Faye Bardo

In conversation with Humph Hack - Curator

I know that Faye has been painting for over 20 years. I asked her where her interest in art came from.

“It came from school. My confidence in my own ability grew from there. I was the first student in the class allowed to use oil paints; age 12. This felt like a real privilege. At home, growing up, I would constantly create and sketch family members”.

Why, after making art for many years – did you choose to study for a degree with the Open University?

“I will always paint and I felt the need to experiment and I wanted achieve a deeper level of understanding of the medium I use”.

Coming towards the end of her degree studies, Faye says, “I have learnt so much about other artists and explored new techniques - it’s the best thing I could have done to grow as an artist”.

Although the course is all online, She was able to communicate university forums. “Critiquing and complementing each other’s work is an important part of the course”.

Faye chooses oil-paints because she finds that she can express her love of vibrant hues best with oils.

“I have also recently experimented with neon colours, and the opaqueness of house-hold paint. All offer me versatility.” In addition, the contrast of surface and interaction has become increasingly important in her work.

As regards subject matter, Faye told me, “I am hugely influenced by my travels - constantly capturing landscapes, enjoying the push and pull of the terrain in mountainous views or experimenting with colour in vibrant skies”

She also paints from family moments captured on camera, creating more figurative pieces. Other experiments are with still life, “whether it be flowers or a bowl of lemons - adding character to the objects and their connection to the surroundings.”

Her method involves painting directly onto the canvas, “covering the whole surface very quickly before working through in a more detailed way”.

Through her studies and ongoing exploration of techniques, she feels she is finding her language in painting, - “especially through my choice of colour and the way I apply the paint”.

One of her inspirations has been the work of Berthe Morisot. “I think she’s an absolute legend and not celebrated enough!”