DOWNTIME w/ Eve Bridges

1) LOCATION?

The glorious Peak District in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧

2) YEARS COLLAGING?

I started collaging in the 2nd year of my BA, so 7 years!

3) WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND DISLIKE ABOUT COLLAGE??

I absolutely love how diverse collage is. There are so many approaches and styles. I find it a very freeing medium to work with. I’m not sure there is anything I dislike about collage!

4) BIGGEST INFLUENCES?

I am inspired by the works of French sculptor and photographer, Christian Boltanski. The overall aim of his works is very similar to my own – commemoration and remembrance. I have had the privilege to see a number of his works in the flesh and they are truly very moving. I also get a huge amount of inspiration and support from the collaging community on Instagram. To mention a few: Polaroids Collage Club, Fragmented Collective, The International Collage Guild and The Contemporary Collage Magazine.

5) ANALOG VS DIGITAL, PROS & CONS?

I use a mixture of both, but would say I predominantly work digitally. Found photography is the starting point of all my collage work, but I never work onto an original photo. I scan and work digitally or make a physical copy of the photo. They are far too precious to cut up and collage with! I like to assemble my works digitally too so I can try lots of different compositions. My works tend to be very simple, but they don’t always start out that way. I put everything on and then slowly take things away until I’m happy.

6) HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR DOWNTIME?

I love to read and walk in the hills of my home. Both are peaceful and meditative.

7) THREE TIPS FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN COLLAGE?

My first tip would be to not label yourself. Be whatever artist you want to be. Don’t confine yourself to a single strand of being creative. Being free is what allows you be truly artistic. My second tip is to create work that makes you happy. Don’t make work because you think other people will think it has merit. Make it because you love it. And my final tip is if you’re having a bad day in the studio or are experiencing a creative block, just stop. Go for a walk, clear your head or go and do something completely different. It will be more productive than ploughing on.

8) WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR ART PRACTICE IN 5-10 YEARS’ TIME?

I always find these types of questions challenging. It’s so hard to know and changes often. As long as I’m still collaging and I’m happy, I will be content with wherever my practice takes me. :)

9) UP AND COMING SHOWS OR PROJECTS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

This year, I was thrilled to become a fully-fledged member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. I am on the exhibition committee for the next MAFA exhibition which is in conjunction with the Manchester School of Art of which I am an alumni. I am looking forward to helping organise the exhibition and exhibit with the Academy again next year.

See more 👀
Gram: @eveillustrations
Web: eveillustration.co.uk