June 2015 Artist Interview: Judy Stokes
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes mostly from nature. I find our world a beautiful place and whenever a bit of its beauty catches my eye I feel like it is a present given to me to capture through my lens.
* Who is your favourite artist?
I have many favourite artists and they change regularly. Jackie Rankin is one of my favourite New Zealand photographers as is Constance Fein and Kaye Davis.
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
At the moment I am drawn to the Colour Field movement & am hoping to get more and more abstract with my photography.
* Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a camera?
My husband gave me a camera just as my children were reaching the ages of 16 and 17 and he could see a big hole coming in my life..... It certainly filled the gap and now I live for my photography. I joined a camera club and saw a “blurry” picture by Dianne Costello....and I knew that was where I wanted to start...I wanted my photographs to not look like photographs. I have found that doing a lot of photography has taught me to slow down. I can feel when I am getting in the “zone” and starting to take good work. My art is teaching me a lot about myself and about the world. I have learnt to sometimes just let the art do itself and get myself out of the way!
What do you aim to do within your photographs? Are you a “straight” photographer or do you use Photoshop with your work?
I tend to let my photographs sort themselves out. Sometimes I do very little to them and sometimes I use Photoshop and do a lot to them. I feel the ability to post process them is like a second present given to me. For me Photoshop is merely a set of tools a bit like brushes to a painter. It only helps you as much as you know how to use it.
*Are there any exhibition/art event you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
I was recently in Wellington and went to see the art gallery on the 5th floor of Te Papa ...I absolutely LOVED Gretchen Albrecht’s “In a shower of Gold”. Being interested in Abstract and Colour field areas at the moment it just spoke to me... I loved the way it was exhibited so you could see it from far and see the reflection in the floor.
*In your opinion, what makes good art?
Good art for me is when someone has let a bit of their soul out into their work...and the execution of it doesn’t interrupt that process.
* Do you have a website? Judystokesphotography.com
*What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
The friendliness and approachability of the staff. The regularity of changes in exhibitions.
*What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
It would be lovely to somehow use the outside area on the non-road side of the building...maybe a little cafe like at the Orewa Estuary centre?
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes mostly from nature. I find our world a beautiful place and whenever a bit of its beauty catches my eye I feel like it is a present given to me to capture through my lens.
* Who is your favourite artist?
I have many favourite artists and they change regularly. Jackie Rankin is one of my favourite New Zealand photographers as is Constance Fein and Kaye Davis.
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
At the moment I am drawn to the Colour Field movement & am hoping to get more and more abstract with my photography.
* Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a camera?
My husband gave me a camera just as my children were reaching the ages of 16 and 17 and he could see a big hole coming in my life..... It certainly filled the gap and now I live for my photography. I joined a camera club and saw a “blurry” picture by Dianne Costello....and I knew that was where I wanted to start...I wanted my photographs to not look like photographs. I have found that doing a lot of photography has taught me to slow down. I can feel when I am getting in the “zone” and starting to take good work. My art is teaching me a lot about myself and about the world. I have learnt to sometimes just let the art do itself and get myself out of the way!
What do you aim to do within your photographs? Are you a “straight” photographer or do you use Photoshop with your work?
I tend to let my photographs sort themselves out. Sometimes I do very little to them and sometimes I use Photoshop and do a lot to them. I feel the ability to post process them is like a second present given to me. For me Photoshop is merely a set of tools a bit like brushes to a painter. It only helps you as much as you know how to use it.
*Are there any exhibition/art event you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
I was recently in Wellington and went to see the art gallery on the 5th floor of Te Papa ...I absolutely LOVED Gretchen Albrecht’s “In a shower of Gold”. Being interested in Abstract and Colour field areas at the moment it just spoke to me... I loved the way it was exhibited so you could see it from far and see the reflection in the floor.
*In your opinion, what makes good art?
Good art for me is when someone has let a bit of their soul out into their work...and the execution of it doesn’t interrupt that process.
* Do you have a website? Judystokesphotography.com
*What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
The friendliness and approachability of the staff. The regularity of changes in exhibitions.
*What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
It would be lovely to somehow use the outside area on the non-road side of the building...maybe a little cafe like at the Orewa Estuary centre?
