More About Luke Shelley

1. WHO ARE YOUR ART ICONS? Andy Goldsworthy, John Wolseley, Katie Paterson, Jorg Schmeisser, Cameron Robins, Papunya Tula Artist’s, many Australian Indigenous artists.

2. WHO ARE YOUR DESIGN ICONS? I can’t name anyone in particular, but I like people who create through the mindset of recycling things, turning old into new.

3. IF YOU HAD A TATOO, WHAT WOULD IT BE? WHERE WOULD IT BE? I’ve never really come across a tattoo that I’ve thought would suit me.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR (S)? WHY? I’m fascinated by earthen tones, natural dyes, stains, tannins, etc. I guess it’s the random, uneven qualities of the tones themselves and the natural colour palette they achieve. 

5. WHAT ART INSPIRES YOU AT THE MOMENT? It’s great to see that many artist’s/designers/architects are expressing issues of sustainability and raising awareness for the environment. It’s a pretty big concern for all of us.

6. WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU PLAYING ON YOUR IPOD? My taste in music is vast. It really depends on my mood.

7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ART PIECE FROM YOUR OWN BODY OF WORK? TELL US MORE. ‘Further West’. It’s a 5 metre long drawing. When I view this work, it reminds me of my first trip out west, and also revives the excitement of my first artist residency and solo exhibition in Alice Springs. It’s a pretty significant work.

8. TELL US ABOUT A REVELATION BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR PRACTICE. When I took my first etching plate out of the ocean during 3^rd year at National Art School. These early ocean etchings opened my mind to the markmaking qualities of the elements and environment and really made it clear as to ‘who I am’ as an artist.

9. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE AN ARTIST? I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a very creative family who prides themselves on their passion and knowledge of the environment and the things that live within it. From a very young age I enjoyed drawing/creating things for the appreciation of others. I suppose I’ve always thought of myself as an artist.

10. WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE? The sense of Adventure/discovery, socialising, friends, family, like-minded people, too many things to say. It’s all good!

11. WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ASKED? I’m quite comfortable to answer any questions about my art practice.

12. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS? Andy Goldsworthy, John Wolseley, Katie Paterson, Jorg Schmeisser, Cameron Robins, Papunya Tula Artist’s.

13. WHAT MAKES YOU FREE? When I go bush, or head out fishing.

14. 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU. Passionate, sensitive, eccentric, bohemian, enjoys having a good time.

15. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY COOKING? Seafood. Especially if I’ve caught it myself.
16. GOES WITH THE COLOUR APRICOT? Avocado green??
17. YOUR FAVOURITE ACTRESS (ESSES) AND ACTOR (S)? IN ANY SPECIFIC MOVIES? This is hard. I enjoy the versatility of the actress Charlize Theron, and any role played by the actor Daniel Day-Lewis
18. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIES? I have too many to name a few as my favourites.
19. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DISHES AND FOOD? I love any sort of seafood, and I can’t go past pizza either.
20. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED ART MOVEMENT? The concepts/artists/artworks from the 1960’s Land Art movement.
21. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERED DESIGN PERIOD? I really enjoy current designers which are addressing sustainability, recycling, waste, and environmental impact within their practice.
22. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE COLLECTORS GET FROM YOUR ARTWORKS? Appreciation, and a sense of environment/discovery. Much to the same experiences I have whilst creating the work.
23. WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FOR YOUR ART? Anything outdoors.
24. WHICH COFFEE? Flat white, no sugar.
25. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? Developing and refining some artistic concepts.
26. WHICH PLACES INSPIRE YOU? Any places that give you a real sense of wilderness. I have never forgotten my first experience of Outback, around South West QLD. An awesome place.
27. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? TELL US MORE. I’m a serial collector, it’s part of my artistic process. I collect all sorts of natural and man-made objects that I find while beachcombing and bushwalking. My studio is full.
28. WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW? Real Dirt, by James Woodford.
29. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FLOWERS? I love many Australian natives, the bush in flower is great. But I have a soft spot for the Banksia, they are very sculptural in form.
30. AN IDEAL PLACE TO LIVE.  That’s hard. I’ve experienced so many ‘ideal’ places nationally and internationally. They all have their different reasons.
31. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ON TV? I’m into documentaries. The Planet Earth series by the BBC is my all-time favourite.
32. WHAT INTRIGUES YOU RIGHT NOW? Environment, Art and Culture
33. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST DOWNTIME PURSUITS? Heading down to the beach for a bit of beachcombing, or launching the kayak and heading out for a fish. Experience of environment really fuels my art practice.

Luke Shelley - 2014