There is something different about the way Kelly Smith draws celebrities. It is not so much the rarity of seeing A-listers portrayed beautifully through pencil that makes her drawings unusual; rather, it is Smith's ability to bring out an ephemeral quality in her subjects that floats before our eyes, encouraging us to take a closer look.
An illustrator and photographer with a keen eye for detail, Smith's artworks burst with freshness – the strength of each work resides in the subtlety and attention she pays to aesthetics.
With a Fine Arts degree under her belt, a calendar feature for V-RAW, and a number of artistic projects in the pipeline, Mink Magazine caught up with Kelly Smith in cyberspace for a chat.
1. From what age did you start drawing and taking photographs?
I've been drawing ever since I can remember. When I went to creche there was a woman who worked there who was an artist and she was always drawing and making things with me. I didn't get into Photography until year 11, but I just loved it!
2. Celebrity portraits seem to make up a significant portion of your collection - why them?
I guess I like to achieve a certain realism in my work which is why I like to draw from photographs. It's kind of a challenge to achieve a likeness!
With celebrities there's always a preconceived idea about who they are, what they're about and the silly stories that are associated with them. I find it fun to incorporate those ideas into the drawings.
3. Who/what influences your style and technique?
I adore artists like Kat Macleod, Stina Persson, Julie Verhoeven and Lilly Piri. There's such a simplicity and softness to their work yet the pieces themselves can be quite bold. There's always another element to it.
4. What materials do you use?
I usually draw with a plain old HB pencil, and depending on the piece, watercolour on top of it or I'll paint separately and construct the image digitally in Photoshop. I love layering so it's fun to scan everything in separately and play with it.
5. What do you love most about illustration and photography?
I love that through both mediums you can create an image that otherwise would not exist. You can bring so many different elements together.
6. Where has your work been published?
It's soon to be seen in online magazine, Pages, as well as Fabric magazine in Indonesia. I've also just finished the August calendar for the V-RAW website.
7. Ultimately, what would you like to achieve through your art making?
I guess I just want to be able to make a living from doing what makes me happy. I love every aspect of it so to make a profession of it would be amazing.
8. What's your next project/what are you currently working towards?
I'm currently working on a book of contemporary fairy tales with my friend, Luke. We're twisting the original stories and creating a new context.
I'm still so new to all of this and I guess I'm just trying to work as hard as I can, get better as I go and get my work seen!
I'm still so new to all of this and I guess I'm just trying to work as hard as I can, get better as I go and get my work seen!
9. If you were a hip-hop performer, what would your rapper name be?
Haha... ummm... K. Smiddy
10. You've found $10 and half a tomato on the floor -- what do you do
with your findings?
Buy a magazine and throw the tomato in the bin!
11. If you were a button mushroom, in what dish would you find yourself in?
Snuggled between the layers of a nice hot lasagne.
Written by Tracey Lien
