Interview with artist Carly Dirie
Carly Dirie is a Brisbane-based artist with an iconic pop art style. She simplifies her work to create bright, eye-catching pieces that are inspired by the style of comics. I love that Carly’s paintings feature women in strong or in-your-face type scenes, that are sometimes rather cheeky!
The creativity definitely runs in the family! Lisa Dirie, Carly’s mum, has won countless awards for her ceramics and also has a very bright and bold style.
Carly will be one of many artists exhibiting in the Hillsdon Art Show from September 3rd-4th in Brisbane. The theme is Love You Brisbane and funds raised will go to the historic Hillsdon kindergarten.
Currently, Carly has a few pieces on show at the See Art Gallery in Redcliffe and she’s working towards an exhibition at Fortitude Valley’s C Gallery, later in the year. The details are yet to be confirmed – so check out her website or follow her Facebook page for more info leading up to the exhibition.
How have you got to where you are today?
I come from an extremely creative family. From young I have grown up in a house of ‘handmade gloriousness’ from furniture to furnishings and the matching outfits my mother created for my sister and I. Yes, people often thought we were twins despite the 2 year age gap!
My parents are ‘old school’…they raised three daughters on one small wage, but never ceased to deny us the things we needed most. If they couldn’t afford it, they made it, and I credit them most for introducing me to the world of creativity at an early age.
My mother is now an established ceramic artist. We market our artistic passions through a combined persona Dirie Dirie Me Art.
Painting for me is a necessity. If I don’t do it, I get grumpy, disorientated and to be honest, pretty hard to deal with!
And even when I am not painting, I am renovating furniture, scouring design magazines, or sewing. I haven’t studied art, and I do not plan too. I am just a believer in ‘if it makes you happy, do it.’
In a few words, describe yourself…
A complete ‘right side of the brain-er!’
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
I currently have an artistic love affair happening with Indian ink. The consistency and fluidity of it is really enjoyable to paint with, and although it is a venture away from my pop art style, it still feeds my obsession with black comic book-like definition.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
MUSIC! I like to put on one of my favorite albums and lock the world out.
All paintings go through an ugly unresolved stage so I prefer to work on it with no-one else in the room or house. Once it gets to the final stages my loved ones are then allowed to voice their opinions.
What or who inspires you?
Good photography inspires me. Just like a good piece of art! I love it when a photograph just seems to work aesthetically and speak to you in some way. Photography inspires most of my pieces, from beautiful fashion shoots to natural unplanned photos that capture a moment or emotion.
I am also drawn to controversial images that demand a reaction from viewers – whether good or bad. There needs to be a story of feeling behind the images I paint…if I can’t relate to it in some way, then I don’t get excited about painting it and in turn am never happy with the end result!
I am not directly inspired by any particular people, but more so everyday men and women who are doing something they love. I think the world has become so focused on the monetary system and seeking the highest pay cheque, that now only few know how to embrace their strongest talents and choose what they enjoy over a socially accepted or glorified title.
I often dream of a world where everyone is motivated by the talent they were born with, and not stressed out ‘working for the man’ like we are geared to do. Maybe this is why my images are cheeky, emotive and playful… A protest to the mundane?!
What are you most proud of?
I am proud that I don’t let my day job interfere with my love of creating. I know too many people that push back their dreams because of other things in life demanding their time and energy.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I have always been drawn to creative roles. I was already passionate about art in high school and started selling my work in local cafes at just 16.
My passions were, and continue to be… art, interior decorating, music, fashion/textile design, and strangely, naturopathy.
