I was lucky enough to end up in an interview with the exceptional fantasy painter, Josephine Wall. Her passions for light, colour, and visual storytelling are brought to life in her beautifully vivid creations. Josephine offers insight into the reasons behind her artistic passions, and highlights various key points about her artistic process and experiences. She also hints at her exciting future artwork plans…
What does the world of fantasy and fantasy art mean to you?
The world of fantasy art enables me to paint the world as I would like it to be – a world where people can be uplifted, and enjoy all the beautiful things we can see around us, so that they can get away from all the doom & gloom. It gives me an excuse to paint all things weird & wonderful such as unicorns, dragons, mermaids, fairies and of course angels.
Describe a typical working day for you?
A typical working day is a day of creativity which is my obsession and passion. As well as painting on canvas I also enjoy painting clothes, boots, furniture, glass and needlework and model making to name but a few of my activities.
What does your artistic process involve; the stages of developing from your imagined ideas into a finished artwork?
I may well start with a simple sketch or straight away sketch with paint onto the canvas. I do not usually do a detailed sketch as my paintings generally change and evolve as they are created.
What was your defining moment of breaking into the industry?
The moment I remember most ( my first rung on the ladder ) happened one year when we went to the gallery hall of the N.E.C. in Birmingham ( Spring Fair ) where I showed an album of my work to a few art directors there. To my Joy and surprise two ( W & G and F J Warren ) were really interested – talking about contracts etc. Consequently I had to have 5″ x 4″ transparencies made to be used in the printing process. My other breakthrough was finding a good agent who were able to promote my work worldwide.
What makes a fantasy artists’ work stand out?
I have no idea – maybe people like a bit of escapism.!
How did you perfect your artistic skills to create your fantasy masterpieces, and are there any resources that particularly helped you to master techniques?
Although i have plenty of ideas in my head I need to have information to copy accurately so that whatever I’m painting rings true. eg: a picture of a wolf so that the anatomy and proportions are correct. If you look at my website under F.A.Q’s it describes techniques using the palette knife for different effect etc. Many of them learnt by “happy accidents”
What do you do to take a break? Any hobbies?
When I have the time I like to go on country walks as we are blessed with lovely surroundings being near the sea, the beautiful Purbeck hills and the New Forest. My husband and I like ballroom dancing. I also like to read fantasy books, and lives of other artists.
Any funny/memorable stories concerning previous clients/projects?
When I was younger I used to paint landscapes, seascapes and portraits. Once I painted a meandering river entitled “Where Are You Going”, it did not sell for a couple of years, so I brought it home and added a unicorn and a maiden whereupon it sold within a week..!! A sign I should steer towards ‘fantasy’.
Another interesting story concerns a 5 star B&B on the Isle of Wight called the Enchanted Manor. The owners had been looking for a theme that was fantasy, but not Disney. One day they found a card with my work on and decided that was what they had been looking for. As the cards were printed in the US and my agents are in the US they assumed I was an American artist. They wrote in my guestbook outlining their plans, and I was able to reply that I not only was I an English artist, but also lived nearby. We met up in couple of weeks, and now my paintings grace their walls. They have also become very good friends.
Are there any skills you wish you had that are not art related? Why?
I can’t drive or type, but I don’t care so long as I can paint.
If you had the opportunity, which world/scene in an artwork that you have created would you most like to live in/be a part of and why?
I would be amazed if my fantasy became reality. Maybe if I could step into one of my Victorian scenes it would be fascinating.!
You have said before that you do not struggle with artists’ block, that ideas just appear in your head, how accurate are your finished art pieces compared to these ideas in your head?
As my original ideas evolve and change I am often surprised by how they turn out, but the general “feeling” is usually portrayed.
Are you currently working on anything? Can you give a sneak peak/insight?
My next painting will be of the Eiffel Tower on one side ( I love Paris ) and lady with flowing hair – hat blowing of – riding a bicycle in the sky…!!
I can’t decide whether it will be a night scene with lights and a big moon or daytime with blossom blowing about..!!
To view Josephine’s stunning works please visit:
facebook.com/TheOfficialJosephineWall
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