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Flowering
Make chats with fine artist, Lisa Hardy to find out what makes her tick.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a fine artist living in West Wales. We moved here almost three years ago after stints in Hastings and before that London. I worked in fashion for many years as a PR for brands such as Bella Freud, Christian Louboutin and Alberta Ferretti but always knew I would go back to my roots and create for myself again. I previously studied Fine Art Textiles at Winchester School of Art, an amazing time of my life and where I met my husband David, also a painter.
Can you explain or describe your working processes?
I start on paper and then may move later onto canvas. I draw with paint and always look to convey something different, abstracting from my subject. It’s an emotional response using minimal mark making, working quickly and intuitively, playing and exploring with composition. I often paint multiple paintings in one go, and therefore often see my work in series, each one part of a larger conversation.
If it’s possible to articulate, where do you get your ideas?
I take inspiration from the natural world, whether it is from flowers, plants and trees in our garden to the wider landscape. We live in a beautiful part of Wales by the River Teifi in the Cambrian Mountains, which is a constant source of ideas. If we are out for a walk or cycle it might be a small forest orange fungus that catches my eye or a mound of long grass or just picking up on the sensation of being in the wilderness.
How has lockdown been for you and has it affected your work?
We live in quite an isolated place so lockdown didn’t change too much for us. I am a bit of an introvert so it’s suited my personality. I enjoy being at home and in our garden. I have had more time to focus on my art practice and reflect. My recent work has become bolder, so that’s a development I’m keen to explore.
What are you most looking forward to doing when we are really out of lockdown?
Some adventures further afield with my husband and seeing family.
We love the simplicity and refined colour palette of your work. Has this style evolved or has it always been this way?
Yes, it’s always been my aesthetic. By using a simple colour palette I can also explore form and composition.
Is social media important to your work or the way you communicate it to the world?
Yes, it’s very important especially as we now live in a rural part of Wales. Instagram is a wonderful tool to get your work seen. I’ve made lovely connections with other artists and clients from all over the world that would be impossible before social media. The flip side is of course that you never switch off. I’m guilty of looking at my phone too much. There is also pressure (from the Instagram algorithms) to keep showing new content and keep engagement up, which isn’t conducive to creativity.
We loved the collaborations you did with Edit 58. Is that something you aim to do more?
I’ve been working with Lisa at Edit 58 since 2018. Lisa sources amazing enamel jugs, which I then paint; each one is unique and is a mini work of art. The first collection sold out immediately so we have been releasing small limited collections ever since. We also produce hand-painted tiles that I make here in Wales in our neighbour’s pottery.
Can you name an artwork you would love to own?
That’s such a tough one and almost impossible to answer! An Ellsworth Kelly plant drawing would be heaven, I also adore Winifred Nicholson’s ‘Cyclamen and Primula’. I’m a big fan of Rachel Whiteread and her show at Tate Britain was one of my favourites, so one of her resin cast stools… but the list is endless!
What is next for Lisa Hardy?
I’m going large!
To find out more about Lisa Hardy and her work you can visit.