As a part of Visible Ink’s Enterprise program, we support young and emerging visual artists to scale their work to suit large sites and submit an Expression of Interest. This year five young artists worked with Jugglers and Brightsiders to submit their EOI to Brisbane Canvas. They were successful in their designs being incorporated over two sites during the Brisbane Street Art Festival.

We’d like to introduce you to the artists that have turned out some amazing designs during this program, including Imogene Peach, Brisbane based artist and real life peach.

You first got involved with Visible Ink through the Emerging Visual Artists (EVA) program, what was that like?

The Emerging Visual Artists program was a super great experience. Having other artists want to lift you up like that is a true rarity in the art world and to have the fortune of such established and incredible artists there to support you and teach you their little secrets was incredibly uplifting and rewarding. I gained such great exposure, opportunities, and also learnt a lot of really valuable skills using new mediums, responding to artistic briefs and transforming works into large scale formats.

For anyone wanting to get involved with similar programs like Emerging Visual Artists I would suggest, look anywhere and everywhere for inspiration and opportunities, no matter how small or large. Humble beginnings are where all great things start. Instagram is also always a great place to network and share your artistic platform.

What are you currently working on, project-wise?

Currently I’m working on a show that explores my personal growth and struggles with gender identity, body image and performative femininity through experimenting with various iterations of the human form. It includes many portraits of friends of all identities and walks of life, using acrylic, markers and a little aerosol as my main mediums. It embraces the fluidity of the human form and experience. I also have had the incredible opportunity to work alongside some other amazing artists for the Brisbane Street Art Festival this year and will be completing a fun mural for them in April.

What do you do and why did you choose to go down this path? What do you love about it?

I have been producing art for a long time, but have only just found the confidence to embrace it fully after some tough times really made me realise creating is really when I feel the most comfy and myself. I currently do commission based works for a whole walk of different clients. The thing I love the most about this is the special connection you gain with someone by drawing them and the huge spectrum of different clients I paint for is always exciting as each work is something different to the one before- it really makes the whole experience fun and inspiring each time I get a job.

What would you say led you to where you are today?

I think what really led me to where I am now was through the power of positive thinking and mindfulness. I have a rough history with mental illness and found that the best way for me to express my tumultuous relationship with my brain was not so much through words, but with my hands, really getting in touch with what I love doing and holding on to that so tightly. Art has played a huge role in my recovery and still does everyday I pick up a pen or brush. The strength of other friends and the ones I love who have really been pushing it up hill and have come out on top has inspired me to take every opportunity I can and to always keep creating.

Is there any advice you wish you’d been given before you started in this field?

I think the best advice I have been given in regards to art is to believe in what you do and always do it with agency. Self doubt has always been my biggest obstacle, but listening to the positive feedback you’re receiving and accepting that you are deserving and worth this is a HUGE step in the right direction.

What do you get up to in your down time?

In my spare time (which I have a lot of) I love to annoy my cat, take care of my garden, craft anything and everything and enjoy the present with the ones I love.

You can get in touch with  with Imogene via Instagram at @imogenepeachart and also on Facebook by the same name. Or swing by and check out her mural work Sunday 15 April, 10am-4pm at Toombul Skatepark – 46 Parkland Street, Nundah – as a part of Brisbane Street Art Festival and funded by Brisbane Canvas.