Wind Down with Uprise Artist, Caroline Walls
An explorer of mediums and versed in oil painting, drawing, and sculpture – Walls shares how she replenishes her creative well through the art of winding down. Read on to inspire new bedtime rituals as Caroline Walls (@carolinewallsart) happily shares her own.
What are the types of moments in which inspiration strikes for you?
The shifting tides of my life and the experiences I have as a woman through different life stages. Human connections as a woman, mother, partner and friend. Moments of intimacy, ordinary, everyday moments that may be fleeting but are filled with love – a kiss, a cuddle, laughter.
Tell us about your wind-down routine.
My wind-down routine looks a little different these days as I have 2 and 4 year old daughters but once they are in bed I’ll wash my face and apply my nightly skincare routine before spending some time in my own thoughts, allowing myself to mentally unwind from the day. I have a love of good films so if I’m not reading a book I’ll be watching a new film or rewatching a classic.
How do you bring art into your personal spaces?
We have a lot of art throughout our home, much of it is my own work – charcoal drawings, silkscreen print artworks and paintings from past collections. I’m also an avid collector of art books and have stacks of books featuring my favourite artists throughout our space – I enjoy looking through them for inspiration during the quieter times at home.
What’s always on your nightstand?
Always a good book, magnesium spray, a glass of water or tea and my lip balm.
Tell us about your relationship with the female form and why it’s captivated your artistic attention.
I think it’s really a mixture of things that drew me into representing and interpreting the female form in my practice. On a very basic level I really do love the aesthetics of the female form - its curves, its sensuality and strong silhouette.
I’m forever inspired by womanhood and the various stages I have experienced such as becoming a mother – ideas around strength, fertility, fragility, sexuality and human connection.
I can see these musings of mine filtering down into the themes I’m exploring in my work - notions of intimacy, sexuality and human connection continue to play out in my work as I continue to grow, learn and evolve as a woman and gain a better sense of my truest self and my identity.
You’ve talked about how motherhood has profoundly impacted your art. Tell us more.
After having children I’m in awe of the female body – it’s strength, its power to grow and birth a human. Motherhood in all its glory and chaos has really underscored the importance of connection, touch and emotional intimacy. I have a deepening curiosity about the ebb and flow of relationships through the various stages such as parenthood. I can see these musings of mine filtering down into the themes I’m exploring in my work - notions of intimacy, sexuality and human connection continue to play out in my work as I continue to grow, learn and evolve as a woman and gain a better sense of my truest self and my identity.
My experience with pregnancy, birth and postpartum has connected me with my body and sense of self in profound and really complex, beautiful ways – and certainly these experiences have informed the figures and forms I create within my artworks. The art I’ve created since becoming a mother to my daughters has focused on depicting the varied experiences of motherhood – whether it be the joy, hope or fear that rises to the surface as I navigate caring for them whilst also growing and developing as a woman and artist.
What happens when you’re an “artist at rest”—how does your downtime impact your time spent creating?
Simple things like a dinner with my wife and friends, a long walk and travel whenever we have the opportunity. Picnics and park dates with my daughters, listening to music and having a glass of wine in our garden as the sun sets. Having time away from the studio and getting some distance from what I’m working on gives me the opportunity to reflect on my art – where it has been and where I would like to take it.
You have so many demands on your time– how do you structure your day for maximum fulfillment?
I’m most productive in the mornings so I tend to do most of my work earlier in the day as by 3pm in the afternoon I change modes from artist to mother. I’m a keen list-writer so I find having lists of what I need to achieve on any given day and across the week allows me to prioritize and focus on the tasks ahead.
Tell us about your go-to wardrobe for around the house.
Comfort is key when I’m at home. I’m drawn to quality pieces in natural fabrics such as silk, linen or cotton in tones of black and neutral. The Lunya Washable Silk Tee Set is perfect for those reasons of comfort, style and practicality.
