Kirsty Bruce, Artist, Contemporary Australia: Women at GOMA
Follow your dreams without fear – don't be afraid to make them happen ...
The allure of a newsagency, filled with its stacks of bound paper press, from the mainstream to the creative and offbeat, is one temptation local artist Kirsty Bruce cannot conquer. But it’s this obsession and passion for fashion magazines, as well as second-hand books, that is the first step in her artistic process. Slowly turning each page, when Kirsty finds an image she connects with, it could become the subject of her next piece. Illustrating and then painting layer upon layer of acrylic paints, using watercolours for the finishing touches, Kirsty takes inspiration from magazine photography and recreates an image into a highly detailed illusion of the original. With her work featuring only women, Kirsty creates each tiny female character separately, but within the whole installation, each individual lady has a relationship with the next, its placement and direction indicative of a conversation going on amongst the works that the viewer can only imagine. With 55 paintings featured in the new Contemporary Australia: Women exhibition at GOMA, The Weekend Edition caught up with Kirsty to chat weekends and childhood dreams.
How do you like to start your weekend?
Slowly and with coffee.
What is your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Go for a nice walk in the sunshine – preferably in a nice location (a park or beach) with lots of birds.
How do you like to unwind?
Listening to music or reading a book or watching an interesting film – anything away from art and painting!
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Paint, pencils, paper, inspiring magazines, pretty sunsets and time to relax.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Visit Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
What is your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Whatever takes my fancy, as long as it is non-stressful and relaxing.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Attending the Contemporary Australia: Women exhibition opening celebrations at GOMA.
What are you reading at the moment?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.
What inspires you?
Nature, magazines, paintings, drawings, illustrations, listening to music and positive, motivated, creative people.
What was your childhood dream?
To be a fashion illustrator.
What has been your greatest achievement?
I guess just taking a chance and following my heart – pursuing my passion for painting and watching myself develop further.
What is success to you?
Being healthy – both physically and physiologically – learning how to handle negative energy and negative people, and learning how to take life not too seriously!
What are your words of wisdom?
Follow your dreams without fear – don’t be afraid to make them happen.
Only a local would know … Brisbane gets some seriously scary thunderstorms.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Anywhere in the sunshine, preferably with a rainbow in view!
Relax … Close to nature or at the beach at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
Dine … There are some really nice restaurants at Burleigh Heads.
Indulge … At an amazingly yummy coffee shop at Southport on the Gold Coast.
Shop … Any decent newsagency or second-hand bookstore.
Catch up … Paddington.
Be inspired … there are lots of places, but right now, definitely QAGOMA.