amber delaney

AMBER DELANEY ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS:

what medium(s) do you work in?
I have experimented with many different mediums but have recently taken to using pencil crayon as my medium of choice. I do also love to use oil and acrylics for my portraits.


what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
I think a good question to be asked is whether or not I need to suffer in order to create a great piece of art. My answer would be that in my case yes, most of the time. When I am hurt or angry it usually makes me a lot more focused and seems to fuel my creativity for the most part. More so than if I am feeling happy. I sometimes use my art as a distraction from having to deal with particular feelings, but when I have looked back on some certain pieces I can see that the thing I was trying to avoid still managed to present itself in my work.



why art? and why art in hamilton?
I make art because it's just something I am compelled to do, it's unconscious, everything I look at is in one way or another a piece of art. It's a way of life. Why Hamilton? Well I live here, so that is the main reason. But I've come to realize that there are so many great artists living here and there is a very strong art community.



who or what inspires you?
Many things inspire me...the people I see everyday, my own thoughts...music. There are many artists that I truly love. A few of my favorites are Lucien Freud, Frida Kahlo, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jenny Saville, Caravaggio....the list could go on.



what do you think separates good art from great art?
I think that sincerely loving the art you create is what makes it great. Everyone's opinions are different on what makes art great and it's been an issue that has been argued about since art has been in the public eye.


any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
The only thing I can say is to keep creating what you love no matter what. You may not always make money from it or get recognition, but if you give up because of those reasons then you've lost the essence of what art really is.


Is there anything in your art that you are afraid people might discover?
I don't think so. My art is the only way for me to express who I really am, so anything that is in my art is because I want people to discover who I am and how I think.

Amber Delaney is a self taught artist born in Rustington, England. She moved to Canada when she was eight years old and has been creating art from a very young age.
Amber works in many different mediums such as oils, acrylic, ink, pencil and pencil crayon. She specializes in realistic portraiture and still life, and also does commissions.
Amber has participated in group shows in Hamilton and Brighton, England. In addition she has also had solo and duo shows in the Hamilton area. She is looking forward to having another solo show in 2011.

art by amber delaney
art by amber delaney on facebook



published with permission of the artist.