In the final part of this series, we have a chat with Katy
Binks – a London based print maker and graphic artist.
I was lucky enough to go to university with Katy, and I’ve
always admired her bold and adventurous artwork – and I think you will love it,
too!
So take 5 minutes away from your inbox, and enjoy hearing
about Katy’s journey to becoming a successful multidisciplinary artist.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a successful
graphic artist.
It was all a bit haphazard in the beginning. I knew I
wanted to do something creative straight out of school, I was very focused on
working within art and design. I started with a very brief stint at university
on an architecture BA, then went to Leeds College of Art to complete an art
foundation. After that I thought I might do graphic design or textiles, I ended
up leaving it quite late in the year to apply and ended up going through the
clearing process. All I really knew was that I wanted to be in London, on a
course that would let me do what I wanted without too much direction and at uni
that provided studio space. I landed at UEL on the Graphic Arts course, which
was I think in the beginning called Drawing and Printmaking. That's where I
discovered screen printing, since then everything has been driven by my love of
it. I then went on to complete an MA Printmaking at Camberwell College of
Art.
Having studied printmaking/fine art at BA and MA I’m very
much about being experimental and exploring my own creative tendencies. Trying
to make that into a viable business is something that has taken time and is
still a work in progress. I work part time to supplement my income, but the
jobs I’ve had have also fill the gaps in learning - things like finance,
business development, marketing, knowing which projects to take on and when to
say no, effectively how to run a business - it's invaluable.
Over the years my work has developed in scale and
diversified, as well as unique screen printed artworks it's grown to encompass
large scale site specific murals, vinyl installs, digital and textile design.
I’ve honed in on my skills as a designer, found my niche and the type of
clients who align with that. I’m able to offer brands and clients a more
diverse and complementary set of services, there’s more focus now, but it’s all
still underpinned and driven by a love of abstraction, colour, my own self-initiated
projects and that same playful, experimental approach.
What is your favourite medium to work with?
I’m drawn to print in all its forms, the process of, the
history of it, the diversity within it, it fascinates me. I love the
unpredictability of printmaking, and specifically with screen printing, the
speed at which you can develop ideas if you’re open to not being too precious
about the technical side of the process. It may not be a medium in the
traditional sense but working with colour is integral to what I do.
What’s the strangest commission you’ve ever had?
I don’t think I’ve had that many odd commissions really,
being asked to paint a toilet for Jungle Studios is probably up there, but in
the grand scheme I think that’s quite tame. I reckon it could get a lot
stranger than that, so fingers crossed something crosses my path in the near
future. I like the idea of a slightly odd commission.
Why is art so important to society?
I could never answer that fully but I know art, design,
architecture and music can have a powerful effect on how we feel, how we
operate in and experience a space. Art can create joy, provide space for
reflection, can trigger feelings, evoke memories, communicate, all of which,
when used in the right way, can be used for positive effect. When these
things come together in the right way it can impact lives and create change for
the better. Why wouldn’t you if you had that opportunity!
On a personal level, art and the act of making have always
been my go to when I want to relax, when I’m stressed or trying to process
something. I enjoy that time of being alone and fully absorbed, I’m sure I’m
not alone in that feeling, so many people are drawn to making art for that same
purpose. To be involved in the act of creating, I’m not really sure how to put
it into words exactly, but it’s incredibly fulfilling.
To find out more about Katy and her remarkable artwork,
please check out the links below!
http://www.katybinks.com/profile
katybinks@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/katybinks/
