insideKENT Magazine Issue 92 - November 2019 | Page 37

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE:
LUCY BRISLEY
BRINGING MEMORIES TO LIFE, WITH THOUGHTFUL PENCIL STROKES THAT ENCOMPASS
THE TRUE EMOTION BEHIND OUR SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE, LUCY BRISLEY DELIVERS STRIKING
PORTRAITS AND LANDSCAPES WITH A UNIQUELY PERSONAL TOUCH.
If you had to define your art, how would you describe what you do?
I hope that my art captures a moment. Essentially, I transform photographs into
pencil drawings but I never want my drawings to look like photos. I’m always
searching for the emotion behind the camera and I strive to demonstrate this in
my work. There is such feeling and sentiment in the images that I am sent by
customers, and my goal in every commission is to amplify this. It’s such a privilege
to be allowed to view an intimate moment and I am so lucky that I get to know
my customers throughout the drawing process.
How did you become an artist?
I have always loved drawing; one of my earliest memories is sitting at my mum’s
kitchen table copying the covers of Disney videotapes. I started Art GCSE at
school but didn’t progress very far as I loved pencil drawing but wasn’t keen on
using any other mediums! I abandoned art at this point and went on to study
English at University and became an English teacher. However, I was suddenly
struck by a serious illness and was forced to leave work as I was constantly in
hospital. My confidence was at rock bottom and I didn’t know how I was going
to pick myself back up. It was at this point, thoroughly bored with daytime TV,
that I picked up my pencils again and began to sketch. I put a picture up on
Facebook of one of my sketches and a friend of mine in Finland commented on
how good it was and asked me to do a drawing for her. The rest, as they say, is
history! Art has been the best source of therapy for me in my darkest times and
helped me get my confidence back. I am fortunate to make money from my
drawings, and I am so grateful to my friends and family for their support and
encouragement.
What is the most evocative, unusual, daring, or interesting commission
you’ve ever received?
The thing that I love most about my work is the stories that are behind the
photographs that I am sent. It’s hard to pick my favourite as they are all so
unique, especially the drawings that are combined from several photographs.
However, I was recently commissioned to draw a couple and their newborn
twins as a wedding present for his wife. It was a beautiful image and I absolutely
loved drawing it. What made it so special was the story that was behind the
drawing. The twins were born very early at 29 weeks, and, thanks to their love
and the support of the NICU team at the William Harvey Hospital, the girls are
now 9 months and very healthy. The customer says “I commissioned Lucy to
draw a picture of my family as a present for my new wife Stacey on our wedding
day. She loves the moment it captures and it now sits framed in our hallway for
everyone to admire”. What more could an artist want?!
Do you prefer landscapes or
portraits?
That’s a tough one to answer! I enjoy
drawing landscapes as the beauty of
nature never fails to amaze me. I
especially relish capturing the light as
it hits water. However, I think I would
have to say that I prefer drawing
portraits because I love the individual
stories behind the commissions.
Sometimes it’s a lovely story as in the
drawing of the newlyweds, sometimes
it’s a tragic story as it’s a drawing
of someone that is no longer with us.
I particularly enjoy combining several
different photographs together,
especially when one of the
photographs is of someone that has
passed away. The final drawing is then
a totally unique family portrait that is
so special to the customer. I’m working
on one at the moment with a
grandfather and his grandchildren,
and although he sadly never met
his grandchildren, the portrait of
them together will hopefully create
a vision of family that will be very
dear to them.
What is it about pencil drawings
that creates great art?
For me, I think it’s the pencil’s ability
to capture light and tones. It still
amazing to me that a black and white
drawing can have so many tones and
shades to create softness and depth. I
have always loved black and white
images; I think they have a
commemorative and nostalgic aspect
and it is this that I am always trying
to capture in my art. When I put down
my first layer of pencil it looks flat and
two dimensional, but, as I continue to
layer, I can begin to see the depth
coming out of the drawing. This is the
most exciting stage of the creative
process. I always send pictures of each
stage to the customer because they
enjoy seeing the journey too.
Do you have any artistic heroes?
Recently, I went to an art exhibition
at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden
that featured two of Alan Hunt’s
paintings of lions. His skill at applying
paint to create light and texture is just
breathtaking. The other artist that I
follow regularly on social media is
Becky Gouverneur (Bex Arts), an artist
specialising in charcoal and graphite.
Her ability to create the softness and
movement of fur in animals is truly
inspirational. Both artists have the
ability to create lifelike work whilst
still retaining their ‘artiness’ which is
what I strive to emulate.
Where can w e see your work?
I have had several exhibitions around
Kent recently but most of my work is
on social media ‘Brushstrokes-Kent
based portrait artist’ or on my website
www.brushstrokes-artist.co.uk.
I have a couple of exciting prospects
of upcoming exhibitions but you’ll
have to keep an eye on my page for
more information!
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