Associate Q&As with Gayle Payne

Introduction

I am an artist and art teacher at Reading College and I live in Didcot, Oxfordshire. I think the term that best describes my work is abstract expressionist figure. This mostly takes the form of oil paintings.

My degree in visual performance is something that underpins my artwork in the way that I approach making and why. I often think of my work as process art, and unseen performances. 

I started painting full time in 2017 as I became a full time parent carer to a neurodivergent child who had great difficulty fitting into the secondary school setting. It sparked a fast decline in mental well being for the child. All of my work springs from this time as a response and an effort to process the unimaginable, unreasonable and what seemed unreal. My work weaves in and out of the themes that arose from being thrown in the middle of hostile society constructs.

What are you currently working on?

I am at an exciting point in my art practice and I am bringing more diverse materials and mediums to work in. Since I have become more familiar with my process and underlying themes I have been able to explore more freely.  

I am lucky to work in a college with such great art facilities and am encouraged to explore resources for my own development. Currently I am working on some 3D pieces inspired by a painting I did. I am working on bringing more physicality to my work so I am creating some of the subconscious things I paint. I’m working on some 3D printed moving components for the structure of my textile sculpture.

Where do you work? Do you have studio space?

For years I have been envious of the lovely art studios I see on instagram,  but I do work and have had carer/mother responsibilities over the years and so I must be close to my work at home. I think there is always a way to make art and you just make it happen. We had a garage converted to a studio for my husband as a guitar room and I had a small table in the corner, before long I was having  to clear some space for him to be able to teach in there. When Covid hit, this became my space, but still not being quite enough I take on a spare room and an area of the lounge. My youngest loves making art also, and it has become an evening routine for him, so I have had to get him an art table for the lounge also. We all love art, so it has become quite a functional house.

What are you hoping to achieve over the next year?

Would be nice to meet more artists and do some life drawing but I would love to develop gallery relationships and enter a few open calls this year.

Describe the last time you felt inspired

I am most inspired when I am angry, it takes any fear away and is a great motivator. Being angry is not a desirable state to be in but it is also underrated. 

2023 was a great year to be a Marina Abramovic fan. She was the main artist I liked when I studied visual performance in the 90’s. It is amazing to see performance art be more recognised by the art world. I saw her work in Oxford MAO, Royal Academy and the performance event she put on at the South Bank. So inspiring, loved each one and got a lot from it. I think performance opens up so many possibilities.

Sometimes the art projects that we set the art students inspire me. They are currently working on a Art & Activism project. I have a little sideline project that explores the theme of activism in my work.  My art is very personal but it also isn’t, it is political because it is rooted in social politics. Activism is a big theme for me at the moment.

How does your OVADA associate membership benefit you?

It was lovely to be a part of the MOOD exhibition. I will try to go to more things to meet other artists but am not the most outgoing person. I am often a little limited in time because of being an art teacher but it is great to feel a part of an artist community.

How do you feel the arts benefit society?

I have a badge I picked up from college, it came in an art university information pack. It says ‘ The World Needs Creatives Now More than Ever’ I feel this is very true.

Artists are increasingly the last bastion of free thinkers. There are many different types of artist but I think many share traits that are to do with the mindset and allow us to think and perceive and experience differently and reflect that back to the world. Sometimes art is the only channel to express ideas about the world we live in, other routes are increasingly unfriendly for people and involve lots of bureaucratic systems and policies. 

Art is also self realisation, the process of making art and being creative teaches life skills without anyone teaching anything. In order to further time exploring art, many do choose to go to university but it’s not essential.  I used to scoff at myself after leaving university with a degree in visual performance. What use is that in the real world? I thought. What does it get me? Where are the jobs that are asking specifically for art graduates. I had a degree in performance art, no one even knew what it was until recently.  I now look on my art degree as a gem that has opened up many opportunities and been a tool to explore the world and work. With the recent advances in AI technology I think it is the creative process and it’s ability to problem solve and find new solutions and possibilities that will be the sought after skill in the future.

You can see more of Gayle’s work at:

Website: https://gaylepayneartist.com/

Instagram: @gayle_payne_people_painted