Drawings by Abigail Webster from Ireland.

An Interview with Abigail Webster

Who and from where are you?

My name is Abigail Webster and I am a 19 year old art student. I am originally from South Africa but have been living in Ireland for the past 8 years.

How you got into this?

I have enjoyed art and reading since I was little. My love for a good story naturally grew to a love of movies with a particular passion for animation.  I have always been quite artistic and have loved the arts. I took ballet, tap and piano lessons in Junior School, but it was in Art Class in Secondary School where I discovered my real passion for drawing and painting.

Having moved from South Africa at the age of 11, I almost immediately fell in love with Ireland. This beautiful country made me feel most welcome and I had started a whole new adventure here. I felt excited about the future. What I didn’t bargain on was how much I would miss my family and my country.

As a teenager, the feeling of longing for my loved ones back home became overwhelming at times. I found some comfort by expressing my feelings in my journal. Through words and images, I found some relief and I discovered that once I had put something down on paper, it seemed to lift the weight off my shoulders. Through my journal, I found voice for my feelings and I discovered that art could do so much more than just ‘look pretty’ – it could connect me (and others) with what was going on in my inner-world. And that’s ultimately what I love most about drawing and art… it can connect you to yourself and to others in a very personal and real way.    

What is your driving force?

First and foremost, my driving force is just a sheer love of art. I love to draw and create and when I see a piece produced by an artist I admire, I feel inspired to achieve the same level of excellence. I want to grow and keep growing to become the best artist I can be. Looking at some of the great artists can be intimidating when you are an amateur, but I always think to myself ‘they were where I was at one stage’, which encourages me to press on.

I have almost finished my first year doing an Art Course and I cannot say it was what I was expecting. I faced several challenges regarding the way I create and although I took everything I could as a learning opportunity, there were times I questioned whether I had what it takes to be an artist. These were the times I had to dig deep and remind myself of what I really wanted and keep going. We all have our strengths and weaknesses as artists. I have discovered when I push through the challenging moments of discomfort, for example when trying to learn a new technique or style of work; I discover something new in myself.

Art can be subjective and not everyone will like what you do, but if it’s what you truly love, then keep fighting for it. I feel that being challenged this past year has helped me find my inner strength and determination as an artist.  

What kind of work you do and why?

For me, this past year has been one of self-discovery. I have been pushed beyond my comfort zone and worked with mediums I have never used before, like printmaking which I really enjoyed. I invested more time in finding my own source material and focused on capturing the world around me. I constantly carried my sketchbook with me, drawing people and places I would come across. I created art of the things that were personal to me and inspire me. I have a love of drawing people and it’s something that features a lot in my work. I am still searching for what I want to say in my art, at this point it has been about exploration. I have focused mainly on capturing the things that interest me. For example, there was a time I was completely absorbed in drawing dancers. I love the strength and movement expressed through their bodies and you see such clarity and definition of form that it’s a joy to draw.

My experience in fine art on my course has changed my perspective and given me a deeper understanding of making original art. It’s more than just replicating what you see accurately, it’s also about putting your own individual voice or interpretation to a piece. I try now to put something more of myself into the work I produce. Having had a taste of fine art has helped to improve my overall skills which will help me greatly as I move forward. I have thoroughly enjoyed this one year course I am currently completing, which was focused on preparing a portfolio of artwork for submission to the colleges I hope to go to.

Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career in animation and will start a four year degree in this field later this year. Animation is one of my greatest passions and for me, being able to use my artistic skills to tell stories that I know can connect people in a very tangible and real way would be a dream come true. I could think of nothing more enjoyable than creating a character or world that captures the imagination of its viewer; that connects them to their own emotions, dreams and hopes. The greatest joy must be to know that you can inspire others and bring joy and laughter in some very small way to someone else, whether young or old. Animation has done that for me and I would love to be able to be a part of the animators’ world that helps to create that for others.

For more of Abigail Webster Check this link of her Instagram account:- https://www.instagram.com/abigailwebster/

All Images are copyright by: Abigail Webster