Carmen Hardy

Why do you feel the need to create a piece of art?  It creates a time of tranquillity and meditation for me, I’m in my shed with my dogs Gorgeous George and Spud the Mutt. I love forests, nature and the way the seasons change the way everything looks, I try to capture this the best I can.

What is your earliest creative memory.
Not a good one, I remember at the age of about 4, adding to my Dads oil painting which he neatly finished.

“I’m still evolving as an artist, I am quite shy and it’s been difficult to gain the courage to show my artwork”.

Do you have any artistic heroes? and if so why did they inspire you?   Apart from my Dad, who said anyone can paint if they have a real desire to do so and my art teacher at school Mrs Griffin I  adore Frida Kahlo  love the way she uses colour, just love it.
What has been your biggest success?
Having a piece of my artwork picked for a new album cover for the Ska band ;The Bighead; which comes out on the 1st of December 2020
What has been your biggest failure?
Where do I start, there’s been so many but perhaps the biggest is staying in an abusive marriage longer than I should have.
What have been your main obstacles in becoming an artist?
I’m still evolving as an artist, I am quite shy and it’s been difficult to gain the courage to show my artwork.

“I particularly don’t like the extremely narrow minded clique of the art world.”

I find your work very uplifting and optimistic, is that your intention?  Thank you, that’s very kind of you.  There isn’t really an intention, I never really know what the finished piece will be like.

Where did your style of painting come from?  Well I’m self taught, so don’t take much notice of styles as I think I don’t have one yet lolol, maybe never will!  We are all very close to nature, whether you see it or not.

Is there a story behind the coloured animals in the paintings?  I just love the magical tales of Hares, Foxes, Wolves, Deer, they are all in the best fairy tales, so I sneak in a little magical animal now and again.

Could you tell us a bit about your creative background?  I was always doodling as a child, I would have loved to have gone to Art College but personal  circumstances wouldnt  allow.   My Dad did a bit of oil painting and I would watch.   It is only now in the last 3yrs that I have thrown myself into actively painting.

What would a perfect creative life look like to you?  A perfect creative life would be for me the ability to carry on getting inspired, carry on painting in my shed, especially now that the world and everyone on it is struggling with Covid.

How do creative ideas find you?   All ideas come mostly straight from my head, or a dream i may have, a piece of music i’m listening too, a stroll with my dogs It’s all an energy trip.

 What would you like to see changed about the art world and why.  Well, everything, I particularly don’t like the extremely narrow minded clique of the art world.  I would love it if they would go away and let artists be artists.  I can’t see why a handful of opinions by so called ‘experts’ can destroy dreams.

Carmen Hardy

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