Sandra Vernon Interview

Well known in Leitrim as a visual artist Sandra Vernon also works with paper in various forms. Her drawings are mainly to commission, although she does do the odd exhibition here and there. Some of her work is currently on show at the Morpheus gallery, Carrick-on-Shannon.


1. What started you on your journey as an artist?

As a child I was always drawing on my schoolbooks. A very advanced teacher, it was the early fifties brought me in paper, pencils and newspaper adverts to copy. He asked me to spare the books, pay attention to my lessons and keep drawing. Have been ever since!

2. At what point did you go from amateur to professional artist?

The trip from amateur (I don't like that word, in the arts it seems to imply second rate rather than as a pastime) came gradually from my involvement with "Visual Leitrim" twenty plus years ago and encouragement from people like John Hunt as well as artists like Malachy Costello and Fergus Lyons.

3. How do you feel your style has developed over your career? Have there been any artists along the way that have influenced your development?

Influence first. When I lived in Germany there was much more cultural awareness of the arts. I had the opportunity to see many of the then new artists work, Dali, Miro, Henry Moore and more, such an awakening. Even though many of the things I draw are everyday, what the experience said to me was that one didn't have to do what everybody else expects. As to style, when I look back I can see the development, more detail, larger, more challenges. Even though my first love for a subject is stone, buildings and shapes I have taken on new challenges. First animals, all that hair, a lot of pen strokes!!! And recently portraits - the ultimate challenge in pen and ink, you just cannot make a mistake.

4. You mentioned the pen strokes. Most of your two dimensional work is in pen and ink. What is it about this medium that attracts you?

Again back to childhood. Painted a bit, still do, but became more interested in the light of a picture. Back to black and white and then, oh wow, the advent of Rotring technical pens. Then came the challenge of using the finest point I could find, building the shading to give form to the image. Not being a patient person I find the short strokes fulfills a need to "get there" yet at the same time it is so relaxing and enjoying.

5. Apart from your drawings you are well known for your work in papier mache. Do you see this work as different to your two dimensional work?

In many ways the papier mache is an extension of my drawings. I used handmade paper for my drawings sometimes, and felt that somehow I wanted to use the transparency and texture of the paper in a more three dimensional form, and of course light it. Perhaps I'm a frustrated sculptor but I do find the process of tearing up expensive papers brings me to a completely different head space.

6. You are a member and on the committee of the Solas art gallery in Ballinamore. How has being involved with the running of the gallery affected you?

Having had my own gallery and helped setup and run a few gallery/exhibitions I find it enjoyable. I enjoy encouraging and helping other artists. A committee helps run the gallery and I do PR for the gallery every month. Not being a disciplined person it provides panics every month, but it gets done and so does my work.

7. How do you know when a piece is finished?

How does anybody? If it's a commission the deadline often tells you. Seriously, it's more a feeling than something physical. As I like to work straight through on a piece, when I put down the pen I am 95% there. It gets pinned on the wall and looked at for a while, a few more strokes, dots a bit more shading and that's it. If you overwork with pen and ink it can be a disaster, learned that early on.

8. What do you think of the current state of the Leitrim art world? Is it on a par with the rest of the country?

Here I have to admit my ignorance of the rest of the country. I love some of the work being produced, can't stand some of it and frankly, don't understand the rest. In Leitrim I think a balance is being achieved slowly. Due to long ago times of inexpensive houses, good grants etc. we had an influx of artists but with no outlets. Now there is the Sculpture centre, Dock, Design house, Solas and Morpheus. Each catering for a certain section of artists, I feel we need more in the county. We certainly have enough artists on all levels to avail of them.

9. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Not sure, planning too far ahead after the allotted three score and ten seems a bit presumptuous!

10. Any advice for young artists starting out?

Go for it, be open minded, and as I was told "learn to type, you might need a job".