Issue 333 - Interview with Zoe Steele

September 2nd 2015

Zoe Steele is a local artist in Leeds, who is currently studying A2 Fine Art. Steele works in large scale working on self-portraits and family portraits, working fluently in acrylic paint.

Zoe Steele's full interview from issue 333>>>

-When did you first discover your love for art?

I first discovered my love for art when I was six or seven after winning a drawing competition at school, which was the first thing that I accomplished something. So it grew from there really.

-What materials do you tend to work in?

I find oil and acrylic easier to work with as I have always enjoyed this medium, however recently I have been incorporating ink and charcoal within my more recent work.

-What is your main theme?

I think that my work in general relates to 'Flesh', reflecting to society's views of a 'perfect' body. This has grown on me through looking at Jenny Saville, Lucian Freud and Elly Smallwood, as they all use an open approach to painting, and all use expressive brush marks to convey the skin of their subject.

-What are your inspirations?

My main inspirations have changed a lot throughout my theme from looking at Lucian Freud and Jenny Saville, to recently more contemporary artists. A painting 'Rosetta 2' by Saville inspired this painting of my Father, however I adapted the colour palette of her work to suit my subject. I love how Saville explores a similar theme to mine of insecurities and societies views on body issues, therefore I found her work easy to connect and relate too.

-Where are you hoping to be in the future?

In the future I am hoping to study Art at UAL Wimbledon and gain a further understanding of the different directions art can take me in. In terms of knowing I want to do in the future, I'm still unsure. However, I hope to pursue a career in the art industry as I will be doing something I enjoy and love.'

-What brand of media do you tend to work in, both paint and paintbrushes?

I tend to use a mixture of paint from Reeves paint as it is the best cheap brand to buy if you are a student like me, who can't afford to spend a lot of money on things. With paintbrushes I tend to stick with Windsor & Newton, again with the same reasons. There is a lot of different brands out there which have a good quality it just depends how much you want to spend.

-What are you wanting to work on next?

Going on from the family portraits I want to explore with self-portraits, but have the same style of the thick acrylic paint and the unusual skin tone colours. I have been recently researching Duarte Vitoria who works like this creating unusual perspectives that you would not usually see in an image.