Carol’s sculpture specialises in the human form and expressive movement; working in both bronze and stone resin, she often imparts a tactile texture to her playful characters. Peace is a sculptor who could not work without drawing. The process of drawing, that intuitive response, is what she aims for in her work. While some of the sculptures are layered with meaning, a direct and honest response is often present. She sculpts in clay, which like charcoal is quick to make marks with, once finished it is cast into resin or bronze when those fluid marks of the making are then fixed.
Interview with Carol Peace
What influences your work? E.g. Artists/Movements/certain works/historic time
My inspiration comes from now, today, what’s happening.
The quiet power of peaceful, often beautiful, rebellion.
The striving for equality.
I am doing what I can, how I can.
My work may often be about the fight, about the dark but don’t want people to feel heavy I want people to feel light. I don’t want to make people’s life worse by making shocking or horrible images.
My sculpture is made to give us strength and joy, provide a view to lift and to enable.
I have made her
rock
not leaf.
In her hands
there is a key.
She sees the key
and understands her strength.
What does art mean to you and did it influence you to make art a professional vocation?
The Tate Gallery believe that ‘art lifts our spirits, brightens our days and improves our mental health’. I agree.
I started making figures in the pottery room at school and just carried on. Being creative, it gets under your skin, like an addict, your possessed.
As a teenager, like many teenagers probably, I was really into outsider art and art therapy, I guess I was drawn to it as a way of expression, I probably didn’t realise you don’t have to be mentally ill for making art to be a therapy.
How has your work grown since you started out as an artist?
I think I am exponentially starting to understand what I am doing.
That makes the work stronger.
I am finding my voice.
What do you feel makes your style of work unique?
I am honest. My work comes from the heart and the head. I am not afraid of being romantic, of speaking plainly about what’s important.
Handwriting is unique, drawing is unique, if you use your hands to make art it can only be your own. My work comes from an ancient tradition of figurative sculpture and yet it is made today by me so it is completely recognisable as a “Carol Peace “
What type of art do you dislike and why?
I don’t like lazy art.
I mostly don’t like arrogant art.
Has anyone famous ever bought your work?
I cant remember much, especially names. Lucky really as I have literally no interest in whether someone is famous, or they are a ‘nobody’, an ‘urchin’, a ‘plain girl’ . Every person that likes, buys appreciates my work is important. They are my piggyback; they have made me.
What can we expect to see in the future?
I am going to carry on making tiny things and monumental things. I see myself as minute in the world, but intense, that’s what I think about the tiny figure. Tiny, but intense. Ha ha.
I lived in London years ago when I did the Royal Drawing School Ma year thing. I lived in my studio which was bohemian but mostly unpleasant. I made tiny figures on big lumps of wood.
I am back again for a second approach, we now have a flat, I don’t wash in a sink in cold water, or sleep on builders’ trestles but the tiny people are back. No surprises there then.
What quote/word sums up your art work?
Sculpture from the gut, the head the heart
Sculpture from the head and heart
Tell us about your creative process; how do your works come into creation? Where do you begin? Do you envisage the final outcome from the start or is the process more of a journey?
I make work in clay which is quick to make marks in, like drawing. It’s basically a 3d drawing in clay made on a steel armature, then cast, using a rubber mold into bronze. The casting process, which is lengthy and complicated, captures the fluid marks of making into something completely permanent. The work is often unplanned, working in clay, it brings an energy and a story unfolds.
Carol's exhibition, 'Love Remains' will be on display at our Chelmsford gallery until 4th December. For any questions or enquiries please email or call us.
