COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT - Meet Artist Fiona Roderick
In this month’s community highlight we had a chat with Fiona, a dedicated Scout member and also printmaker! Her work is inspired by her love of nature and she shares with us some insights about her background and what brought her to printmaking. You can also find some of Fiona’s tea towels and 2024 calendars at GOODS!
Hi Fiona, can you share a little bit of your background and what brought you to your passion for printmaking?
I started my working life working as a Visual Merchandiser for Selfridges and John Lewis Department stores in London. When I moved to Sydney I became a Graphic Designer, and after a small course at Pine Street began printmaking. I stuck to mostly lino printing but for the past five years I have been creating collages with painted paper and cutting up my prints, while using block printing for extra texture.
Can you tell us more about your job/routine as an artist, what your style is, and what your typical weekday looks like?
I have a studio in Marrickville at Little Majestic in Sydney Street. After going to Scout Pilates which I love, and having a coffee at Rolling Penny, I often go home and prepare any wholesale orders or online enquiries and then walk to the studio. Throughout the year I create new bird artwork for the calendar for the following year. Other than that, I have been working on a children's book which I hope to finish early next year, and sometimes its just experimenting with some new materials or creating a new print. Some workshops would be good too.
What do you most love about printmaking?
I think I love the physicality of printmaking and is always full of surprises, which often makes really interesting textures to create my birds!
Where do you mainly get your inspiration from?
Many different places, sometimes its just living in our urban environment or I get inspiration from visiting florists, its always an element of surprise what I will find there. Sometimes I'll just buy some flowers and bring them to the studio to draw or press them, and then use the pressed leaves to print with. I do love Australian native flowers, after growing up in the U.K, I find them so graphic and interesting. I often find something on social media stimulating.
When I begin a new bird collage, I will look through my collection of collage paper and often google several images of the bird to get an idea of where they like to hang out and just begin. I keep all my printing paper in colour coordinated envelopes for easy access.
What past work are you most proud of and why?
I would say "Bloom" - all the flowers are made from hand cut paper!
What qualities are required for being a printmaker?
Haha, patience, and the willingness to keep working hard developing skills, having a go.
What advice would you give to someone who has a hidden creative talent but might get a lot of self-doubt when it comes to sharing it with the world?
It’s an old fashioned term to say life is a tapestry but I think whatever you do, the experience you have in your life defines us, and when you are ready to be creative, just do it, and don't worry. Its a bit like getting on a yoga mat to practise, it doesn't have to be an hour practise. Its the quality of your mind, and being engaged to do it, even how short a time you do it. Be in the flow!
What goal do you hope to achieve in 2024? Or do you have any exciting projects coming up?
I am writing and illustrating a children's book, plus there are a few art competitions I have my eye on to enter!
When you’re not working, what are you up to / how do you like to spend your free time?
Running a small business I don't get alot of free time, there is always something to do! But I love walking around the inner west, going to Scout for Pilates & yoga, horse-riding and visiting our local cafes and breweries.
Finally, where can we find your work?
For Instagram and Facebook - @fionaroderickprintmaker
Website - www.fionaroderick.com.