Studio Visit with Olivia Henry

Words by Olivia Henry, Photographs by Damien Henry

We are currently moving house, so we are amidst chaos at the moment! I have been trying to preserve my studio so it’s the very last thing that needs to be packed. I have 2 very active children aged 4 & 2 that I am also a full time mum to, so some days I am working in my studio, other days I work from the kitchen bench, dining table or it may be from a picnic rug at the playground.  I have to be flexible to keep momentum and balance.

I’m constantly designing in my head, I find myself completing a piece in my mind, and have visualised it finished before I have even put ink to paper.

We love spending time by the water, it seems to have a cleansing effect on the mind and body. We are very lucky to be surrounded by some beautiful parts of nature and the bay where we live. We still frequent Orange around 3-4 times a year to visit family and ‘unplug’ from life that gets so crazy.

I love colour, I’m drawn to bright and bold colour and love neon’s mixed in. I also love modern and quirky fabrics, art and home wares. A lot of my inspiration comes by the looseness and flow of watercolours. I love how they are so unpredictable and free. I work digitally and traditionally so also love the flexibility I have with digitally manipulating my original works for surface pattern and fabric design. I can give an artwork a whole new lease of life and purpose very quickly digitally.