Artist Interview: Q&A with Nadia Attura
Nadia Attura is a photographer and artist, whose work blends realism and surrealism, transporting us to distant lands. Her use of vintage, pastel tones and an illustrative approach imbue her works with a dream-like feel, that's further enhanced by her meticulous collaging of her photography, paintings and drawings.
Nadia has exhibited at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2019 and 2016, selling out all exhibited works and editions. In 2017 she was one of five finalists in the VAO. Her work is featured in VOGUE, The New York Times, The Guardian, Aesthetica Magazine, Enki Magazine and Ideal Home.
We caught up with Nadia to discuss her style, method, inspiration and some of her newest pieces.
How would you describe your artistic style?
My work is a landscape tableaux of photography, paint and ink.
Could you give us a little insight into your creative process?
My starting point for the way that I work was David Hockney’s ‘Pearl Blossom Highway”; a collage of photographs that give you the sense of movement and fully being involved within the landscape. He really conveys the feeling of being there, wherever you look, you are there on the journey.
I applied this way of working to my own work. Photographing in nature all the elements of a scene, not just the single landscape still and from here, I reconstruct the scene. There is poetry in nature, which is something felt, not something you see, to create this feeling of otherworldly I add paint, chalk and pen to the final limited edition works.
Do you draw inspiration from certain aspects of nature/colours when creating your pieces?
I love being in nature and surrounded in its restorative energy, even just a small amount is so beneficial to the creative process, it clears your mind and helps me focus. I take most of my source material from nature. I tend to watch the landscape change around me try to be as still as possible to absorb as much as I can. At home I enjoy looking at design magazines for inspiration and also Instagram.
Do you think that your personal background influences your work?
I think it must do. I grew beside a farm in a small village in the North of England. My parents came from Italy, so I grew up with 2 cultures. We always travelled back to Italy every year, taking it in turns to fly one year, drive the next. Driving was by far the most enjoyable way to travel there, watching the landscape change and staying in different countries along the way. I was fascinated from an early age to see how the landscapes changed especially with the seasons, seeing the power of nature and the gentle strong beauty of these 2 very different places.
How has your style changed over time?
During Lockdown, my style has become bolder in colour, a lot more vibrant. I have been attracted to neon colours and using a lot of pink. Perhaps as an antidote to the sadness of the pandemic. Once at a fair where I was exhibiting a customer commented that she could see from my technique I had created the colourful work when I was sad, and the monotone work I was happy. She was correct, the colourful work was made when my father passed away and the monotone work during a time a happier time. During Lockdown I had to develop my concentration skills as I actually had less time in the day than I had previously (due my 5 year old at home and not at school for 9 months) plus I was busier than I have ever been in my art career with sales and commissions.
Do you have any plans for future projects you could tell us about?
