‘Artists can be evocative. We can make people experience the world around them in a different way. Our work records and reflects emotion, time, and place.'
Shay Downer is an Australian artist, working from her studio in Victoria. She uses charcoal, acrylic and ink to celebrate the greatness and power of women, and delves into relationships, exploring shared experiences, compassion and empathy.
Where is your current studio? What would be your dream studio?
My studio is in one of the bedrooms of my house in Sunbury, Victoria. It's very small but has great natural light. My dream studio would be at least 4 times bigger with heaps of storage for drawings and paintings, and also have space to teach. A view of a garden/nature would be great also (currently have a view of concrete and timber fence!).
Do you prefer to work in silence or does certain music inspire you?
I mostly like to work with some background noise (unless I'm writing). Mostly atmospheric tunes from Ludovico Einaudi, Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds, Christian Löffler and Kiasos. When my energy or motivation is waning I'll pump it up with some dance tunes or good old fashioned Aussie Rock.
Studio life can lead to isolation, how do you address this/ keep a balance? I've been working from home for the last 10 years, so I'm quite used to working in isolation. I enjoy the quiet. But when it got too quiet I would meet with friends, go to exhibition openings, or work on my skills by attending some art classes/workshops and also teach art classes. Since COVID-19 all of that has shifted to the online platform. I never really thought the internet would become such a crucial part of my engagement with the world. I miss the physicality of socialising. I miss hugs!
Describe a moment you had an epiphany concerning your creative life.
There seems to be lots of little "light-bulb" moments when creating art. I guess the main thing I've realised is how important it is to work authentically. I've found that you to really have to connect with the work or subject matter for the work to be "successful". This is particularly important with portraiture, especially if you want to capture the essence or true character of the person you are depicting. You have to be present with them emotionally, not just interpret the physical form.
What is your favourite/ least favourite part of the creative process?
My favourite part is the beginning: the blank canvas or paper. The excitement about what you think (and hope) it will become. Finding your way around the subject, finding the right mark to describe the form. The problem solving. The least favourite part is when I'm nearly finished. I get all anxious about stuffing it up and often over-think it.
Do you have a personal mantra or quote which serves to motivate you?
"Don't make the universe personal, make the personal universal."
How has your style evolved and what contributed to the changes?
I guess my 'style' is still evolving. I love working with charcoal and I started producing works on canvas to make it easier and cheaper to exhibit. Framing is just so expensive and glass is difficult to transport. The flip side of that was understanding the limitations of charcoal on canvas, and what happened to the mid-tones and highlights when fixing and varnishing.
What do you hope to convey through your work?
I like to be evocative. To get people thinking about themselves and their relationships. I love the interplay between someone viewing and understanding what I was trying to say and then also bringing parts of their own experiences to the conversation. In my main body of work: "Visible Mending" I used hands to tell a story about how we relate to each other emotionally and physically. However, the work was really about me coming to terms with my personal relationship failing after 17 years and finding a way to navigate the emotional fallout. Ultimately people bought the work because it meant something to them. I had made the personal universal.
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