Anna Woodward
@ANNA_s_WOODWARD
Anna is a curator at @artisanspacesw15 as well as co-running @the_artists_contemporary and has her BA in Fine Art from @cglartschool lartschool
Woodward is, of course, a fabulous artist, who describes her work as “Layered, colourful and detailed.” Her gloriously towering works are mindboggling in their complexity and layered approach. The rich vibrancy of the colours, boldness and scale of works might lend themselves to being inspired by manmade features, however the dynamic style, floral references and gentle lines make the works seem natural, consisting of flora and play.
In our interview we discuss the importance of Harry Potter and Stephen Fry’s dulcet tones for working (something we agree on hugely!), the artwork of Flora Yuknovich, Georgia O’Keefe, and Woodward’s dream artwork!
-
INTERIVIEW
Tell me, what is your artist story? Was it an inevitable thing written in the stars or did you have a Eureka moment you knew this was the career for you?
Art has always been a big part of my life, I can always remember sitting down and painting and drawing with my sisters, and art would always be spoken about. When I was studying the IB I then realised that all I wanted to do was make art and that’s when I decide to take a gap year and then apply for City and Guilds.
Who or what are your influences? How do you see these coming out in your work?
I am really inspired by Flora Yuknovich’s work, I think as soon as I arrived at City and Guilds and saw her paintings I feel in love with them. I am also really inspired and fascinated with botanical studies and love visiting Kew Gardens. Within my work I try to bring the loose, bold and dynamic style of Flora’s work alongside the minute details found in floral studies, whilst recreate and transcribing classical mythological paintings.
What would you say are the main themes/ narrative running through your work?
This year I have been looking the play Antigone by Sophocles. At the beginning of my project I tried to find as many classical painting representations of the play and then I work from these paintings to create my own work.
I am really interested in the beauty of these paintings and the dark tales that they often depict, and this battle between aesthetic beauty against the dark truth of human behaviours. -
-
What are you working on at the moment, and what would be your dream project?
I have just completed my degree series which I have been working on in lockdown. I have really enjoyed making it, however my dream series at the moment is just being able to make work in a large studio where I can work to any scale and have space to stand back. Lockdown had really shown my the importance of having a studio and the space to look at your work.
How would you describe your work in 3 words?
Layered, colourful and detailed.
What are your artist essentials?
When I paint I listen to the Harry Potter audiobooks on repeat.
I’ve never related with an answer so much in my life! Harry Potter forever! Anna, who is your favourite Historical female artist?
Georgia O’keefe
Favourite practising female artist?
Flora Yuknovich
Who should She Curates interview next?
Amelie Peace, Rose Shuckburgh, Kat Pethers and Polina Pak my studio pals ❤️
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Whaaaaa I’m not sure, on my gap year I worked on a super yacht which was a crazy, exhausting and bind blowing all at the same time.
If you could own one piece of artwork in the world, what would it be?
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch, I am obsessed with it.
