This month, we spoke to local Sheffield artist Liah Edwardes, who recently showcased her latest exhibition ‘Connecting Faces’ at the Out and About festival.
Photo: Emma Ledwith
How would you describe your art?
My artwork centres around people, and the abstraction of the human form. I depict figures in many ways, but continuous line drawing is my main passion. My practice also focuses on how art spreads through the community. I do this by curating workshops through Anomaly Life Drawing. I did life drawing on a foundation course at Chesterfield College, and it was one of the main spaces I felt calm, a space where I didn’t need to overthink why I was drawing. When I finished, I rented a studio and started practising and working on my life drawings. Most of my early drawings were minimalist line drawings that I’ve now developed into free sewing forms.
Where do you think that comfort comes from in life drawing?
The comfort comes from having a creative space with no distractions; it’s just you, the model, and your materials. It’s an inspiring place for me to develop ideas and ways of drawing form.
“Most of my early drawings were minimalist line drawings that I’ve now developed into free sewing forms.”
Were you looking to work solely with the single line style, or did this naturally become your favoured mode of art?
I enjoy the immediacy of it. It’s also a challenge for me, having a time pressure and drawing with one continuous line forces me to get the proportions right. There’s no room for correction especially working in pen. It feels very real and ‘in the moment’. When I’m in a life drawing class, I’ll probably do about fifteen drawings. There might not be that many poses, but I’ll keep drawing, layering poses, changing colours, working quickly to get the essence of the pose.
“Most of my early drawings were minimalist line drawings that I’ve now developed into free sewing forms.”
Do you always draw in pen?
Not always, black pen is my staple but I’m finally moving into the world of colour and now free sewing. I’m really enjoying the texture of oil pastel and take colour inspiration from nature; I spend time in the peaks climbing and mushroom foraging.
Could you tell us about your ‘Connecting Faces’ project?
This was a commission for Out and About Festival in the Cultural Industries Quarter. I created a series of hanging portraits done using a sewing machine. I also ran a free workshop at Foodhall and did free portraits for people during the exhibition. This made connections between the portraits, me and the people that came through the festival. Foodhall was a lovely accessible setting for the artwork. People could have a cup of tea, look at the artwork, and have their portrait done for free.
‘Connecting Faces’ project. Photo: Joe Horner
Would you say that’s where a lot of your origins and inspirations come from, your love of community?
Yeah, I really like creating relaxed drawing environments for people to explore their own creativity. I also put on a music event to raise money for Foodhall. We had two bands, Rosey PM and psychedelic dream pop band Shrub. I love the idea of mushing together music and art for one big event.
Lastly, do you have any future projects upcoming?
I’m going to put on more music/exhibitions supporting local artists. I’m having a meeting with someone soon to discuss doing some more public art exhibitions, and I’m going to look at creating some bigger work from my small sewn portraits. For those that missed me I’ll be live sewing at Dukes Print Fair 30th Oct and 11th Dec. I’m currently in a sort of ‘post-exhibition mode’ though, so I’m trying to keep the creative momentum going.
liahedwardes.com // @liah.edwardes
