Artists talks.

artists/photographers.

Brain griffin – Brain griffin studied engineering and was good at maths, he went to college at the age of 22 while he was at college well known photographers Martin Parr and Daniel Meadows were in his class and studied alongside him. Brain prefers the more technical side of photography and he loves it. Brain became a professional photographer in 72.In 79 he was doing album covers and then was getting more jobs threw doing that. In the 80’s he was shooting all the stars, and he shoot more commercial things like album covers for Iggy pop and Depeche mode and many more. Brain was very passionate about music and that it was very important to him, I can relate to that because I think the same thing about music and how it’s important to me He put across that you should work hard now and stick to your guns (ideas), also think before you shoot anything. In 86 he invented four or five light machines. Brain made a book called ‘’ the water people’’. One of his other messages were don’t be influenced by any other photographer only by yourself, which I think it’s not a bad thing to be inspired by people and their work just as long as your ideas and concepts are original and different then who you get inspired by and that you’re not copying them then it’s alright I believe. Brain also said that if someone gives you a break then it keeps on coming, it’s just getting your first break. He has worked with some famous people like Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. Also he has other ways of income like he has done TV commercials and now has t-shirts. He had an exhibition called ‘’The Black kingdom’’ – (The Black Country) which it involved it about his mother but His idea was to recreate people that were no long alive with actors and himself as the dad, also it went to china. He goes to galleries and gets inspiration from paintings; also he said that he could go to a painting and know how to light it. Also he has been working on photographs of the on the road the London Olympics. He said that its more interesting now that is digital photography, photographers have to find new ways of thinking to survive in the industry. Brain love’s Photoshop but not using it, another thing that he said was to find inspiration all the time for your jobs.

Hannah Stoneum – Hannah Stoneum is an artist and has her own art boutique in trentham gardens called ‘’ yellow stone ‘’.She studied a Newcastle college doing an art foundation and she went to university to do fine art, painting and drawing. Also she described how writing about her work helps and how it has become a lot more in her work. When she was on about screen printing and how she has a love for doing it, and that she is Addicted to it now. How she came up with ideas for her own work like with thoughts, different places, memories, songs, maps, films, music , dairy’s , mindmaps and recreate a picture and also she is inspired by interior design. Hannah works with new graduates who are trained in their craft at high quality; also they sell their things online now and are taking more staff on, so she can do more personal commissions. She was on about how you should get yourself out there by putting on shoots, art fairs, fund raisers, group shows, and that how you should go to galleries, private views and to join every mailing list. Also you should use the excuse of getting there as we are in the middle of the country and it’s not that hard to get to places. When you’re at the galleries she said how you should dress smart and introduce yourself to the artist and the gallery staff and the creator. Also how when you put on your own exhibition think about the viewer! And try to make your exhibition different and stand out.

Abigail Drumm- Abigail drum is an artist and designer. She comes from Stoke-on-Trent and did an FMP –foundation course. The thing she made was jewellery, she liked to make something ugly beautiful. She studied at Loughborough University where Jo pond inspired her in her own work, Jo pond said look up! For inspiration. Abigail is inspired by medical equipment and how she likes to go to galleries, science museums just to sit and draw, also loves to experiment. Another thing she is inspired by is the Victorian style.

Polly shave – Polly shave is an artist in residence, and she’s into wet and cameraless photography and editing and also does photogram’s. She does a lot of voluntary work and does photography workshops for people and earns more money from doing them the money adds up over time. She puts on exhibitions for her work to see by many different people.

Robert Hunter - He is an illustrator and that he wanted to write children’s books. Robert works with screen prints and has also worked on animations, also has been commissioned to make comics and make an album ep for The Maccabees which did very well and sold out quite quickly which followed the story in his music and also has done t-shirts for Amazon and put his own design on them, and he continued to do designs for cd’s as well. From his early work, he style has changed threw out the years till this day, he used to work at home on his own but hated it because he would work there all day and threw out the night sometimes. He now works in an studio with many other artists/photographers and he much prefers it because you get to see what others are doing and get inspired and it’s so  much better  he said because you could need them in your own work in a possible future commission and it’s also handy to know you have some working right next to you.

Susan Cross – Susan cross studied at university for four years studying jewellery design and she also got an apprenticeship with Maria Adams. Then she did some teaching, and then went on exchange trips while teaching and she has held lots of exhibitions. She links a lot of her work that she has done now into to what she did do at college and university. She likes to go to museums and draws a lot of object and places and designs for her inspiration for her work. Susan has also done some commission work for the gold council.