CARMINE MAGAZINE

Carmine Magazine: Water towers, birds and pills. What is it about these objects that inspire you?
Catherine Lawrence: Water towers- Well, this is one is easy- water towers remind me of new york city, a place that I loved on sight. Such strange structures in the most urban place; they’re like strange cake toppers, each one a different shape and size, held up on spindly legs… theres something so appealing about how they are shaped, as well. They also give SUCH a kick ass silhouette when printed in black and white. Reminiscent of rockets! Secret places to swim! Echo-y! Fabulous all around!
Pills- Well this one is about my struggle with anxiety disorder, which I’ve had for many years, but have not had medication for for almost 4 years now. I hid a lot behind the pills on the advice of doctors and so I like to explore how pills eclipsed all problems, and meditate on how the meds would help, potentially, if I didn’t have to feel anything. Ultimately I use the imagery in what I hope is a wry and humourous way, especially with works that have text behind them; under the massive colourful “make-me-feel-good” pill, is the truth, the panic, the fear.
Crows- I just love crows. They’re so intelligent and funny and the silhouette appeals to me as well.

CM: Do you listen to music when you create? What is the perfect creative setting for you to get your work done in?
CL:Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. The best place for me to work is in my tiny study at my desk/easel where everything I need is within arms’ reach. Day is best, I work best alone, with a cat interfering. Hey, I like a challenge :P

CM: Name a few of your favorite artists.
CL: Most recently I am entirely too obsessed with Vik Muniz, I think everyone should go check out his stuff, he is AMAZING. Van Gogh is always an inspiration. Brian Jungen, also AMAZING and so inspiring. This summer I fell in love with works by Sarah Morris and felt a resonance with the work of Piet Mondrian. Noraval Morrisseau is precious to me and I mourned his recent passing deeply.

CM: What are your preferred mediums to work with?
CL: Canvas + anything messy. I love the immediate texture tissue paper and gouache gives a canvas. acrylics are a must for me. I love the obnoxious shine and glare acetates give to a piece. I’ve recently learned to embrace lint and cat fur and actually make it a part of the work. I like it when things look dirty. So lots of fingers in the paint, dragging objects through paint in order to get texture. Mmm. My fingernails are never clean!

CM: Is art a hobby, profession or obsession for you?
CL: It’s not a profession, not an obsession, but to call it a hobby misses the mark, I think. Would I like to do this full time and be able to support myself, of course. But I don’t want that pressure to create “on time” to make the bucks, you know? Not to be all “oh aren’t I so fucking cool”, but really, at this point in my life I can’t NOT make art. It’s in my head, it needs to come out, and most of the time I don’t want the canvases/pieces hanging around after I’m done making the art. So I charge enough money for the pieces to be able to buy more supplies and make more. It’s a great system.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up what would it be?
CL: Pottery! Looks like messy goopy fun. But the wheel feels restrictive, too. I’d love to learn how to sew on a machine; I think I could do a LOT more interesting things on canvas with sewing…

Find Catherine’s work at these places on the web:
_r_e_q_u_i_e_m_ on Livejournal
urbanfictions on Livejournal
Etsy Store

Some of artwork from Catherine Lawrence: