artist interviews

chloe meakins

twenty three, she/her

what is your art form?

various visual art mediums/styles, and producing television.

what do you do and why do you do it?

i’m a producer at Channel 9. i started doing this as media arts was a passion of mine during highschool. i believe that work should be a hobby you enjoy so that life is never boring.

who/what has inspired you in your artistic practice and why?

Heather Rooney was a huge inspiration to me, and encouraged my own exploration into prisma colour sketches. Since then, I’ve developed my own skills and paint what i feel.

what do you think your role is as an artist? has anything stopped you from fulfilling this role?

as a creator, there is no set role i have to the community, but rather to myself to keep doing what makes me happy. at the moment, what makes me happy is working at channel 9, in addition to creating small commission pieces.

what have been the biggest challenges in your artistic journey?

finding the time to practise and make, particularly in visual arts. this is especially hard as i live with my parents and don’t have a lot of space to create.

do you believe that good art comes from turmoil and suffering, or is that a romantic notion?

i believe any event that has impacted an individual (whether it be suffering a love that is lost or traumatic experience, etc.) would unintentionally change the style of art you make. when I’m happy, i’m more experimental, painting in a more abstract style and utilising more bright colours. these are things like my ocean works. in 2016, i was going through a horrible experience, and created a series of graphite sketches of hearts being stabbed or cut, that i called ‘heart’.

how do you feel your age impacts your experience as an artist?

the time available and the space to do so on a budget.

what about your gender/race/sexuality/disability etc.?

there have been no implications thus far in visual art. in the media industry, i have had some difficulties, however none that i haven’t been able to sort out myself.

when it comes to art, what would you tell your younger self?

i’m still telling myself this now; to relax. my individual style will shine through my pieces eventually.

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