Ella Freire Interview
1) How long have you been making art?
After studying art at Eastbourne College of Art and Design, I ended up following a long career in Interior Design. But I have always had a passion for Screen Printing! I was very lucky to have Putney Art School on my door step and decided to enroll in their Screen printing classes, to try my hand at it all again. I had a great time, along with many others there, which continued for a few years! Since then I took a studio at Wimbledon Art Studios and have been busy printing for the last 2 years.
2) What genre best describes what you do?
Screen printing a range of eclectic mix of Architectural, travel, vintage artefacts and fun things that I come across that inspire me! I then break down then image in to a simple screen colour process.
3) How has your artwork evolved since you began?
It has gone from being graphic, to more photographic and 3 dimensional.
4) Is there a medium or technique that you have yet to try but would like to?
I would really like to have a go at doing some lino cuts in the future as I really love the simple style and think I could use it to give my prints a completely different look. I would also like to look at printing on different substrates, such as metal and acrylic.
5) What would your ideal solo exhibition be like and where would it be held?
As my work is very inspired by 1930's Art Deco which is an era I adore and the travel then at that time, I would go for the St James Tube Station, Headquarters to London Underground. Everyone would have to be dressed in 1930's attire, and Martini's shaken and stirred!
6) What do you like most about the art world?
I like that it is far more accessible to so many more people all over the world which is as it should be.
7) Your screen prints of London buildings have proved to be very popular, what is your decision making process when selecting a building?
It is about taking very recognisable land marks such as the Millennium Dome, the Shard and the County Hall recently, deconstructing them, and then putting them back together in unusual interesting and different compositions.
8) Which artists either historically or current, have influenced you the most?
Of course Andy Warhol is a huge inspiration, I love the whole Pop Art thing, also Barbara Rae, Norman Ackroyd and Edward Bawden but there are so many others as well!
9) Where did you sell your first artwork and how did it feel?
I sold my first piece of art work actually at Putney Art School. There was an exhibition of Screen prints and I sold to one of the teachers there; it was really great to be appreciated by someone who taught there.
10) What other artwork are you planning for New Artist Fair in September?
I am working on some new ideas at the moment, inspired from my holiday to Sicily this summer, and hoping to have some ready for the New Artist Fair in two weeks!
After studying art at Eastbourne College of Art and Design, I ended up following a long career in Interior Design. But I have always had a passion for Screen Printing! I was very lucky to have Putney Art School on my door step and decided to enroll in their Screen printing classes, to try my hand at it all again. I had a great time, along with many others there, which continued for a few years! Since then I took a studio at Wimbledon Art Studios and have been busy printing for the last 2 years.
2) What genre best describes what you do?
Screen printing a range of eclectic mix of Architectural, travel, vintage artefacts and fun things that I come across that inspire me! I then break down then image in to a simple screen colour process.
3) How has your artwork evolved since you began?
It has gone from being graphic, to more photographic and 3 dimensional.
4) Is there a medium or technique that you have yet to try but would like to?
I would really like to have a go at doing some lino cuts in the future as I really love the simple style and think I could use it to give my prints a completely different look. I would also like to look at printing on different substrates, such as metal and acrylic.
5) What would your ideal solo exhibition be like and where would it be held?
As my work is very inspired by 1930's Art Deco which is an era I adore and the travel then at that time, I would go for the St James Tube Station, Headquarters to London Underground. Everyone would have to be dressed in 1930's attire, and Martini's shaken and stirred!
6) What do you like most about the art world?
I like that it is far more accessible to so many more people all over the world which is as it should be.
7) Your screen prints of London buildings have proved to be very popular, what is your decision making process when selecting a building?
It is about taking very recognisable land marks such as the Millennium Dome, the Shard and the County Hall recently, deconstructing them, and then putting them back together in unusual interesting and different compositions.
8) Which artists either historically or current, have influenced you the most?
Of course Andy Warhol is a huge inspiration, I love the whole Pop Art thing, also Barbara Rae, Norman Ackroyd and Edward Bawden but there are so many others as well!
9) Where did you sell your first artwork and how did it feel?
I sold my first piece of art work actually at Putney Art School. There was an exhibition of Screen prints and I sold to one of the teachers there; it was really great to be appreciated by someone who taught there.
10) What other artwork are you planning for New Artist Fair in September?
I am working on some new ideas at the moment, inspired from my holiday to Sicily this summer, and hoping to have some ready for the New Artist Fair in two weeks!
