How did you come to art, or how did art come to you ?
I was always creative as a child and in my late teens I had visions of customizing t-shirts in order to make my fortune. However I needed to improve my drawing skills, so I embarked on some part time art courses, forgot about my original plan and ended up at art college kind of by accident.
Painting by Rue Asher, Hatch, 2017, Acrylic, India ink on paper, 70 x 100 cm
Where do you get your inspiration from ?
Music essentially, as I don’t always have an idea of what I’m going to paint when I start. I like to set the mood, start making some marks and go from there. I don’t ever wait for inspiration to come, it’s a luxury I can’t afford. I’ve made some of my best work when painting feels like the last thing I want to be doing. The discipline is just to get on and start. Music helps to coax the muse out!
What have been the highlights of your artistic career ?
Small things give me satisfaction such as selling a painting to someone knowing it’s going to give them pleasure. Although being shortlisted for an arts prize can be nice too!
Painting by Rue Asher, Los caprichos II, 2016, Acrylic on Cardboard, 86 x 112 cm
Which artists do you admire ?
Artists such as Hsiao-Mei Lin, Marlene Dumas, Rose Wylie, Cathie Pilkington and Fiona Rae. I’ve just realised they’re all women! So to balance things out – Rembrandt, Goya, Turner and Matisse. There’s loads I haven’t mentioned.
Do you have a vision of what your artistic future might look like ?
Ensconced in a huge fully stocked studio somewhere in the countryside with great connections to London, whilst enjoying the continued patronage of a rich art addicted collector. That would be nice.
Painting by Rue Asher, Haruspex, 2017, Acrylic, Gouache, India ink on paper, 75 x 70 cm
What do you enjoy most about your work ?
Art can be a cruel mistress and sometimes the struggle of producing good quality work is a painful process, but it never bores. You’re always learning, always challenged.
Painting by Rue Asher, Ecocloud, 2017, Acrylic, India ink on paper, 100 x 70 cm
Rue Asher’s Singulart profile:https://www.singulart.com/