F&F is thrilled to welcome April Psonis to our stable of Australian artists. Originally from Tasmania, April now resides in Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country, with her husband and three-year old. From her light-filled living room, she creates stunning abstract portrayals of the female form. We asked April about her shift from soft figurative work to bold shapes and forms and share the interview below.
April, can you tell us a bit about yourself, and how you became an artist?
I’m a self-taught artist based in Prahran Melbourne, where I live with my husband and very busy three-year-old little girl. I’ve been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember, and although I’ve picked up a lot of commission work throughout the years, it took me a while to have the confidence to make it a full-time career. After having my daughter, I soon realised that returning to work would have to be in something I was truly passionate about and that fulfilled my creative bones. It’s been a slow burn, but I like how that has shaped my style and direction.
Have you got a studio? Tell us a bit about where you create and some of the things that inspire your practice.
I actually don’t have a studio at the moment and work solely out of my house, which has its challenges of distraction at times. I’ve created a space in my home that’s light-filled and calming. There’s something about that natural light that fuels the creative process.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative process? How does your artwork get from initial concept to hanging on the wall?
I don’t really have a structured process as such. I gather inspiration daily from things such as sculpture, interiors, art, and start to build a concept. I then spend a lot of time thinking and developing my ideas, often at night when my creative brain thrives (classic creative). I know I can’t start a new piece until I have that overwhelming excitement ito put my concept to canvas. From there it just flows, I usually go into a piece without a sketch, I just have the concept and colour palette in my mind and hope that it translates on canvas!
What role does colour play in your work? You seem to have a distinct colour palette, why do you think that is?
I like to use distinct colours and composition in a way that captures the dynamic interplay of femininity and strength. There’s something about these bold hues that I’m intuitively drawn to, they give the women in my paintings a commanding presence.
View all April Psonis artwork here.
