Meet the Maker- Blythe Bruckner

We had the pleasure of attending the private viewing of “Patchwork” by Blythe Bruckner Art in the heart of Shoreditch at the end of last year. Having previously worked with Blythe for many years, we have always had the upmost admiration of her work and creativity. Seeing a whole body of her work all together and artfully hung is a treat for the eyes that we felt compelled to share. Ranging from the boldest brights to the moodiest of blues and our favourite compilation of neutrals, Blythe’s eye for colour combinations and beautifully textured layering was greatly received on the night. We popped by her home studio in London to have a catch up and fully immerse ourselves in her World.

Favourite materials that you use in your Art?

My three fave materials are, Windsor & Newton acrylic paint - this is what I paint my base layer and washes with they just have lovely colours and just the right amount of coverage, then I tend to use gold montana acrylic artist sprays the colour palette is vast and unfortunately it’s like candy in a candy store, you can get so carried away, I think by now I have nearly the whole colour spectrum. I get them from Graff City which seems to be cheaper than most places. Lastly I love golden fluid acrylic, their iridescent gold gives a really intense patch of gold which I have on most of my pieces.

Your pieces are mostly small in size, do you ever experiment on a larger scale or will you stay small?

My works can be quite intense but I think the fact that they are small scale helps, I think people tend to place them next to other pieces so they work as a story. Everyone is always trying to get me to upscale but i find it hard, mainly due to my process, spray paint is temperamental at the best of times so trying to control it on a bigger scale is tricky. Recently I have been doing more simple geometric or striped ones which have sold well, maybe they are easier for people to use.

I never really know how things will turn out, I have a method of doing the paintings but the mark making is so accidental you can never plan what you will end up with - that can be terrifying when you spend a whole day doing a piece and it goes wrong, but in the same way, when something unexpected happens, and it turns out well, it’s very elating. Art fights back, it’s certainly not easy!

The variety of colour and texture is the most standout thing for us when looking at your art. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from no where specific, it could be an amazing fashion editorial, a beautiful horizon or a picture i've seen of a beautiful interior, we are by nature sponges and a colour palette may appear months after seeing something that I've loved. I think my work has its own handwriting but they are really diverse and I think this is because I'm a magpie for colour and steal different colour combos from everywhere!

If you could do a collaboration with another creative - dead or alive - who would it be?

Such a tricky question, can I say 3 ?! Firstly the Mexican architect Luis Barragan his lines and colour use is second to none . Secondly the art director Shona Heath I can spot her work instantly I always love her colours and her play with scale, space and fantasy. lastly the artist Milton Avery I may not use his sort of colour palette much in my work but I love all those 50's dusky shades and his imagery.

What music/podcast/playlist are you listening to in the studio? What gets you n the zone?

I have to have music on while I work always but I mostly listen to 6 music. when I do listen to podcasts it is obviously Desert Island Discs, such a clever way of getting directly into the mind of the guest and getting a gauge of who they are. I also listen to Homing In the podcast by Matt Gibbers who is the founder of 'modern house' one of my favourite insta/websites accounts - as an interior stylist my poor husband has to put up with me saying weekly "we're moving to Margate, check out this house!' On his podcast he interviews really interesting people, it's a similar premise to Desert Island but instead of songs that are important to them, it’s properties.

Where can people get their hands on your work and when is the next show?

The best place for people to get hold of my work is via my insta account @blythe.bruckner.art I have a website but I'm very time poor so it doesn't get updated as much as it should. Lots of people come to my house and buy as I have a studio and a house covered in my pieces. I would like to say I will have a show later on in the year however i'm still recovering from the last, it’s very stressful putting yourself out there - but also very important to have a goal to work towards. Watch this space!

Of course, as interior designers we couldn't help but soak up Blythe’s beautiful home which serves as the perfect backdrop for some of her pieces. Blythe Bruckner Art is a true testament to B’s character and is truly representative of her as a creative powerhouse. We love how she uses the full spectrum of colour which is displayed throughout her home and her work. On leaving the studio, we are truly inspired and have a deeper understanding of her work, her processes and just how amazing her finished pieces are up close.We’re looking forward to adding in some pieces to our project mood boards in 2024.

Thanks again B - we’ll take it all!

Carefully curated and considered placement of Art can make all the difference. It’s not just about selecting the right pieces but also thinking about the lighting; the height at which it is hung and also being conscious of the things that it sits alongside. Before making any permanent marks or holes on your walls, take a moment to think about all of these things.

Are you starting a renovation and wanting to embody a piece of artwork that you adore in your interiors? Book a complimentary intro call with us to discuss.