Today I want to introduce a new feature on the blog Kitty Interviews where I seek out fun and interesting people and find out more about them so we can discover together, Who better to start the series than the talented body positive artist Murder Of Goths.
1. When did you first discover you had a passion for art?
I've loved art as far back as I can remember, I was always happiest sat on my own with some paper and coloured pencils. I had a brilliant teacher in primary school who realised that art was a good way to help my self confidence (I was painfully shy) and between the encouragement from her and my parents a life long love for art was built. I'm still in contact with that teacher now because of the impact she had.
2.You seem to have a knack with computers and working digitally do you dabble in any other mediums?
I used to love drawing in all the traditional media (ink, pencil, charcoal), but I get such pain from my joints, especially my wrists, that I just can't manage it anymore. I also have a lot of love for photography, though again the joint pain discourages me from using my old dSLR so much. I keep meaning to dust it off again for the blog though, so maybe that'll be something to do in 2016.
3. Are there any artists that you find inspirational?
So so many! A big one for me is Frida Kahlo, despite the immense pain she was in, she still painted. She used her art to express her pain (physical and mental), and that is such a powerful thing. I try to remember that when I'm struggling to do much.Then there are the other contemporary but not famous - though they should be - people like Melly Em Clark (@mellyemclark), Charlotte Thompson (@charlotteart - who probably won't remember, but she used to give me some lovely feedback back when I used to use DeviantArt and we were both young), Curvy Sketches (@curvysketches) and Wilful Ink (@wilfulink).
4. Last year your work was featured in some fantastic places. what would you say your biggest achievement was and how did it make you feel?
Last year was amazing! Biggest achievement, honestly it's hard to choose, I was blown away by being asked by both BGP Magazine and VolUp2 to submit art to them, and the BGP Magazine article had me walking on air for at least a week afterwards! But every mention and compliment has meant so much to me, whether it's other bloggers using my art on their profiles, writing posts on my artwork, or just sharing it with their followers. I never expected any of this!
5.As a body positive artist do you have any tools for empowerment on a bad day?
Tough one, actually going through a rough patch right now, so I guess what is keeping me going is making sure to keep looking at plus size bloggers and reminding myself that if I can see the beauty and spirit in them, then it's there in me too.
6. If you could invite 3 famous alive or passed women out for an evening who would they be, why, and what would you do?
Frida Kahlo is an obvious one, Margaret Atwood and Joanne Harris. I'd love to sit around and set the world to rights with them. I would definitely feel like the least intelligent one in the room, but the conversation would be fascinating.
7. How does your blog fit in with your art work?
My blog is a mix of plus size fashion, feminism, disability stuff and basically anything else that I feel like writing. I feel like drawing plus size women in a way that isn't all about their size is actually fairly unusual still, in mainstream media you struggle to find many examples of illustrations of plus size women who aren't fetishised or comic, so it can feel like quite a political act. Plus, for me, it's a lot about celebrating and raising up other women, which is something very important to me.
8. Where would you say your fashion influences come from?
In my heart I'm still a goth, so do tend towards black or monochrome outfits, but recently I've been trying to take risks and wear things I might not normally pick. When I was younger I was all about a punkier riot grrl/deathrock inspired look, which I don't feel I have the energy for anymore, but would like to incorporate little bits of it back into my wardrobe. I'm only just coming out of my "I'm too fat to wear nice things" mindset really, so still finding my style niche.
9. What is next for you?
I have a few plans for 2016, firstly I'm going to be starting a new series on my blog about inspirational women. It'll be a mix of writing and illustrations, and it'll be a mix of women - real, imaginary, modern, historical, famous, or not. Already got a lot of ideas of who I want to feature. I'm also intending to restart my plus size fashion illustrations, I'm widening it to include plus size models, actresses etc, but there are still a lot of bloggers I'm looking forward to featuring. And, as if that wasn't enough, I want to start a new series on body positive men. Plus I'm hoping to run The Curvee Awards again. Should be a busy year!
10. last but not least where can people buy your amazing work?
Currently I have an Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ murderofgoths) where you can commission portraits, and a Redbubble store for if you wanted some MoG art on mugs, cushions, etc. (http://www.redbubble.com/ people/murderofgoths/shop)
A big thank you to Murder Of Goths for her time and sharing her work with us. What do you think of this beautiful art?
Really love this post - MoG is so very talented and her art should be splashed about everywhere. I think it's going to be a good year for her art!
ReplyDeleteC x
CurvyGirlThin.com
SO do I she is getting even better with every picture I see x
DeleteI can definitely see some of Frida's influence in her art. Isn't she fantastic and I love that the images are empowering!
ReplyDeleteShe made me into Frida therefore she is amazing x
DeleteHer images are so inspiring. Loved reading this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you I hope you check out her work x
DeleteI love your interview and I love MoG!
ReplyDeleteHer art work is wonderful, and I have been immortalised a few times. Can't wait for more of her work! X
She really is an amazing talent x
DeleteAbsolutely love this! MoG is so talented and amazing. Great series, I look forward to seeing who you interview next! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you lovely I have a few up my sleeve hopefully you will enjoy them x
DeleteThis was a really interesting interview. What a great idea for a series. Excited to see who you interview next.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by make sure you come back for the next one x
DeleteReally love this post. Murder of Goths produces some great work and seeing body positivity expressed in art gives me great hope for the future x
ReplyDeleteI agree I am loving see so many body posi artists growing in the art scene x
DeleteSuch a fab post - love these illustrations! :)
ReplyDeleteHonestly check out her work she is amazing x
DeleteOh yay, I love MoG!! She and her artwork are so kick ass, the Beth Ditto pieces blew my mind recently! Great interview too, really interesting questions and answers. xx
ReplyDeleteI know right when I saw them my jaw dropped x
DeleteOh wow ! Love this! They are all so fantastic and what an interesting read too =) interested to see who is next!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by please do come back xx
DeleteLovely post. It made an interesting read. I love reading interviews.
ReplyDeleteThank you I have been wanting to do them for a while now x
DeleteLove this! MoG is so bloomin talented I love the one she did of you sooo good, I like the style of the interview too x
ReplyDeleteShe is amazing and aw thank you lovely hopefully some more coming soon x
DeleteI love MoG so much, she is so great & supportive. I love that y'all did this!
ReplyDeleteShe really is everyone needs a mog picture x
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