@mollyrose.art

Instagram: @mollyrose.art

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

My name is Molly, I am an aspiring artist who loves to draw, living in Melbourne, Australia!

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I would probably say my aesthetic is bold, abstract, can be mildly unsettling and have graphic/animated qualities, and is heavily influenced by identity and feminism. I like the idea of shocking people (I’m not a weirdo), I just like the concept of doing the unexpected or doing something that I’m told is wrong, artistically speaking. I’m noticing I predominantly focus more so on line, pattern, colour and texture at the moment as well as the female figure. I’m really feeling rose hues and tan colours at the moment in conjunction with black and white, actually. No real reason why. Just thoroughly enjoying it.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

God, I love a good Copic marker! I love how it produces a comic-like effect and really aids in creating saturated drawings. However, I find it can also be really difficult to use, but I still think it’s worth it. Again, I’m not a freak, but thick, crisp clean paper is actually so satisfying. Fine liner is great, especially for creating contrast as well as when I do minimal drawings. Resin is super fun but super sticky work with, but the glossy result is incredible- enhances colour, texture, etc.

4. What is your artistic process like?

In all honesty, it’s very instinctual! Whatever happens, I can either calmly accept and move past it… or, on the other hand, have a full-throttle cripplingly pathetic meltdown (there’s no in-between.) If it stuffs up… it was meant to stuff up. Or if something unexpected happens, I find it creates imbalance and irregularity, which I admire. At the moment, though, I usually sketch out my idea, add the touches needed, scan onto Photoshop and Illustrator and then give it some spunk. Everything I do seems to be a massive contradiction- I’m a perfectionist so I need to tell myself to just accept it rather than to beat myself up over it and spend hours on end trying to perfect something that isn’t meant to work out! Otherwise, I turn into an absolute nutcase. Gotta step awaaaaay from the art.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Giorgio de Chirico are my obvious picks. Jean Andre, Mrzyk & Moriceau, Henn Kim, Sara Andreasson, Polly Nor, Louise Zhang… there are honestly so many it's insane! They are all extremely talented artists. Music and life experiences also play a massive role in regards to being inspired also… Joni Mitchel in particular always seems to make me whip out something half decent. I also find that I can’t make artworks when everything in life is going smoothly! Literally, I need something dramatic to happen for me to get angry/sad/excited about (haha) for me to even make something that I’m satisfied with, as whack as that sounds, otherwise I find my art just lacks substance and looks crap. Surrealist, abstract and erotic art does also slightly trickle into my works (or inspires me, at least).

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I’ve been utterly obsessed with art since I was about 5, always drawing for hours on end most days as a young kid. The passion hasn’t died out over the years if anything it’s become more consuming! I love every aspect of it. It’s a very therapeutic process for me. The truth is, I don’t think I’m actually capable of doing anything else! It definitely changes the way I perceive the world- being exposed to different works certainly opens you up to social, political and cultural issues in a whole new light, giving you a sense of awareness. I’m a very emotional person, I find art really does bring out raw emotions the more you do it and the more you see, so I guess it's safe to say it makes you more sensitive, receptive, moody (haha) and somewhat more intense as a person (or at least that’s me). But, I would prefer to feel a lot rather than to feel nothing at all! Too boring for me to be a bland person.

7. Where did you study?

I recently completed my first semester of Fashion Design (Honours) at university but decided to leave, as in all honestly, I was a complete potato at it and realized I needed to focus on my conceptual ability (art) rather than slave away busting my gut trying to do something that clearly wasn’t my cup of tea. Watching me try to sew was borderline comical I was that bad! Took a very big emotional and physical toll, lots of blood sweat and tears, but got through it! Thank Jesus.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

I have no bloody clue. I would be 24 then…I’m hoping I would have completed a fine arts degree in drawing and maybe film, potentially doing an honours year? If I make it out alive? I think doing a Ph.D. would also be a really interesting path to take down the track. I like the idea of educating people. Being a tattoo artist has also been something I’m thinking about…

9. What about in ten?

Good question…A curator, doctor, lecturer, freelance artist, screenwriter…who the hell knows. Crikey I would be 29…lol.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I really, passionately (haha) hate the idea of making art solely for the purpose of it looking pretty. Grinds my gears. Yes, I would like my art to be visually appealing but I like the idea of making an impact on someone by sending across a message or provoking a feeling in someone. I’m obviously still learning and have a lot more to discover. Art comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable! (Apparently.)

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

That’s a serious question. I can’t lock in one answer for you, so I’m going to have to say… Dumplings, Doughnuts, Nutella, anything dripping in oil and salt, really. A good hefty burger. Parma. I’m literally waiting for the day I wake up morbidly obese. Basically, anything that will clog my arteries, I’ll smash.

12. Favourite book?

In school I studied Peter Carey: Collected Stories for Literature and I have to say, even though it was definitely quirky and eerie, to say the least, I found the themes explored in the stories did actually influence my art. Meanings and messages in stories I think are very interesting. In regards to a book I have read on the side, though, Nicholas Shakespeare’s “Stories from Other Places” is a great fictional novel, has a wicked illustration on the cover as well!

13. Favourite genre of music?

Alternative for sure- Sticky Fingers, Tame Impala, Gang of Youths, James Vincent McMorrow, The War on Drugs, Beach Baby, The Avalanches, Anderson Paak, too many to list. I listen to music for at least a minimum of 5 hours per day.

14. What are your hobbies?

Making art, art history, watching movies, reading, going to music festivals, eating, investing a little too much in Bob's Burgers, having a boogie I guess, getting fat (is that even a hobby?), that kinda jazz, are my hobbies.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

A complete bum, probably. Nah, I think I would probably be a writer of some kind in either film and television or maybe an author? Acting was also something I seriously considered- don’t have the guts to do it though!