Here at Squidge, we bloody love finding new artists and the like, stumbling across creative types that we can make internet friends with. Even better when they totter over and introduce themselves to us, that is all kinds of awesome. This is exactly what the lovely Lily Mae Martin did. When I first saw her work it reminded me somewhat of sketches by Lucien Freud, the same almost grotesque reality.
So I just had to ask her if she would do a picture for us around the theme of ‘Squidge’ and find out a bit more about her work. This is what she came up with.
Squidge Mag: How would you describe our work to anyone who has never seen it before?
Lily Mae Martin: I would describe my drawn work as often grotesque and unsettling in the depiction of it’s subjects, but not without a little humour. They are sort of an overt representation of the inner psyche. Conversely my painted works are generally softer and not as immediately confronting. The subjects seem to hold their emotions further within. In each image I am striving to improve myself technically and conceptually, which I think is really starting to shape my work now.
SM: What artists and illustrators have been the biggest influence on your work so far?
LM: When I was younger, comic books were my biggest inspiration… Such as FooTrot Flats and Archie. Then I was really inspired by The Simpsons when it came out and Disney and Looney Toons. (Especially the earlier ones.) Osamu Tezuka and Peter Chung’s “Aeon Flux”. Then when I was older, I really got inspired by Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell, I really loved Alan Moore’s “V for Vendetta”, I enjoyed Neil Gaiman, and was very inspired by Garth Ennis’ “Preacher”, and David Mac. Other than comics and cartoons, I am very inspired by Caravaggio, Goya, William Hogarth, Munch, Lucien Freud, John Currin, etc.
SM: What’s your working space or studio like?
LM: My space is rather new so I am still waiting on some furniture. It’s decorated with old photographs I have been collecting and images I like from magazines, postcards etc. It’s pretty incomplete. But, it’ll get there. I have double doors that open up to the back garden so I can get some ventilation while looking at the pretty garden. Very nice light.
SM: How did you get on with the theme of Squidge?
LM: The image I chose is about how we all live off our screens. We work with them, we study with them, we socialize with them, we entertain ourselves with them, we lust with them, we are glued to them and I think it is affecting our social behavior. I think how we run our work spaces and conduct our social lives are heavily influenced by these machines and are squidging our brains and ourselves!
You can find more of Lily’s work on her website
