If
you’re an emerging or even an established creative you’ll know that finding
work and having your work noticed in the creative industry is not a walk in the
park. There are obstacles – lack of
finances, people saying those dreaded words that imply that your work just
isn’t suitable, times when plans end up falling through and times when your
confidence is just in that dark zone.
Sydney
based creative, Lauren Webster is all too familiar with these obstacles but
she’s not willing to let that stop her and her artistic soul. Miss Webster is a jack of all trades working
under the creative umbrella, Lauren and the Lost Boys. With experience in interior styling, fashion styling, design and the fine arts, she has a plethora of outlets and has
essentially created a series of opportunities where her creative skills and
passions can thrive. She knows that work
isn’t going to come her way on its own so this little lady makes.shit.happen!
When
she isn’t assisting fashion stylists or working on her own styling projects
Lauren is in her Surry Hills studio painting beautifully feminine Egon Schiele inspired
figures that ache to tell us their story and images that resemble great vintage
t-shirt graphics.
At
the moment she’s working on a body of work with the vision of an exhibition and
being the winner she is, she took a bit of time out of her schedule
to invite me into her studio space, where the magic happens and to answer a few questions about her journey and her passion.
I must say,
you are a lady of many talents! You have experience in interior styling,
fashion styling, design and the fine arts. Can you elaborate on these
experiences?
Well first and foremost I am an artist. My other creative
outlets have been extensions of this in one way or another and a way to apply
myself to some of my other loves. For instance I got into styling because I was
interested in interiors and creating interactions between art and the rest of a
space. My first gig was a short stint assisting Sibella Court, who’s work is an
art form in itself so how could I not have been inspired! As fate had it I
ended up working a lot more in fashion styling which suits me as I have always
loved fashion and it just so happens to be something that has been informing my
painting a lot lately. It’s all visual language and I try to let one feed from
another as much as possible.
Which of your
creative outlets resonates with you the most? This is without a doubt
my art making. I love styling and get a real rush when I have a vision and
things come together but it’s my art and everything that it encompasses which
really takes me to that other place. My life is very much wrapped up in my art
and vice vera so it’s impossible for it not to resonate.
Tell us about
how and when you’re creative career began. Most of the decisions I
have made from high school onwards have set me on this path so I guess it may
have started as a kid... Aside from immersing myself in creativity as pure
indulgence I was selected for the National Art School HSC Intensive Studio
Practice Course, so that’s were I spent some of my last school holidays. Nerdy
much? And then without a second thought I packed my bags for art school and
studied at COFA graduating in 2008. I took a year off from my practice to
undertake a traineeship at the MCA in 2009 but was back to it and had my first solo
exhibition in 2010. I haven’t stopped since!
The creative
industry is known for not being overly lucrative, especially when you are still
trying to emerge and get your skills noticed. Has this ever had an impact on
your choice to work within the industry?
Do you ever question your decisions? I have always
been well aware of the nature of this industry, I knew it was going to be tough
but somehow, and perhaps a little blindly, I have never let this bother me. I
have always just done my best to tackle that challenge head on. I am seeing
more and more that for me the best way to approach things is to be willing to
adapt to the creative environment, to what opportunities are available and also
to create my own. Yes it can be hard at times but it can also be very
rewarding, so no, I don’t question my decisions. If I get hungry I just
convince myself that it’s totally rock and roll...
It’s not easy
to always be “in the zone.” What keeps you motivated and inspired?
Often it’s
the act of working itself that really gets the ball rolling. If I’m not doing
enough work I can definitely get out of the zone a little, so I’m slightly
addicted to it. On the flip side though it’s really important for me to step
out of the studio, hit the road, travel and shake up my headspace. There are so
many things which can influence me from day to day, but art itself, reading,
music and the poetry of lyrics are ever important to my ‘zone’.
Your
paintings and drawings are deeply figurative and feminine. Tell us about the
subjects you depict. Where does the inspiration for your pieces come from?
I am so often
drawn to the human figure. I think it’s that whole thing of a biological desire
to observe the body and it’s beauty. It doesn’t get old, not for me anyway. To
some extent it’s just innate. Sometimes the figures are self portraits or
portraits of people I know, other times they are just characters upon whom I
can apply my stories and ideas.
I am working with a couple of themes at the
moment, one of which is inspired directly by vintage T-shirts and Americana
which I hunt down in vintage clothing stores on my travels. Oh and my own
wardrobe harbors a modest collection which is all included too!
What is a
typical day for you? Whether it be a day of styling or a day of art making.
I am working
predominantly on my art at the moment with intermittent styling gigs which pop
up along the way. So on a typical day I get myself to the studio, completely
lose myself in there and before you know it it’s dark outside. These days are
bliss, exhausting but bliss. Other days I might flutter in and out a bit, do
some painting, sit in the park and read, head out for lunch, check out some art
and the day might just pass without a whole lot productivity. These days are
also really important though. It might not be as measurable but I usually
achieve a lot as far as where my heads at when I step back like this and I can
feel it when I am working again the next day.
Are you
always working towards a particular purpose or project? I do like to work this way. Goals and deadlines put a fire
underneath us all I think. If at any one time there isn’t a particular project
that I am directing my work towards then the purpose is simply the generation
of new ideas, new methods and new and better work. That way, when the time is
right I am ready to pounce! Earlier in the year I had a little down time which
was the perfect opportunity to do just this. I set off down the coast on a solo
adventure to find what it was I would work on for the next few months. This was
as worthy a project as any without being what you might typically think of as a
work trip. Lucky me I guess...
You are
currently working on a beautiful collection of paintings. What’s on your mind
when producing a body of work? What is your approach? I try to
immerse myself in the themes and way of thinking of what I am working on as
much as possible. My approach definitely doesn’t begin and end in the studio. I
read up, watch films, peruse vintage stores and fashion references and listen
to music which feels right and relates to the work. I really try to live it
every day. This results in me being a little detached from reality at times,
but I think I’m more than ok with this.
What advice
would you give to any creative trying to emerge and get their work noticed?
For starters,
just work! Try to be as prolific as you can afford to be without going mad.
Actually, scrap that, go mad if need be! Then don’t be afraid to seek out what
you want and start asking for it. You will face many a closed a door so just
keep knocking until one opens. Any rejections along the way are good for you,
you wouldn’t benefit from being told that you’re killing it if your not so know
this and use it.
And lastly,
what does the future hold for Lauren and the Lost Boys? I have given
up searching for the answer to this one myself as I think it might require a
crystal ball... Following my most recent solo show SALTY. SAILOR. LOVER. late
last year, I have been working as a permanent resident artist with Metalab, an
amazing group of creatives. I know that these guys have some exciting projects
in store, some of which might call out for a little Lost Boys touch so I’m
looking forward to continuing our work (and play) together.
I’m really just riding the wave of my work at the moment and
will have to wait and see where it lands me, so watch this space!
Like
most creatives doin’ it fo’ themselves nowadays, Lauren knows that social media
plays a huge role in her exposure as an artist and a stylist. That’s why you can find her on Instagram as
@laurenlostboys, on Facebook as Lauren & The Lost Boys and you can peruse
her work and inspiration by checking out her blog.
Photo credits go to Lauren and myself :)
