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Q&A With
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1. You started painting at a young age, how has your process changed since then?
I have been drawing and painting people for as long as I can remember. When I was about eight, I used to draw incredibly unflattering portraits of my dad in Biro because he has an interesting face and I was compelled to master his features. Luckily he encouraged it, or this could all have turned out very differently! I suppose what has changed is my understanding of how different paint mediums behave. When you start painting, you just try and hope it works. Now I've been doing it for a while, I think I can better predict how things may turn out, and which paint will suit portraits of specific people.
2. You painted live at the New Artist Fair last year, what did you gain from that experience?
I loved it! It was great to be able to involve visitors in the process of building up a portrait, and explain what I was doing as I went along. It is a good way to show people who might be nervous of commissioning a painting, that the reality is exciting and fun to be a part of. It's also very productive to have so many hours dedicated to one work, without the distraction of tea and sofa..
3. You're now becoming a well established portrait artist, what has been be the biggest challenge so far?
Without a doubt it's the irregularity of the work. Some months I'll get a flood of interest and deadlines, and others it will go quiet. I can never predict when it will happen, so it's a bit of a juggling act trying to work part-time and paint simultaneously. I have managed so far though, and I'll carry on. I know how lucky I am to have the interest that I do.
4. Have you any funny or outrageous stories from situations you've had with clients?
Eesh... Did I ever tell you about the time I was accused of having an affair with someone's late husband at my exhibition? The poor guy had only bought one of my postcards years ago and had since passed away. I had no idea who he was. That was a strange one. Had a stiff drink after that conversation!
My actual clients are always wonderful. One of the sweetest commissions I had was to paint a trio of siblings. A boy and two girls. When they arrived at my house, two of them were dressed as you would expect, but one of the girls was wearing a frothy pink tutu, sparkly trainers, and a crystal tiara with a beaming smile on her face. Of course I painted them in. A girl after my own heart.
5. What can visitors expect to see from you at this year's New Artist Fair 'Summer Exhibition'?
You will see an array of wonderful faces in various sizes and mediums, humorous interactive pieces, and me painting live. I will be working on the fourth painting in my Zodiac series. I want to paint twelve portraits of different people, who (to me) look like the personification of that sign. Mainly it's an excuse to paint lots of different textures and have some fun with colour.
6. What are your plans for the next 5 years?
Don't starve, keep painting, continue to meet fantastic people and be happy. (... And win the lottery.)
www.heloisetoop.com
I have been drawing and painting people for as long as I can remember. When I was about eight, I used to draw incredibly unflattering portraits of my dad in Biro because he has an interesting face and I was compelled to master his features. Luckily he encouraged it, or this could all have turned out very differently! I suppose what has changed is my understanding of how different paint mediums behave. When you start painting, you just try and hope it works. Now I've been doing it for a while, I think I can better predict how things may turn out, and which paint will suit portraits of specific people.
2. You painted live at the New Artist Fair last year, what did you gain from that experience?
I loved it! It was great to be able to involve visitors in the process of building up a portrait, and explain what I was doing as I went along. It is a good way to show people who might be nervous of commissioning a painting, that the reality is exciting and fun to be a part of. It's also very productive to have so many hours dedicated to one work, without the distraction of tea and sofa..
3. You're now becoming a well established portrait artist, what has been be the biggest challenge so far?
Without a doubt it's the irregularity of the work. Some months I'll get a flood of interest and deadlines, and others it will go quiet. I can never predict when it will happen, so it's a bit of a juggling act trying to work part-time and paint simultaneously. I have managed so far though, and I'll carry on. I know how lucky I am to have the interest that I do.
4. Have you any funny or outrageous stories from situations you've had with clients?
Eesh... Did I ever tell you about the time I was accused of having an affair with someone's late husband at my exhibition? The poor guy had only bought one of my postcards years ago and had since passed away. I had no idea who he was. That was a strange one. Had a stiff drink after that conversation!
My actual clients are always wonderful. One of the sweetest commissions I had was to paint a trio of siblings. A boy and two girls. When they arrived at my house, two of them were dressed as you would expect, but one of the girls was wearing a frothy pink tutu, sparkly trainers, and a crystal tiara with a beaming smile on her face. Of course I painted them in. A girl after my own heart.
5. What can visitors expect to see from you at this year's New Artist Fair 'Summer Exhibition'?
You will see an array of wonderful faces in various sizes and mediums, humorous interactive pieces, and me painting live. I will be working on the fourth painting in my Zodiac series. I want to paint twelve portraits of different people, who (to me) look like the personification of that sign. Mainly it's an excuse to paint lots of different textures and have some fun with colour.
6. What are your plans for the next 5 years?
Don't starve, keep painting, continue to meet fantastic people and be happy. (... And win the lottery.)
www.heloisetoop.com
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Heloise will be exhibiting at our next fair from 9th-11th September 2016 at the Old Truman Brewery, G4 and G5 opposite Ely's Yard off Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
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