Interview with Faye Rita Robinson

What inspires you to create art?
I spend a lot of my time reading fairy tales and folklore and draw a lot of inspiration from the stories I read. Sometimes in a dream I will be painting, and I’ll wake up and make a rough drawing on the notes in my phone of what dream-me was painting to recreate it later. I try to surround myself with things that inspire me. I am a big fan of horror films and enjoy video games, so I find myself inspired to create when I’ve played a game like Blasphemous (developed by The Game Kitchen) or when I watch films like Dario Argento’s Suspiria or Robert Eggers‘ The Witch, I love the tension and symbolism in these works and that is something I try to create within my own work.

Why do we create art?
In my experience, I began my artistic practice as a form of art therapy. I created art to process experiences and emotions I hadn’t given the necessary time to, and it was really a process of healing, self-expression and exploration. I feel we can get to know ourselves better through creating something.

How would you describe your own personal style?
With dreams playing an important role in my life, I create images and situations that while are familiar, seem warped and disjointed from reality. The repeated figures in my work, whether it be people or animals, are often expressionless with unusual forms, placidly contorted by the environments they exist in.

Do you have favorite themes?
Myth, ritual, worship, deception, nature, rebirth, connection.

What are your favorite colours?
The paints I use most often at the minute are Cerulean Blue, Magenta and Sap Green but in combination with more neutral tones as they are quite intense! However, in a lot of my work over the past few years, I have used a lot of Ultramarine and rich reds, drawing inspiration from art of the Middle Ages which used these colours often with religious significance – symbolising the blood of Christ, the fires of hell and heavenly grace.

What are you working on at the moment?
I always like to work on multiple projects at once. I’m currently working on a series of oil paintings exploring ritual artefacts and a rug depicting ancient weapons. My next project will definitely involve some mystical beasts.

Faye Rita Robinson – www.fayeritarobinson.com