DE6 RURAL CREATIVES:
Poppy Hellaby on Life as an Artist within the Rural Community
I sit down with Poppy Hellaby to speak about her experience with being an artist within a rural area and the problems she has had to overcome on her creative journey.
To see the latest animals Poppy is drawing in her bedroom head over to @pahellaby_
"I SPEND HOURS OF MY LIFE IN MY ROOM DRAWING DOGS NOSES"
Can you introduce yourself?
Hi, I’m Poppy and I spend hours of my life in my room drawing dog’s noses.
If you want to see them noses - @pahellaby_art
Where did you grow up?
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In Ashbourne, down Brookside, surrounded by fields exuding my femininity by playing tag rugby with the lads.
Why do you think that being a Rural Creative is so important?
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I actually really enjoy doing it without being cringey, like it’s a way of a release and to escape... it’s weird I'm drawing someone's pet but I have to focus on every element, every strand of hair, but at the same time, it’s giving me a chance to chill.
What do you think is the hardest part of being a Rural Creative?
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I think the first thing would be the competition with living in such a small area, a few other people I know do a similar thing and without it meaning to it gets a little personal, especially when you respect the other person you don’t want to be treading on one another’s toes or running each other down especially when you’re in the same boat.
Second would deffo be the lack of support. especially the professional aspect; Like hello my name is poppy and I draw, doesn’t really cut it. But there is no one to really go to for help or advice or a step-up so you kind of just have to keep pushing yourself and keep going.
How have you found it personally?
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I've not just learnt it or gone and done a course on it? I’ve been doing it since I remember - always arty so it’s just taken me in this direction especially for the therapeutic side of it like I said. Motivation is probs the hardest, it’s very hard having to get up and doing it especially being young, some days I just sit there and draw and draw for hours at a time just by myself... but like I said I'm young so you just do it.
Who is your biggest creative influence?
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Probs me dad... I used to sit when I was younger and just watch him paint the Shrovetide balls for hours - so I think in a way its just kind of been engraved in my brain, just watching him paint and it’s just passed onto me.
What is your favourite pencil?
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I love a good Faber Castle, especially in me darker tones... I’ve got a lush set in grade 8 to 12, really gets them dog’s noses poppin’.
What are your plans for the future?
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I hate that question. I hated it since I was at school. It pisses me off. To be honest, I don’t know, but what I would like to do is fuck off and become a tattooist who lives by the sea.
What advice would you give to young creatives who are in a similar situation to you?
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Just go for it, what is stopping you?
But seriously I was the same like, I was in my head thinking about failure but what is there to be scared of?
But be confident within yourself, and that’s the hardest part like you more often than not have to learn to be confident unless you're one of the extremely lucky ones, but once you do it’s so worth it