Genevieve Leavold Interview
Genevieve is an amazing artist that I came across on Instagram some time ago now. I'm so excited that I got to do an interview with her as her work is so unique and intriguing!
Learn more about Genevieve’s abstract paintings, her background and what advice she has for aspiring artists by reading below.
Nadine: What’s your name, where are you from and what do you do?
Genevieve: My name is Genevieve Leavold and I am an abstract painter from the UK.
N: How did you become an artist? Did you come from a creative family?
G: My family are all very creative, we always had books and music and craft materials and my Mum is a natural craftsperson. She’s great with her hands and loves to build and fix things.
That said, we didn’t have much money growing up so there was a need to get ‘a proper Job’. I trained in Theatre Design but ended up working in a secretarial Administrative roles for a long time until 2010 when I decided to pick up my brushes again. I worked part time and took some short courses, then in 2014 I gave up my freelance PA job, moved to Belgrade in Serbia and decided to try and make a go as a full time artist. I can now happily say that I am a full time artist.
I listened to an interview with Jim Carrey the other day and he said that his father was a creative man but he decided to become an accountant to support his family, at the age of 51 he was laid off and it broke his heart because he realised that he had failed at something he didn’t love. So if you can fail at something you don’t love, why not have a go at doing the thing you do love? 😉
N: How would you describe your art and what is the message you would like viewers/collectors to take away from it?
G: That’s quite a tough question, I would describe my work as organic abstraction, the forms and movements are all taken from Nature and the effect of energy on matter. I would like my viewers and collectors to find a grain of truth in the work, something that connects to their own experiences in life.
N: Walk us through a day in the life of Genevieve.
G: My day starts at around 6.30-7am - I have my own morning rituals; mornings are important to me. I love the stillness before the city wakes up. I get up and then I meditate or sit quietly for a bit to let go of the dreams and find stillness. Then I make a strong black coffee and play with my cat (she’s always full of energy first thing). After this I read and journal. I am a big fan of affirmations and so I usually say a few of these or read some poetry. I suffered from PTSD for a long time and affirmations really helped and then the practice stuck.
After my morning ritual - I start my work day, usually I do some admin first and then I go to the studio at around 11am to paint. My studio is a 5 minute walk from my apartment but sometimes I take the longer walk along the Danube to see the swans.
At the Studio everything varies depending on what projects I am working on but I usually light a candle and have another bit of quiet before I start. I’m usually at the studio for the day until 6-7pm. It’s a full time profession but the best one in the world if you don’t mind spending a lot of time in your own company ;)
N: What are some of your favourite art supplies? Do you have a specific process when it comes to creating?
G: I’m not sure I have favourite supplies but I do get obsessed with a particular colour, currently it’s a beautiful transparent red called Poppy Red.
N: What advice can you give for anyone who is unsure if they should start selling their art?
G: This is quite a specific thing. It’s one thing to create work but selling is a different game. I think there is a balance. We are encouraged more and more to share and sell immediately but actually that can be bad for creativity because you might start to make work that sells rather than work that challenges you and others creatively. So it’s a choice and there’s no one answer but I would say to all budding artists - Don’t make art to sell - make art to make art.
N: What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far? Any exciting projects coming up?
G: I can’t really say that there’s been a highlight as such. I think the choice to move here to Belgrade was the biggest and boldest decision I ever made. I did a show in Chicago with the Other Art Fair in 2019 and that was wonderful, it felt very exciting to be there and to be in that magnificent city.
I have some really exciting projects coming up this year but I can’t talk about them yet! Watch this space! :)
N: What tips can you give an aspiring artist?
G: Well, I would say don’t give up, be stubborn and keep going. Make art as often as you can, the more you make the better you get. Trust your instincts when it comes to your own art. There will always be critics but that’s just life. It would be a dull place indeed if we all like the same things. Find people to support you when you feel down, and enjoy the journey. It’s very easy to get fixated on some ideal of success and miss all the good stull on the way!
Thank you Genevieve!
Visit: www.genevieveleavold.com