Behind the Easel With Jo Duerden

A CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST, JO DUERDEN

If you're looking for art to make you smile; to wrap you up and give you a hug, then you'll love Jo's work. There is an energy about her work which is infectious. Jo's enthusiasm for her work, and her love of colour is evident the first time you set eyes on her paintings. Jo's use of colour is bold, yet there is a lightness in her work. Layers of bright, light colours create a feast for the eyes.Jo is also an award-winning local interior designer and in our conversations she talks about how these elements of her creativity overlap. She has a skill of creating interiors and artwork which knit together perfectly. Art is certainly not an afterthought in Jo's schemes! You can see more of Jo's artwork in her interior projects over on her design instagram page @designbyjobee.

And to find out more about Jo as an artist, keep reading...

1/ PLEASE CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK FOR US?

Fun! I just enjoy having fun with my painting. I love abstract work, lots of colour (although I don't like harsh colours; I'm quite picky - soft brights are my thing) and I love floral art and come still life. I use a range of materials including acrylic, paste, crayon, house paint, chalk paint, water colour as well as collage. I love texture so like things to feel very tactile; like you want to touch them (but can't!).

2/ CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN ARTIST?

I am a creative obsessive. I studied fashion at the London College of Fashion and Interior Architecture in Newcastle and have always loved art. I was surrounded by art growing up; my mother is an artist and lots of people in my family are art lovers and collectors so I have always dabbled in painting/creating. I enjoy it so much! A good friend of mine has a lovely cafe in Burley-in-Wharfedale and we decided it was the perfect collaboration to hang some of my pieces there. I have since been asked to hang pieces in lots of places and am excited to be currently working on several projects. I have my own interior design company and creating art ties in perfectly with this process as I am often asked to curate and create pieces by my clients.

3/ WE'D LOVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?

Everywhere, but one of my main sources of inspiration is from flowers and texture in nature, as well as textiles and fabrics that I work with everyday. My mind is a constant buzz of ideas!

4/ WHICH ARTISTS ARE YOU MOST INSPIRED AND/OR INFLUENCED BY?

So many! Heather Chontos is one of my favourite artists. I discovered her whilst on a design trip in London. I love her bold use of colour and shape.

5/ CAN YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR US?

My days are pretty crazy as I have two small children! So I balance my time between them and working in my new studio in Ilkley; both with my design business and my painting. Being creative is what makes me feel alive and keeps me going! So, even though I'm quite often exhausted from running around after two small humans, I wouldn't change it for the world. I feel so lucky to have a passion, and even luckier that it is my career.

6/ DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM CREATIVE BLOCK? IF SO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?

No! But sometimes I wish I did! I am the opposite, and don't have enough minutes in the day to complete all of the creative missions whirring around in my head!

7/ IS THERE A PIECE YOU'VE CREATED THAT YOU'RE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF?

I had a piece framed for my own lounge and I was a little unsure if I was happy with it. However, once it returned from the framers I knew it was the one! I also love a recent floral I completed as it feels really energetic and perfectly captures my mood at the time.

8/ IF YOU COULD CREATE A PIECE FOR ONE PERSON WHO WOULD IT BE?

I would have loved to have created something for the Queen. It would have been a floral piece; what an honour that would have been.

9/ DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR PEOPLE CHOOSING ARTWORK FOR THEIR HOME?

Ask an expert! Art is so personal but it important that it suits both your personality and your home. Framing is also incredibly important - a bad frame can ruin a piece, but a good frame can make it. I love to experiment with my framing and am working on some exciting things at the moment.10/ WHERE CAN WE SEE, OR BUY, YOUR WORK?I currently have work on display in Arlo cafe in Burley-in-Wharfedale as well as Luxe Beauty salon in Ilkley. You can see more on my website www.joduerdenart.co.uk as well as keeping up-to-date with me on Instagram @jo_duerden_art