Cherilyn Yeates
Which 3 words best define how you would like your art to be perceived?
GROOVY / PLAYFUL / REFLECTIVE
What creative challenge have you faced and overcome that has transformed your art practice?
When I stopped trying to push a narrative that wasn’t mine and stopped making work that didn’t feel authentic, my practice completely transformed. The first time I made something unintentionally that actually felt like me, was a real turning point. It was an “ah okay, she’s finally joined the party” moment and it’s been so fun to keep developing that.
What tools do you use as part of the preliminary stages of your process?
I am constantly writing notes, phrases and ideas on my phone or scribbling in random pages of notebooks. Films, photographs, books, music, sketchbooks, conversations, podcasts; all the information that I digest is in some way part of the preliminary stage of my process. It all feeds into the work!
I love listening to or reading about other artists, whether it’s artists having conversations with each other, talking about their process or their lives - I find it so enriching to hear the working behind the magic and engross myself in all aspects of what it means to create art and be an artist.
How do you usually start an art session - any habits or rituals ?
Always with music, a little faff, looking at work I have in the studio and a walk around the space - sometimes with a chocolate brownie.
How do you deal with doubts and fears?
I don’t know if you can really be an artist without the constant battle of being riddled with doubt one minute, to absolutely elated about your work the next. This delicate balancing act ensures the work is always developing.
I think that doubt and fear are actually a core part of my process. I try to work with them. Doubt and fear usually come at the tipping point of something really good, so you have to ride the wave or you’ll miss the reward.
With what intentions do you infuse your art making?
The idea that art can have a positive impact on our wellbeing. In particular the idea that our everyday spaces can have a massive influence on our happiness; and that we can use colour and shape to transform our environments to make us happy.
I want people to reflect on the beauty in the mundane, to notice things and engage with their innate sense of childish curiosity.
Where do you draw your color inspiration from ?
Wes Anderson films and 70’s decor. I’m a September baby so I think I have an intrinsic connection to autumnal palettes, something in those warm hues makes my soul smile.
What brilliant pieces of advice were given on your creative journey and would be happy to share?
“Good taste is the foundation of creativity.”
I was listening to a podcast with Andy J. Pizza a few years back and it really struck me. He was talking about a revelation he had about what makes a great artist...
We believe creativity is about our abilities - our skill and passion and talent. But at the core maybe it’s actually about our sensibilities - our taste, our ability to appreciate nuance and our intuition to know what makes good art that enables us to do great things.
The most ‘successful’ artists may not always be the most technically talented; a musician's ability to play an instrument technically well doesn’t make them a great musician. It’s their flair for rhythm, ability to notice the flavours of different notes and their ear for music that allows them to make magic.
What is something absurd or unusual that you love doing ?
I find big spoons oppressive. If I am eating with a spoon, it’s a teaspoon.
What do you tell yourself to keep you out of procrastination?
If you don’t make the work, it will only ever exist in your head - and actually no one gives a shit if it remains there for eternity, but you will.
It’s good to have some time away because when you come back to it, you always have a refreshed perspective. But, if I’ve spent too long away from the studio, I get this awful restlessness that's worse than a bad itch you can’t scratch. So that probably lights a fire under my arse.
