By Rich Simmons
From volunteering with Art Is The Cure a decade ago, to becoming my studio assistant, I have seen Lucy Weir flourish into an incredible artist in her own right.
With hard work, positive energy and the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met, Lucy has moved half way around the world to chase love and a career of her own as an artist. I'm excited to share this interview where Lucy get's to tell her story about her passions and her journey.
Can you introduce yourself to anyone who hasn’t seen your work yet?
My name is Lucy Weir (She, Her, Hers). I’m a queer artist from London currently based in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia) living on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. My primary art form is stencil and spray paint and I love to work with portraits.
What would you describe your creative release or art form as?
My creative release at the moment is painting with stencil and spray paint. I design all of my stencils in photoshop, draw them layer by layer on a lightbox then hand cut them out with a scalpel before painting. I love playing with colours and textures between layers, my favourite thing about stencils is that there is plenty of room for experimentation and reproducing the same image in a totally different way.
How long has creativity been part of your life?
Forever! From as early as I can remember my favourite thing to do would be to draw. Growing up my older brother always hated art class and would often hand over his homework to me, which I loved! If my parents ever took me anywhere they could guarantee having a piece of paper and a pencil would keep me entertained for hours.
Time spent creating art has always been a safe space for me.
Did you study art or are you self taught?
I studied art and design after high school for two years, then studied one year at The University Of The Arts London. I was later lucky enough to find myself working for you (Rich Simmons), which is where I first found my love for working with stencils. I learnt a lot about having a professional art career and the ins and outs of running your own studio. I found this practical experience was more beneficial for me, but everyone is different.
You moved from London to Australia a few years ago. How has the change of scenery and a new country inspired your artistic side?
My move to Australia has had a huge impact on my personal growth as a whole. It has given me a new sense of independence and confidence to put my art out there, if you can move to the other side of the world, you can do anything! Changing your environment to somewhere totally new and different can be extremely difficult, but a breath of fresh air at the same time. Melbourne has a thriving art scene and there are so many incredible artists and creatives around that inspire me on a daily basis. Sometimes you need that shift in environment to really open your eyes and give you that new spark to re ignite your creative fire.
You describe yourself as a queer artist on instagram. How has this part of your personal life shaped your creativity or artistic expression?
I am extremely inspired by queer artistic expression. The queer community is often known for its resilience and unapologetic authenticity. Being a part of this beautiful community has shaped my existence in so many ways and has opened my eyes to many different forms of expressive art. Societal “norms” are left behind, you are encouraged to live your truth, push boundaries and protect each other against the judgment of others. I am inspired to remember those who played pivotal roles in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights that allow us to be where we are, and who we are today. It is so important to acknowledge and celebrate our history so it can live on and be admired for future generations, which is why I chose to represent queer icons in my paintings.
You love drag performers and that shapes a big part of your artistic creation right now. What is it about the drag scene that inspires you so much?
Drag performers are quite literally the superheroes of the queer community. I am so inspired by the fearlessness they embody. They have the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent we all wish we could bring to our every day lives. I have always been drawn to characters who play with the gender binary. Growing up I was obsessed with Boy George and would constantly have the Rocky Horror picture show on repeat. Something about the fearless embodiment of gender fluidity when the world tells you to fit in a certain box was always so beautiful to me. There is so much inspiration to be taken from Drag, from the fashion to the makeup, attitude and creativity. Who doesn’t love a drag queen, right?! Stunning!
Is creativity a daily thing for you or do you get days where it can become overwhelming?
I’ve found this past year has been very up and down with my creativity levels. There are definitely days where I just can’t get into that right headspace and that’s ok. I think it’s important to take breaks sometimes and recharge, creativity isn’t something you can force. A lot of the time I find if I just start something without putting too much pressure on myself and go slowly the energy starts to flow and I’ll soon be on a roll, often starting is the hardest part. I try to take things one step at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed.