Paint fiction

Olivia Sewell

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
Large oil canvases, mostly. Portraits, a lot of doves, horses, and the odd martini.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on it?
That too much planning doesn’t pay off. I have sketchbooks stacked to the ceiling, full of ideas, but the second I stand in front of a canvas, all of that seems to dissolve. The sketches merge somewhere in my head and come out differently. I paint from instinct, and the planning becomes a very vague guide.

What words, ideas or emotions were running through your head?
Flying. Freedom. Playfulness. And then, more technically, layers and movement. Not just the subject, but the paint itself needs to feel almost as though it’s moving.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Manu Chao and Buena Vista Social Club recently.

What’s been the most difficult thing you’ve faced recently in your creative process?
Patience. Waiting for oil to dry when every instinct says, “Keep going.” And patience with myself on the days when the paint just won’t cooperate and nothing translates the way it’s supposed to.

What is your favorite coffee shop and why do you like going there?
My local farm shop, two minutes from home. There are goats and pigs to keep my three-year-old entertained. I drink my coffee black, but I’ve started ordering their cortados.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
Tarantino! Writing it, directing it. I’d call it Paint Fiction or Inglourious Pastels (ha!).

Which studios, laboratories, or workshops have you collaborated with recently or would you like to collaborate with in the future?
A few things are brewing that I can’t talk about yet: a brand in New York, and something rather beautiful landing in London next summer. Very hush-hush, I know. What I can talk about is a woven rug collaboration with Sparrow & Grass, and a trip to Paris with Le Pigalle. I’m also Maison Mirabeau’s current artist in residence, which has been a lot of fun. Looking ahead, it would be a dream to work with Chloé or Chanel, the classics. More hotels, and maybe some children’s clothing, could be fun.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I love Jack Penny. Speaking of movement in paintings…