#roseblake

looks: somewhat attractive | eh | not really my type | pretty | handsome | beautiful | stud | gorgeous | SWEET LORD MERCY

can you relate to this character on a personal level?: no | not really | somewhat | yes | they are me

Brief: Talking Heads - Pitch and Promote

We are delighted to publish a new series by Rose Blake: ‘Wall Art’. We had a chat with Rose to find out more about her life and work, 

-What’s your ethos as an artist/how would you describe your work?

RB-I was trained as an illustrator, so drawing underpins everything I do really. I normally split my time between making prints, pictures and doing commercial illustration projects. I tend to usually include some kind of narrative in my work, although I haven’t really done so in this series. I’ve always found it much easier to express an idea with a picture, rather than words.

-What inspires you?

RB-I’m constantly on the look out for ideas- so I find everything pretty inspiring really. Conversations, things I see on the street, books I’m reading- I’m constantly jotting down ideas for drawings on my phone.

-Did you always want to be an artist?

RB-No, as a kid I think I wanted to be a waitress!

-What is an average day in the life of Rose Blake?

RB- wake up early, and try to fit in a quick swim at the local pool straight after I get up- as I find it helps me to clear my head for the day. Then off to the studio where I normally stay ‘till early evening- each week is very varied with what I’m working on, and I usually juggle quite a few projects at a time. Walk home, eat, sleep, repeat…

-Do you have a favourite artist/work of art?

RB-Loads! Hockney, Humphrey Ocean, Danny Fox, Wang Hui, Joe Tilson, Jonas Wood, Rose Wylie, Jockum Nordstrom, Calder, Matisse, Picasso (obviously), Ellsworth Kelly, Peter McDonald, David Shrigley, Bill Traylor… the list goes on.

-Which is your favourite exhibition space?

RB-The Guggenheim is amazing, also MOMA. I loved wandering round the National Gallery too.

-What do you think of the state of the arts in Britain today?

RB-I think the government needs to stop doing stupid things like threatening the History of Art A-level, the free Art Foundation course (which was the best year of my life!) and the rising cost of going to art school, as the arts in Britain are what makes it great.

-Which talent would you most like to possess?

RB-I’m *terrible* at remembering peoples names! As soon as I’m told a name, I forget it instantly… so a better memory would be a good place to start.

-One book to take to a desert island?

RB- One!! Thats too hard… maybe a collection of short stories by Alice Munro. I just finished Autumn by Ali Smith, and wanted to start it again straight away.

-City or country?

RB-City!

-Any current exhibitions you would recommend?

RB-I can’t wait to see the Rauschenberg show at Tate Modern

-Tell us a bit about the 'Wall Art' series, 

RB-I basically spent a week at The Curwen experimenting with ways of mark making within lithography, and we made the three editions in the process. I didn't want to be too precious about what I made in the week, as I really wanted to test the process, so I set myself this grid of frames to work in, and then just starting playing with abstract shapes and textures within them. It was SO much fun for me to work with Curwen, as I was completely new to the process. I really want to keep working with lithography in the future.

-How would you like people to see your work in the future?

RB-I suppose my main goal is that it makes people happy!

-Thanks Rose!

Wall Art I, II and III

Hand-finished lithograph with silkscreen

Edition size: 50

Paper size: 55 x 63 cm

BUY HERE