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Interview with Carla Wherby (visual artist)
Carla Wherby often employs biro and texta on paper to create detailed montages with imagery borrowed from media and popular culture. Social and political concerns such as racism and war are recurrent themes in her work. Wherby lives in the densely multicultural suburb of Auburn in western Sydney, which also provides material and inspiration for her work.
Wherby holds a Bachelor of Arts, Visual Arts, from City Art Institute (now College of Fine Arts, University of NSW).
What or whom influenced you to become an artist?
My mother painted landscapes when I was very young, so there was always paint and paintbrushes in the house. My uncle was also an artist who was very eccentric and collected all kinds of interesting things. He did abstract paper collages which were fantastic. These things probably encouraged me and my twin sister Lisa to become artists and collectors. I also had a very good art teacher in high school who was very kind and encouraging. Maybe art became a kind of escape for me as I never really fit in anywhere and was always very shy.
Where do you practice and how much time do you spend on your work?
I do my drawing at home here in Auburn. My twin sister and I purchased a large studio unit here nearly four years ago. I don’t need a separate place to create work as drawing with pens and textas is quite compact and not very messy.
I draw nearly every day as it helps take my mind off my illness and I enjoy creating new work as it gives me a sense of achievement. I usually draw for about three hours at a time as the work is very intricate and sometimes tiring!
For a very long time prior to coming to Auburn I did not do much artwork at all. Winning the Auburn Mayoral Art Award in 2008 really was encouraging and opportunities to exhibit at Mori Gallery (AART.BOXX 09) [in Sydney] and Penrith Regional Gallery with professional artists was a great thrill for me. Also a joint exhibition this year with my twin sister Lisa at Auburn Peacock Gallery provided me with confidence and some hope to keep my practice going. I never thought that I would come this far!
How do you develop your ideas and receive feedback on your work?
I often think of an idea and Google an image to start with and go on from there. Then I do a bit of research and place other images and colours together in a way I hope is provocative, entertaining and original. I don’t like to plan too much ahead. Sometimes when I’m trying to sleep at night certain ideas and images filter through my head. My use of colour is very random and somehow it always manages to work out and balance the picture although I don’t know how. I would term myself a pop artist who borrows images to create my own!
I often show my work to friends, art professionals and family for feedback and any helpful comments are appreciated as well as criticism.
Carla Wherby, War on Women series 2010
What did you do to build skills and confidence as an artist early in your career?
I studied at City Art Institute (now COFA) and received a BA (visual arts). I enjoyed going to art school and meeting new friends but in hindsight the change of environment created/triggered a lot of stress and I was struggling to cope with certain things from my past.
I got very sick not long after finishing my degree. At this time my illness probably prevented me from doing any kind of artwork for many years. Thus study built my skills early in my career but other consequences of my upbringing were hindering it.
How do you go about getting your work out there?
For the moment I am concentrating on the local Auburn local-government area. When I see an opportunity for exhibition or local competitions advertised by the council I will often apply. Although sometimes my illness places limitations on myself which is quite frustrating but I have to accept this.
What are the challenges in your practice and how do you work to address them?
Carla Wherby, War on Women series 2011
I always strive to make my next drawing better than the last one. Experimentation with different materials and forms as well as collaboration with other artists will create challenges.
I think with practise and sheer hard work and determination this can be achieved. Obviously with my illness I cannot do many of the things a person who is well can (such as concentrate for long periods), but I always hope that my practice will improve with patience and time. I can only hope to do my best and be proud of anything I achieve living with a disability and maybe encourage others to not give up if things become hard and discouraging.
What advice do you have for someone starting out as an artist with disability?
I would tell them to be patient and work as hard as you can. Obviously everyone with a disability has limitations and obstacles that others haven’t. This is what makes it challenging and fulfilling to create anything you can despite the circumstances. My disability is mental illness therefore I often get tired mentally but sometimes if I push myself beyond certain boundaries I succeed and other times I fail. My advice is to never give up despite criticism and don’t be hard on yourself.