10 M<strong>in</strong>utes With… Molly Doodle Dandy ....................................... Local artist and illustrator Molly Beard (aka Molly Doodle Dandy) caught up with Charlotte Benton to discuss everyth<strong>in</strong>g from how her creative flare has been present s<strong>in</strong>ce childhood to her proudest and most challeng<strong>in</strong>g commission piece to date - an exquisite draw<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Lichfield</strong> Cathedral. When did you first realise that you had this extraord<strong>in</strong>ary talent? Art was def<strong>in</strong>itely my go-to subject at school, I took both art and textiles at A level and my teachers encouraged and guided my work. As a child I was constantly draw<strong>in</strong>g, my Mom remembers how I always had a pen or pencil <strong>in</strong> my hand and even took to draw<strong>in</strong>g on the walls with a felt tip pen! I specifically remember the wooden tra<strong>in</strong> set that I had, Brio, I coloured <strong>in</strong> the whole th<strong>in</strong>g. Art has always kept me enterta<strong>in</strong>ed for hours. Did you always want to be an artist? Whilst at school I had always wanted to go to university, I had planned to study animation, but as time went on I began receiv<strong>in</strong>g more and more commissions. By the age of 17 I already had a strong client base, I was able to cont<strong>in</strong>ue develop<strong>in</strong>g my own style and I started to get a taster of where this could go. I always knew whatever I ended up do<strong>in</strong>g it would be creative. I like to say this has been a happy accident! What does your typical work day look like? I am very fortunate that I have a wooden log cab<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the middle of a field that is my studio so thankfully lockdown hasn’t affected my daily rout<strong>in</strong>e very much. I get up before 7am everyday to look after my horse before head<strong>in</strong>g to the cab<strong>in</strong> and settl<strong>in</strong>g down at my desk. I make a todo list everyday and like to keep my work varied, often spend<strong>in</strong>g the morn<strong>in</strong>g work<strong>in</strong>g on commissions and the afternoon focus<strong>in</strong>g on creat<strong>in</strong>g new ideas. I th<strong>in</strong>k it can be unhealthy to only work on one th<strong>in</strong>g. I also have my little Jack Russell, Luna, to keep me company <strong>in</strong> the cab<strong>in</strong>, she likes to have my undivided attention, so she def<strong>in</strong>itely keeps me busy too. Every so often clients come to the cab<strong>in</strong> to pick up their commissions, of course this is socially distanced at the moment, but it is always so reward<strong>in</strong>g to see my customers. What are the ma<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluences that <strong>in</strong>spire your current work? At the moment it is the smallest of th<strong>in</strong>gs. Just yesterday I was <strong>in</strong>spired 30 on my commute to the studio when I spotted a lady walk<strong>in</strong>g her dog, she was frantically wav<strong>in</strong>g at a fellow dog walker on the opposite side of the road. It appeared that they knew one another, both wav<strong>in</strong>g excitedly, but neither of them crossed the road. This small encounter has given me lots of <strong>in</strong>spiration for a whole new range. I often draw <strong>in</strong>spiration from the smallest th<strong>in</strong>gs that are part of everyday <strong>in</strong>teractions. I am also <strong>in</strong>spired by architecture, particularly build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>. I like to take my time to stop and take <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>tricate details of each build<strong>in</strong>g, we so often overlook them. For me the older the build<strong>in</strong>g the better. I love the uniformity of small, quirky cottages, they are my favourite. Do you collect any specific artwork for your own home? I have several illustrators whose work <strong>in</strong>spires me. I love the work of Jade Fisher, I love her use of bold colours and how her work is so <strong>in</strong>stantly recognisable. I also like Kareena Zerefos’ work and her use of delicate watercolours. From a young age I have been <strong>in</strong>spired by the work of L.S. Lowry. I remember a particular pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g of his that caught my attention as a child <strong>in</strong> my Grandma’s house, s<strong>in</strong>ce then I have been both <strong>in</strong>spired and <strong>in</strong>trigued by his work. I don't tend to draw <strong>in</strong>spiration from one certa<strong>in</strong> style, the artwork that I like is very varied. Do you have a favourite piece that you have created or a piece that you are most proud of? My most reward<strong>in</strong>g piece has to be the Cathedral. It was my most challeng<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>tricate piece to date. I was commissioned by a family <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong> to create the piece and I am so grateful to them. It def<strong>in</strong>itely pushed me out of my comfort zone. As an artist you have the option to choose how much detail you want to <strong>in</strong>clude, when draw<strong>in</strong>g the first spire I chose to capture the most <strong>in</strong>tricate of details that the build<strong>in</strong>g has to offer, I knew there and then that there was no go<strong>in</strong>g back! F<strong>in</strong>d more of Molly’s fantastic work at www.mollydoodledandy.co.uk or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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