See more of Natasha’s work at: www.natashadayart.artweb.com
Being an artist
Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself
Unable to find a niche description for myself I’d call myself an ‘eclectic artist’. This basically gives me the freedom to create what I want. It is also the philosophy of the way I run my workshops, ‘Intuitive Art – Freedom to paint’ in the community and for Art and Mental Wellbeing groups.
When did you decide to pursue art as a career?
I always created, but never considered myself good enough to be able to make money to live from it, so I went into mental health nursing, but always painted.
What training did you have?
I have almost continually attended workshops or college courses in different creative areas to allow me to develop artistically. I did begin a fine art degree but the college was going through a time of flux and the teaching did not suit me, it felt like a conveyor belt with no time to find our own way.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
Being able to run workshops and give demonstrations of my techniques and approaches with acrylic paint. I love hearing that people are going away inspired, more confident and excited about their own art making. I was also thrilled to use my ideas as one of the artists for ‘Cambridge community arts’ on their ‘Art and Wellbeing’ course for people with mental health problems. Watching peoples’ moods lift and hearing that they are now beginning drawing at home gives me a huge buzz.
General Questions
What’s your favourite quote?
‘Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep’
Scott Adams
Who is your favourite artist?
Niki de saint phalle and Frida Khalo
What are you aiming for?
Running international workshops to enlarge the world art community, being part of a drop in art/coffee shop initiative.
How will you get there?
By accident probably.
Is anything holding you back?
Nope not currently.
You and art
What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?
‘How did she do that’? ‘I love those bold colours’
I’m always surprised when people say they really like my work, I like it, but I don’t expect other people to, we all like different things, and see the world differently.
From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?
That’s a ‘piece of string’ question and so, fairly unanswerable. Some paintings take longer than others.
What music do you like to listen to when you work?
Depends on my mood. At the moment I love listening to Rudamental and Example for upbeat paintings, and Gary Numan, David Bowie and 10000 Maniacs for darker more contemplative paintings.
What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?
I’m longing to start on some atmospheric paintings using the wonderful old buildings of Norwich in the skylines…..
Being inspired by art
Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?
My favourite artists inspire me as they worked from subconscious and conscious deeply aware places when they create, and they create to say things that words cant express, which I think is the whole point of painting.
What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?
My painting is an extension of myself, so I will be inspired by the things that move me in life, from the deep and existential musings we all have, to the noticing of something beautiful, a shape, a colour, a feeling…
What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?
There are a couple of landscapes I particularly love (both sold), but I really like a recent painting from my ‘Beyond, betwixt and between series’ called ‘Spirits abound’ and it was influenced by the very strong feeling, after having moved to live in Norwich recently, that there was active energetic life around the ancient buildings and places here moving around us everyday. I think people think its a bit dark, but to me, life and death live side by side.
an artist’s advice
For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?
Network, talk to people, network again.
Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?
Marketing, social media, join lots of arts organisations and ask them to promote your work, talk about it all the time….
