Vibrancy in the genes
Interview
Fida Spoke to artist Robyn Knight
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I first got into drawing as a child. My mother used to oil paint which meant I grew up surrounded by art. We'd draw Disney characters together and copy from picture books; I was always encouraged to experiment and think creatively.
The fashion inspiration was gradual, it began with me enjoying drawing fabric in art class and then snowballed. I started to find my sense of fashion through college, naturally trickling down into my artwork. During uni, we had a fashion illustration unit. That project was when I realised I enjoyed it a little too much and decided to integrate it into my practice entirely.
Honestly, I'm not a morning person, having to ease myself into life with some gentle research and inspiration hunting. Luckily, the best ideas happen when I'm not quite awake. Once I am fully aware, I like to throw myself chaotically into the creative mindset. I'll put some music on, zone out, doodle, and see where my brain leads me. Eventually, it'll evolve into a concept I can build on and develop.
My tools vary, increasingly so, but one constant for me has been digital. I love painting in Photoshop. I have a Huion Kamvas that I use for most of my paintings. Traditionally, I've recently been drawn to fluorescent Pro Markers; they feel like hand-drawn Risograph. I enjoy pairing this with watercolour, as it balances out the vibrancy.
My biggest influence over the years has been music, I believe the music that plays while I'm painting has a heavy impact on the outcome. I've listened to a lot of Muse and Lady Gaga while painting in the past and I always find myself returning to them. As for artists I have always been intrigued by Caravaggio and Sargent. Movements such as Impressionism and Fauvism have also heavily influenced my development. I enjoy trying to reproduce traditional techniques digitally, so studying a broad range of painters contributed to that.
My mother used to oil paint which meant I grew up surrounded by art. We'd draw Disney characters together and copy from picture books; I was always encouraged to experiment and think creatively.
R.Knight
It's essential that you allow yourself to enjoy what you're creating. Treat it as a journey and focus less on the outcome. Adopting this mindset stopped me from being a perfectionist, allowing my process to become more free and vibrant.
Currently, I'm doing a lot of life drawing. It creates a space for me to test out different mediums and software to broaden my range of materials. I've also found myself drawing a lot of shoes; it's the little details and highlights that make it incredibly enjoyable. A present favourite designer of mine is the collective, Youths in Balaclavas, from the collections to the fashion films, I find it all inspiring.
Music-wise, I'm listening to an insane amount of Bowie and 80s Darkwave. In my free time, I like to indulge in gaming. I’ve been playing a lot of Splatoon 3 as of late. I'm currently reading Neuromancer by William Gibson.