She explains that she never pre-plans her works; they are fluid and natural, pouring out of her onto the canvas. In creating the work, she has learnt about herself and her feelings, each work is a kind of self-exploration; a self-portrait.
What is your background? How did you get into your field?
I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York, then worked for several years as a Scenic Artist for film and television. When I moved to the UK, I decided to devote myself to my own practice and have been developing this style ever since.
What inspires you to create?
I have a three-year-old daughter whose innate creativity I find endlessly inspiring. When she paints or draws, there is no expectation or self-criticism; it’s entirely pure. Part of my practice has been attempting to unlearn and strip away any preconceived idea of what a painting should be, and instead allow whatever comes to exist in its own right.
Can you tell us about your process?
I have a very simple ritual to start every painting, which is to prime the canvas, then draw an interior border with a black crayon. It’s very minimal, but for me, that defines the space. Sometimes the line of the border is neat, sometimes it’s crooked, and I have to draw multiple lines. Something that simple can help to define the character of the rest of the painting.
Do you listen to music while working?
I almost always listen to music while I’m painting, and I find that what I’m listening to can have a big effect on the outcome of the piece. The style of music changes all the time, but I do like to dance around the studio, especially if I feel kind of stuck. I’ve tried listening to books or podcasts, but I don’t like how much they take me out of my work mentally.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend most of my free time painting. It is technically my job, but I don’t think of it that way.
What comes next?
I have two shows I’m painting for now – one is a drop with Partnership Editions, which will be out in September, and the other is a solo exhibition with Shay Hewett Fine Art, which will open in January.
Cat Spilman – www.catspilman.com
