3 minute read
ARTIST OF THE MONTH LINDY DUNBAR
an interview.
Selected by Drawing Cabaret Couture
Advertisement
Lindy Dunbar is an incredibly talented artist from Sussex. She paints and draws straight from real life which allows her to capture emotion and motion. She has been selected in many art exhibitions over the past 15 years, some of which include Nicholas Bowlby, Star Brewery Gallery, GNT Gallery, Affordable Art Fair in London and she has seen her work printed by John Lewis since 2009.
1. Tell us a bit about your background. Are you selftaught or did you study art?
I studied art at a teacher training college with music as my subsidiary subject. I have always been entranced by the human form and movement. I taught art in schools and also tutor alongside creating and exhibiting my own work. After many cancellations this year, I am excited to be exhibiting with my son [who lives in Sweden] Joseph Davey from 16th-25th July in The Crypt Gallery, Seaford, Sussex, UK. Tutoring is intriguing as it enables one to look at your own work with fresh eyes. Later I completed a BA Hons studying art history with the Open University whilst teaching as I wanted to understand the foundations of paintings to strengthen my own.
2/ How did you develop an interest in art?
It’s hard to remember a time when I wasn’t interested in art and I can’t imagine this fascination palling
If it’s a longer study oils wear the crown!
For works on paper, I use a variety of media such as pastels, acrylic, ink [often with a roughly broken stick to keep a sense of adventure], torn brown paper as a basis for a portrait or figure in motion. I like to try and keep the work alive.
4/ What is the piece of work you are most proud of?
Hopefully the next piece I create. But here are 3 examples:
‘Repose’ oil on canvas, 50/70cm. 'Seated within Blue' pastel.40/30cm. 'Zoe's Zenith’ pastel&gouache.60/42cm. People! Especially dancers and acrobats whilst in motion if possible where there is a flow and energy. Janet with Drawing Cabaret Couture has excelled in this. Colour is so uplifting, and life continually provides new exhilarating combinations of colour.
Some of the artists that inspire me include Degas, Jenny Saville, Egon Schiele, Peter Doig and Käthe Kollwitz.
Before this strange year I would have a model in front of me either in a drawing group or the luxury of a model to myself in my studio. Now, of necessity, I have discovered zoom and the new challenges it brings whilst creating a new way of working. I would like to thank Drawing Cabaret Couture for the magic they have brought to Zoom. I select the media that relates best to the figure/face. Recently, in a 3 minute quick pose with a life model full figure or portrait, I have speedily torn some brown paper to focus on the direction of the body, then add charcoal maybe and a swish of colour either in pastel, ink or acrylic. The serendipity of how various media react with each other can be a delight and of course at times not quite so delightful. Alternatively perhaps intense sticks on their side with water added to attempt to portray the flow of a costume. I like to switch between wet and dry media. An oil portrait would begin with quick thumbnail sketches in charcoal to decide on the composition then working on the canvas initially with thin oil whilst trying to keep things alive.
7/ What is a piece of advice which you believe helped you establish yourself in the industry?
Keep your work fresh and keep searching within a drawing or painting. 'Zoe's Zenith' pastel & gouache 60x42cm
'Dancing Sleeves' ink & wash 42x60cm
