Hudson Mackay Gallery catch up with emerging artist Moira Buchanan and ask her about the techniques she uses to create her ethereal style paintings.

April 2010

HM ~ Hello Moira, where are you originally from?
MB ~ I was born in Irvine, then moved to East Kilbride, after that out to Eaglesham and 4 years ago to a flat in Glasgow.

HM ~ When did you first become interested in art?
MB ~ My first memory of being artistic was at my Auntie Mary's house when I was a very young child. I hid behind her couch for a good while, and by the time she found me I had created a masterpiece on her wall! Auntie Mary considered keeping it there. She always has been a great inspiration and encouragement to me.

HM ~ Tell us about your favourite art project.
MB ~ In hindsight, I've always enjoyed the project I've been working on at the time, and I'm always driven to do it well. Right now I'm enjoying what I'm doing and feel there is nothing to hold me back. Now is a good time. I have freedom to express myself. A while ago I studied life drawing and did this for my own needs as an artist. I'd begun by drawing people straight out of magazines, Nicole Kidman was my first attempt, but I soon realised that life drawing classes were the best way to enhance my work, it really did bring something alive in my paintings. I'm also working towards a degree in Arts Into Humanities with OU. The course covers everything from philosophy, literature, poetry and the different eras of art history. I'm currently studying the period from 1780-1830, this was a great time of enlightenment and romanticism where people's lives were brought forward and developed.

HM ~ Tell us about your paintings.
MB ~ My paintings are personal and I often stand back from the canvas and think 'where am I going with this?' I tend to find inspiration in what is happening socially. Painting is a real escape and release from any anxiety and stress that can be found in everyday life. My painting 'Tesla' captures a lot of movement. It is a direct reference to Rembrandt's painting 'The Hanging Carcass', where you can see wee elements of the painterly strokes. I also tend to use white spirit, which actually takes out small parts of the painting. I love detail and can often be seen at Kelvingrove Art Gallery focussing on the minute brush strokes in paintings. I'm sure other people wandering around must think I'm a bit odd when they notice me doing this. It's important to me that other people get their own visual ideas from my work and share with me when they see something different. In the past I have made many paintings using wax encaustic treatments, but I much prefer using oils, I find working with oils more relaxing and inspirational. You could probably paint oils on any surface; I have a friend who paints with them on aluminium and this gives a beautiful effect.

HM ~ If your life story was to be a film, which actress would play you?
MB ~ I'd like perhaps Jodie Foster or Goldie Hawn to play my life story. Jodie Foster is such a beautiful, amazing woman, so attractive and a brilliant actress and Goldie Hawn is such a quirky woman, I loved her in private Benjamin.

HM ~ What should never change for you?
MB ~ The fact that I have a studio and can paint. Eventually I would like to move into a solo studio, but for now I love where I paint and the people I share the space with. My current studio mate, Anna is good fun and we were surprised to find out we are neighbours, she actually lives on my street just a few doors away! I would like to open a facility for artists, a place that would bring people from the wider community together to be creative. My parents tried to put me off becoming an artist as they said I'd be poor and destitute! I therefore, enjoy enabling and encouraging others to have a go and release their own creative self.

HM ~ Thank You for your time Moira.