As part of my week on Hickory Nines I couldn’t pass up the chance to turn the tables and become interviewer, hitting up some of my favourite people with a set of questions that revealed an incredible insight into some truly inspiring individuals.
Today’s post is about artist and free surfer Karlee Mackie. She and I share a last name, however much to our amusement we are in fact not related. We met through the Handplane Art Project I put together a few years ago and have kept in touch ever since. She really laid her soul bare for my questions and this fascinating interview into a working artist. Questions – Karl Mackie. Words & Pictures – Karlee Mackie.
Where are you currently based?
I am currently based in Byron Bay, Australia, in a shed full of creative friends. Our shop is situated at the front of the big shed (lynrd skynrd style ) and is called “The Stonery” – you can find it on the net. It’s cliché Byron Bay. We have chickens running through the house, lots of rusty trinketts, surfboards, unusual characters popping in and lots of fun projects to get swept up in. “The Stonery ” is a shop that sells our works and is run by Katy and Timo who are crystal warriors selling beautiful stones and crystals. Oliver is a film and set designer/filmer/editor/painter/can do everything extrordinaire; Rufio is a graphic designer/artist unicorn lover and partner; Danny, the newest member of the house who is a filmer pocket rocket and also Marissa, the neighbour, who makes puppets of all sizes, so the house is brimming with creativity and fun times amongst chasing the chickens out of the house as they poo everywhere!
You work mainly with acrylics as your chosen medium, why?
I guess its just happened that way, as a few years ago I was juggling my surfing career and art so it was always on the run and acrylics dry quicker. I really enjoy oils al ot more and was inspired to use them when I met Jos Myers and had the chance to watch her paint. Her artwork is where I would love to be with mine one day. Another artist, Angus McDonald also has given me the fortunate gift of a window into the art world and techniques from just being around him painting and assisting him at his home studio that is a dream! I am still and always will be developing and eager to explore any medium to create, I see art as a vehicle to explore the invisible virtual world beyond eyes that effects us every day in every way.
How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process has come a long way. I feel I am still at a stage of infacy where I’m throwing everything I can at a wall and hoping something will stick to start polishing and defining my “act ”
Angus McDonald, when asked how I was going to assist him, replied ” It’s like getting a two year old to colour in the lines ” so I am loving the process of being wild and ripping apart what I’m doing to hopefully develop a polished style, and one that I can still constantly develop from being inspired by other artists. May my inspiration be from how people live, work, sing, whatever the outlet, for me it’s all things beautiful with a sense of personal touch and charm that essensuates the beauty derived from what inspired me in the first place.
What do you think is the key element in creating a memorable piece?
You have to be a genius! Hahaha! It’s probably a collective of intentional factors that make the end image impactful, like timing, truth, what it symbolises, balance of colours that resinate with your conscious and sub-concious mind. Or as they say – beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s about giving birth to an image that symbolises something that really impacts on human beings to become a memorable piece.
When I first met you, I instantly loved your style and originality with just a little hint of Basquiat in your paintings. How do you think your work has evolved over the last 3-4 years?
Oh thanks Karl Image may be NSFW.
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you’re too kind. It’s been that long already!!! I love Jean-Michel Basquiat, he was the first artist I stumbled apon that I actually took to. I had the pleasure of his discovery with some amazing people I stayed with in New York ten years ago. He instantly stole all my attention and I wanted to be an artist in that moment of watching the movie by myself, on a mattress, on the floor, on my laptop.
My work has developed as I explained before, where it’s more intentional than just throwing down paint which is what I thought you did, as that’s what Basquiat did. I then learned as my life meandered on, meeting other established artists, that there is a lot more layers and a process that is to be learnt with time. I know how I want to be painting in the future, but for now it’s all about developing and expanding my knowledge of the art world in all areas of expression.
The piece you did for the handplane art project was one of my favourites and is now on the wall of my home along with the other planes – what was the thought process behind it?
Amazing! It was such a treat to be asked to paint one of them, and especially as we share the same family name! My dad loves his hand plane. Go the Mackie clan! I wanted it to be ocean-themed and mermaids are a favourite of mine to paint. I am actually mid-way in a project my boyfriend Rufio is doing right now, entailing us painting mermaids. As for thought processes, that’s what I am trying to obtain and aquire in my approach to my work. I lack process and structure in all aspects of my life, slightly dislexic and upside down. It’s enjoyable to me to learn all this as I am now understanding and discovering that everything does have a process. I wrote the poem on a bus on my way into the city in Sydney. It was when I was in a place of self discovery.
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I’ve always wondered, who is the girl in the paintings – it seems to me she has a message to tell?
Its funny, I have been asked this before and as I mentioned there hasn’t been too much that I’ve been aware of in relation to thought intention and process. I generally used to let what ever came out of my mind just come. Now I have a process and use references of images and artists I have discovered and go from that alongside a message. The words I use are more intentional then the imagery, as I usually get frustrated in my work as it comes out completely diffferent to how I would like it. And that has been a new discovery as of late and how its entwined to life as well. Being really open and trusting life and knowing I am not in control of anything, but to fine tune my beliefs and live from that knowing its only developing me to be wiser. To be realistic about situations and my actions. I read this book which is insanely interesting about a guy called Gregory Neville, a natural psychotherapist – he says in short “that happiness is a match of your virtual reality and your actual reality, creating wisdom and development, not obtaining an end result ” but just having a good go at life and doing what brings joy to you. I then splash upon my page or canvas my girls (as the female form represents creation and life force) to bring inspiration to others and myself through the physical form that I am in right now. I did reflect on the ladies and they are awkward and inside I am actually quite awkward – or in a state of awe and curiosity, so maybe it is expressed subconsiously like that? Who knows! Haha!
You work with the Surfers for Cetaceans movement – what’s your involvement? Are you able to bring your art to the cause to raise awareness?
I was very involved with Surfers for Cetaceans for years and absolutely loved every moment of it. I love the way its movement is so respectful and balanced. It has taught me so much and opened my eyes to an extraordinary amount of awareness and I met some incredibly passionate and compassionate human beings along the way. The last few years I have been consumed by my own venture, as selfish as it sounds, but any chance I get to help the crew I always have my hand up to save our wonderful Ocean Angels. I am about to support the Vagina Monolgues with Rasta’s lady and longboard goddess in supporting the movement against women who have been abused. I am more passionate about that these days, as it’s just where I am at right now with my own personal development and discovery. If we can help humans to feel good with who they are then I feel the cruelty against others forms and our environments would cease to exist. But again I have no clue – this is all apart of the quest to experience life and learn from it.
It would be crazy to suggest surfing doesn’t play a role in your work, but to what extent does the ocean breath new life into your paintings?
I used to sit in school classes and only draw waves. My dad is an artist and lives to surf, so it was only natural to draw inspiration from your environment. So yes surfing was an obsession I once had. It’s evolved into more what I am passionate about right now and that’s how the mind ticks and tocks. The ocean and surfing is a place for me to be immersed in nature and reboot. To cleanse the soul and be in a state of wonderment. My life is very fortunate in respects to the lifestyle we all lead in Byron Bay.
Whats next for you Karlee?
Next is a big old adventure. I am currently saving with my boyfriend. We want to take off round the world painting and see where it leads us, starting with California, as I have a gallery ar4t that represents my art work. So we will start there and follow our noses. We have a few projects up our sleeves so watch our space…….unicorns exist !
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Find out more about Karlee’s work here - http://ar4t.com/artists/kalm/
Catch her on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/KALMisNOW