Meet the Artist | Interview with Eve Smith | DegreeArt.com The Original Online Art Gallery

Meet the Artist | Interview with Eve Smith

Eve Smith (known as Eve Juliet Art on DegreeArt.com), is a contemporary painter living in Norfolk. Aiming to capture a sense of the world in highly detailed expressive painting, Eve's inspiration comes from a multitude of places. No matter the subject, Eve lovingly curates premium quality vibrant paintings of varying sizes and scales. Seascapes depicting powerful breaking waves are as equally well executed as the intricate details of the veins of a flower’s petal. As well as this she manages to capture personality in highly expressive human portrayals.

1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
 
Throughout university I explored the romantic movement which fundamentally focuses on an escape from reality through the return to nature which brings feelings of nostalgia through the discovery of a lost childhood, linking to childhood memories of a freedom to escape into the wilderness. Nature has an association with childhood and therefore often evokes a feeling of joy.
 
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art? 
 
I am inspired by the world around me, in particular nature. want to transfer that feeling into my artwork capturing that moment in time. I have a particular interest in seascapes as well as flowers and trees.
 
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
 
To say motivated and avoid artist block I like painting several paintings and themes at once, in order to keep my ideas flowing and giving me a degree of flexibility. This way I can start a new painting when the inspiration hits.
 
 
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
 
I don’t just have one particular artist that inspires my practise but instead many that inspire me for different reasons either due to their technique, inspiration, or the message that are trying to relay. I am constantly developing and improving my practice and have been inspired by different artists along my journey. My greatest inspirations to date include Alyssa monks `flower paintings, Maggie Hambling’s and Turner’s wave paintings as well as Constable's depictions of nostalgia through childhood memories of pastoral scenes.
 
5) What do you listen to for inspiration?
 
I grew up wear the ocean and the sound of the waves have a calming effect. I love the sound and it will always be an inspiration.
 
6) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
 
For me I would prefer my works to be sold to many collectors and appreciated by many and exhibited in galleries across the world.
 
 
7) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
 
If you don’t try you won't know what will happen. Worrying about what might happen and whether you will be ‘successful’ won't bring you happiness.
 
8) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non fiction)?
 
My favourite series of all time is Philip Pullman’s dark materials. I've read it more time that I can count.
 
9) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non traditional art setting, where would it be?
 
Due to lockdown all final year exhibitions were canceled. As I was exploring the romantic movement in particular the escape into nature. I presented my work in a woodland setting, allowing the artwork to become part of the landscape. Bring the inspiration into the exhibition.
 
 
10) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
 
University allowed me to meet new and interesting people and made me become a more confident person.
 
11) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
 
The goal for the future to be a full time artist.
 
 
 

Learn more about Eve and discover her collection of paintings.

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