could be represented at Sculptures by the Sea in Sydney.

I’ve just finished two exhibitions in Dungog and Mudgee and will apply for some more sculpture competitions.

- Felicity Cavanough 2023.

Page 90 : Felicity Cavanough with Self Portrait Laid Bare

Recycled copper

H153 x W69 x D10 cm.

Felicity Cavanough. Right : Roots

Recycled copper wire 210 x 95 x10 cm.

Felicity Cavanough.

"It's truly amazing whether you experience grief, joy, loss, love or any other connection with my work because then the lines of wire become enmeshed and entangled with your story just as much as they tell mine".

Held Recycled Metal