Sit Down With Our #090 Featured Artist
Liz Y Ahmet
Instagram / @lizyahmet
Featured Artist / #106 ScrawlrBox
My first emotive portrait was noticed by family at age 6 after watching a harrowing film where the heroine is killed at the end! Definitely not age appropriate. Even so, being born to immigrants in the 70's, art was never encouraged as a viable career path, unfortunately.
I went on to work in several jobs, in pensions, magazine distribution and family restaurants but I would try to keep drawing, and painting whenever I had the opportunity, and took up photography when I didn't. Art prevailed though, when it saved me through a difficult period and had an unexpected result in the form of breakthroughs to my artwork and also boosting my Instagram following. Fridays are my best day – strictly reserved for art!
How would you describe your style in 3 words?
Beauty In Chaos. Years ago, someone described it like that and I thought that summed it up nicely! My aim to create interesting and emotive artwork in unpredictable ways, a means to engage and captivate the viewer. The art itself is a form of self expression which I hope connects with all. Art reflects life
Each and every line of your work looks so intricately done, is this something you purposefully do? Or do the lines flow freely in the moment?
The marks of my scribbles are done in a combination of intentional and unintentional lines although, I endeavour to make them appear as random as possible. Some pieces are created more freely than others (those are my favourites!). Always depends on the mood I’m in at the time. I can also look at some older pieces, and I’ll have a gut punch of emotions that I felt at the moment of creation. Thank goodness they aren’t all so intense!
Where do you look for inspiration?
It starts from within, emotion is where I’ll begin (mostly) unless I’m experimenting with something completely new then I’m more focused on what effects I can create. But I’m mostly about conveying emotion onto a surface. I think the intense shyness I had when I was younger, has made this my outlet.
Are your portraits based on real people and experiences?
Once I’ve decided how I feel – a bit of meditation helps – I’ll look online for an image as a starting point. It’s widely acknowledged that portraits are more about the artist than the sitter so I prefer to use select a “face” of someone I don’t know, so that they won’t care/know if I’ve represented them unflatteringly or whatever. This bit can sometimes take me a while! When I’ve found a photo I can work with, I will tweak/push things to suit my needs. A true likeness is not a priority for me and I often change the subjects expression too.
How do you decide what colours, palette to use with your work?
Mostly on instinct, but I do love to push my colour palette, so contrasting colours are usually what appeals to me. If I’m feeling hesitant to make a start with colour, it helps to flip through my old sketchbooks for inspiration. I’ll find something and think ‘wow, what made me use/do that? That’s bloody brilliant!’ Lol, my point is don’t overthink, just do! Trust your instincts.
If you only had one supply for the rest of your life – what would it be?
That is a tough question! I’m struggling to commit to just one. I’m torn between Acrylics due to how versatile they are or water soluble coloured pencils… I’m going with the pencils because I could use them anywhere and have far less prep/clean up.
If you could go back in time to any art movement, which one would it be?
Probably Impressionism, they were really mixing art up! All that luscious use of paint and exciting mark making while not overly defining form – let the eyes feast while they do some of the work. Also, they made art much more relatable to ordinary people.
Do you feel art should carry a message?
I am a massive fan of art that achieves this, so incredibly moving and clever to pull off. The point of mine is more emotive though, so I tend to do better when I don’t over think/plan a piece. Also, because I’d probably procrastinate too much and never produce anything! Unless I’m working on a commission, that’s unavoidable. But for myself, even preliminary sketches etc don’t work for me as the final piece ends up forced, lacking the emotional content that I strive for – if I take too long, the piece turns stale and I lack the inspiration to do it.
Other than colour pencils, what is your favourite media to use?
Everything! If you go on my Instagram you’ll see a lot of experimentation goes on with different materials. But, if I had to choose it would either be carandache neocolor ii because they compliment the colour pencils or Acrylic pour paint because I just love the unpredictable results and effects that are so unique to pouring. Having said that, the nature of pouring has lead to many failures which makes them very frustrating to work with. A lot of the successes are hiding a failed attempt beneath.
Are there any artists you most admire or are influenced by?
I admire all of them! Just hitting exploring on Instagram sometimes makes my eyes bug out - I’m probably subliminally influenced just by scrolling. With the more classical, I was blown away by the emotion in Rembrandt’s later self portraits – I remember standing in a room with one when I was young and literally couldn’t look away. Van Gogh for his emotive use of paint and colour, this speaks to me, and Picasso because he didn’t like to be defined by one art style and liked to experiment, which I can really relate to.