Studio Visit: Freda Davies
We caught up with Queensland born, Melbourne based artist Freda Davies in her new studio/apartment where she takes us through the process of her work, why she paints what she paints, one singular Simpson meme, being infatuated with a colour, shape or pattern, destroying work, and more. Photo's by Wilhelm Philipp.
1) Freda, hello, how art thou? Please, introduce yourself to those not familiar.
2) Can you give us an insight into your work and the methods you use?
3) You grew up in Queensland then made the move to Melbourne. Have you found the city of Melbourne to be beneficial for you and your work?
4) The colours and gradients you produce in your work are probably the biggest eye-catchers for me - How do your surroundings (both physical and emotional) influence the colours and textures in your work?
5) You tend to work with patterns a lot, and in your more recent pieces you paint them in a fluid, flow-state-like manner - is there a reason why you've gravitated towards portraying them this way?
6) What role does intuition play in your creative process?
It's the entire process, so I'd say a lot! Intuition allows for unplanned, spontaneous possibilities. Most things we encounter in our lives are planned, especially in cities and online (the country is a little more loose). Intuition doesn't fight against life, but it playfully uses it to explore unexpected outcomes. If I ignore my intuition and 'think' too hard, I'll stifle the artwork.
7) Is there a message or theme in your art that you hope resonates with the viewer?
8) Have you ever destroyed or significantly altered a finished piece? If so, what led to that decision?
9) How do you think your work will evolve in the next decade? What new challenges or themes are you interested in exploring?
10) How can people obtain your work? Are prints and originals available?
1) Freda, hello, how art thou? Please, introduce yourself to those not familiar.
Hello! My name is Freda, I am an artist. I like colours, shapes and feelings. I particularly like painting artworks that play around with all three.
2) Can you give us an insight into your work and the methods you use?
Not really! haha I can barely understand it myself. My best attempt would be that I suddenly become infatuated with a colour, or a shape or a pattern. This often strikes me out of nowhere. Then I feel compelled to paint them into existence. I absolutely love colours and shapes and I love to let them lead the way in the studio. They are most often accompanied by a strong emotion - for instance, in my last series "Prospect Terrace" I had this really distinct feeling of optimism and prosperity so I tried to lean into those nice thoughts while I painted the shapes which I think comes through in the works.
3) You grew up in Queensland then made the move to Melbourne. Have you found the city of Melbourne to be beneficial for you and your work?
Yes, but only because I moved at just the right time in my life/career. Brisbane was a perfect coming-of-age city. I got to make creative mistakes, experiment, and pay staggeringly low rent. I lived most like a "real" artist there - blindly pouring time and money into my studio with zero distractions. Brisi is ultimately a very small city and I craved more for obvious reasons, both professionally and personally. Melbourne is my true home now. But I wouldn't trade my formative QLD years for anything else.
4) The colours and gradients you produce in your work are probably the biggest eye-catchers for me - How do your surroundings (both physical and emotional) influence the colours and textures in your work?
They hit me like an object falling from the sky! haha They spawn out of nowhere - strange! The seasons and the change in natural light do influence me (darker and moodier in winter). But outside of that, it's like a lightning bolt from above. Once the colours or shapes are in me, I am almost desperate to get them out! They do seem inextricably linked to my emotional landscape but I am not certain about how. I need to be in touch with some kind of vital life energy to properly connect with the movements and colours I am trying to achieve in the painting, but I can't quite put my finger on what that is - maybe I don't want to.
5) You tend to work with patterns a lot, and in your more recent pieces you paint them in a fluid, flow-state-like manner - is there a reason why you've gravitated towards portraying them this way?
It's so nice to hear them described that way because that is how they feel to paint them. I hope my paintings can offer a different experience of the world than what we become accustomed to in our day-to-day. We have so many distractions, entertainment and constant streams of information both big and small - especially in the social media/mobile phone age. When I do my paintings I am personally trying to get in touch with a different thing or feeling - one that our current world struggles to offer. I don't know exactly what it is, but it is calm, slow and thoughtful. You might experience a similar feeling seeing a perfect sunset, or walking through monumental architecture designed to impact your senses. Just a moment of reprieve that is both calming and surprisingly invigorating.
6) What role does intuition play in your creative process?
It's the entire process, so I'd say a lot! Intuition allows for unplanned, spontaneous possibilities. Most things we encounter in our lives are planned, especially in cities and online (the country is a little more loose). Intuition doesn't fight against life, but it playfully uses it to explore unexpected outcomes. If I ignore my intuition and 'think' too hard, I'll stifle the artwork.
7) Is there a message or theme in your art that you hope resonates with the viewer?
Hopefully it offers a moment of a different feeling to what they usually see and feel. Even if it's just a little moment.
8) Have you ever destroyed or significantly altered a finished piece? If so, what led to that decision?
I threw all these works out when I moved from Brisbane. At a certain point it just becomes a logistical storage issue. But I visited my mates back home only to find out they raided the bin after me and secretly have had them hanging in their house ever since. That was a nice thing. My ego can be pretty emotionally volatile and I entertain the idea of wrecking things all the time, but I never do.
9) How do you think your work will evolve in the next decade? What new challenges or themes are you interested in exploring?
The constant pursuit of a calm optimism is always running through my work, I don't think that will ever change. I primarily want to make something Beautiful - capital B Beautiful. There is enough pain in the world, I wouldn't want to add to it. I'd absolutely love to do a mural soon (HINT HINT to any readers with a massive blank wall!).
10) How can people obtain your work? Are prints and originals available?
Yes always! Instagram DM's are the best point of contact. Whatever you like on my feed, just ask and I can give you details. Don't be shy, I often have prints available and I try to to release at least one unique edition of an artwork per year through Instagram. Whether that be a custom print, tea towel, blanket or tapestry! So people don't have to be rich to have a nourishing artwork in their life.
Visit Freda
Freda's Instagram
Will's Instagram
Shop our Reversible Yellow / Cream Waffle Zip Up Hood
Visit Freda
Freda's Instagram
Will's Instagram
Shop our Reversible Yellow / Cream Waffle Zip Up Hood