An Interview with Lucy Schappy, Canadian Abstract Painter
Lucy Schappy was kind enough to answer our questions so we can get to know the artist behind those bold and vibrant abstract paintings.
At what age did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I knew I was an artist at a very young age but didn’t know I could “be one” for a living until I was 35 and already a dentist.
What would you tell your child self?
You are loved and have value, trust yourself.
List three words that describe you.
Fearful, daring, brave ( in that order)
Why is it important for you to paint/build/create?
Making art became a part of my survival mode as a young child in a fragmented household. It was my safe and happy place and it still is. It liberates me from the mundane, from fear and from boredom. It takes me out of myself and into myself at the same time.
Take us through the part of your artistic process that you love the most.
I love the part of my painting process when things begin to take shape and my hand is quicker than my head and it is grabbing colour and rapidly applying it. I am lost in this adrenaline rush of “knowing what to do” and doing it with almost blind faith. This is spontaneous, intuitive painting and it is an absolute thrill.
Where or how do you look for inspiration?
Sun-filled places and spaces. I love the drama of shadows and the brightness of colour.
Name something you've learned as an artist that was unexpected.
Colour is the best, or a reasonable substitute for sunshine.
What genre, band, artist, or podcast do you like to listen to when you work?
I love the energy of indie music, it is in time with my process and dancing is often part of it.
What do people find the most appealing about your work?
The colour and joy.
Did you have another career before you became an artist?
I was a dentist.
What is your ideal Sunday morning?
Coffee in bed and then a walk somewhere wild and free.
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