Self-taught or art school?
Art School. I have a Bachelor of Arts with Honours Degree in Art and Design, and I have just begun my studies for MA Fine Art at Birmingham Art School (Birmingham City University)
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Composition of Circles – Bridget Riley. I’ve always been in awe of Riley’s work but, seeing Composition of Circles at the Hayward Gallery, London earlier this year just completely overwhelmed me.
How would you describe your style?
My works explore the relationship between painting and audience engagement. Through using bright colours, bold shapes, large canvases and through pushing boundaries, I aim to capture my audience’s attention and encourage them to engage with my art.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
My artistic process changes a lot, but right now I’m thinking about how I can push the limits of the question ‘What is a painting?’. The more that I am pushing those boundaries, the more difficult that question becomes to answer and also the more my work becomes involved in the space around it.
I also think a lot about how I can get a reaction from the viewer, the sort of reaction that makes a viewer want to become engaged in the work, whether that be verbally or physically.
Is narrative important within your work? No, my works don’t tell a story, nor is there any deep personal meanings behind them. My focus is on process and execution.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
My answer to this changes a lot, but right now Simon Callery. He is a painter but with his works, he wants his audience to perceive them as opposed to fully understanding them. His art is large, bold, sometimes sculptural, it’s never flat and never simple. There’s room to look around, look inside, look behind and sit underneath these paintings and I find this exciting.
An always favourite artist for me is Bridget Riley, she’s always inspired my ever-changing practice. Her use of bright, bold colours and exploration of optical illusions and systems is simply hypnotising.
What or who inspires your art?
My art inspires my art. I know that sounds weird, but I’m always thinking about how I can make my paintings more encouraging of engagement, audience participation, I’ll review my paintings, ask peers for to see them and react to them and develop new works on from that.
Also, I take note of peoples reactions around me, if there’s a public sculpture and people are paying particular attention to it then I’ll take a photo of it. At a gallery or exhibition, if there’s a piece of art that people are making an effort to get involved with then I’ll make a note of it.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is located above the coolest bar, Worley’s at the Swan. The Swan used to be a hotel but it is now a music venue with record covered walls and a stage made out of Orange amps. My studio is one of the offices (which used to be hotel rooms) upstairs. I’m surrounded by actors, musicians, teachers and more. It’s such a creative fulled environment. I love being there.
Do you have any studio rituals?
My main studio ritual if there was one when thinking about making, is to not think too much about what I’m doing. I’ll never draw out work before I make it, I just get stuck in and then adapt it after if I need to. I always find my favourite works are the ones that happen unexpectedly so, I live by that rule.
What are you working on currently?
I’ve just finished the fourth adaption of my painting ‘Orange and Pink Interrupted Circles’ so I’m currently assessing that, writing about it, getting feedback on it and then I will begin my next piece.
Where can we buy your art?
Most of the art featured in the gallery section of my website (amycrouchart.co.uk) is available for sale. You can contact me via social media @amycrouchart or via email amy@amycrouchart.co.uk
