Josie’s Purcell’s creativity is driven by our place within, and impact on, the natural world and our connections to natural resources such as water, soil, and sand. She is fascinated by the psychology of aesthetics, with a particular interest in how abstract images provoke a response in the viewer. Her coastal and rural surroundings are her artist’s palette. She can often be found making work in-situ near the ocean or by the rivers, fields, and woodlands where she lives. Predominantly using alternative photographic processes, Josie looks to create curiosity and spark conversation about diverse environments and the human effects on them. She has been devising and implementing sustainable photographic techniques for some time to reduce her photographic practice footprint. She created Cornwall’s first/only alternative photography eco-darkroom, ShutterPod, in 2014, through which she teaches and holds workshops in techniques such as anthotype, cyanotype, and chemical-free lumen printing. In September 2018, Josie gained a distinction in her MA in Photography via Falmouth University.
Self-taught or art school?
Art school for a few years in the late 80s and MA in Photography with distinction achieved in 2018.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Horst P Horst Mainbocher Corset (or one from his Patterns in Nature).
How would you describe your style?
Overall, I tend towards abstract, colourful imagery yet I am fond of strong black and white portraiture. I don’t believe you have to pigeonhole your imagination into one style so prefer to not define my work in one way.
Is narrative important within your work?
The narrative of my work is often hidden until the viewer takes action to find out more.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
So many to list. If pushed to name one, I’d choose Anna Atkins simply because she inspired my love of the Cyanotype process. Although in a privileged social position at the time she was, as a woman, still excluded from science-related opportunities yet is often considered to be the first woman photographer and the first person to create a photo book.
What or who inspires your art?
Science, nature, my bamboozlement with the human species’ blinkered approach to caring for the natural world on which it depends, class systems and land access issues, other photographers working to raise the profile of environmental/social matters.
Are there any recurring themes within your work and can you tell us about them?
I tend to work with camera-less photographic processes which are non/low-toxic combined with digital techniques. I am interested in how we can make photography more environment friendly through better water use, less toxic chemicals, circular technology options, etc. I often create images within my coastal/riverine surroundings and with natural materials, which all respond to an environmental matter such as the global sand crisis or plastic consumption. I am also interested in social fabrics relating to older women in society and how they are perceived.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
I have a travelling ‘sunroom’ – most of my alt photographic work can be created outside rather than in a darkroom – but if not on-site, my spare room and my allotment potting shed are my studio spaces.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Can procrastination be a ritual? 🙂 I have to have a tidy desk when I finish working so when I start again it’s from a point of (hopefully) clarity.
What are you working on currently?
Part of the Patchwork combines black and white portraits of allotment holders with alternative process images of allotment items to challenge the historical land ownership/access laws in England. Building my Photopocene podcast where I chat with other photographers about how they use photography to raise the profile of environment-related issues. Also applying for a PhD.
Where can we buy your art?
Direct contact via my website.
What are your ambitions?
To create an international photography platform to research, debate, and implement sustainable and environment-friendly photographic practices while also supporting photography as a means of protest.
Please provide your website/Insta
