In Conversation x Sophie Tea Art

Question

Of all the creative industries, fine art holds the reputation for being the most difficult to break into. When did the canvas become a brick wall? When did oil paints first get used to ward off independent and working-class talent? In conversation with Sophie Tea Art, Original Magazine wants to blend the rigid colours of the art world in the hopes of discovering a new favourite shade:

O.M: When did you first take the plunge into the world of fine art?

Sophie: I’ve always (probably from naivety) had the mindset that I could do art full-time. That comes from a place of privilege in the sense that I always knew that if it did go tits up, I could move back in with Mum and Dad. I think there’s nothing more motivating, as a 21-year-old, than knowing you’d have to move back in with Mum and Dad if it all went wrong.

I did business at uni, and you know that final trip you take before going into a job? I went to India. I remember there was loads of graffiti on this wall at a hostel I was staying in. I was running out of money, so I just asked the hostel manager if I could paint in return for a free stay. I hadn’t painted since I was at school! I fell in love with it.

I remember emailing the grad scheme I had lined up (I was going to be a technical consultant at a software firm, lol) and telling them I was going to become an artist. They didn’t care – they had someone else lined up anyway. I posted the painting I did in India on Facebook, and my friends went, “Ah, Soph, I didn’t realise you could paint.” I replied, “Ah, yeah, if you’d like one, let me know.”

You know where to go for the full interview feature ⬇️

https://www.originalmagazine.uk/om-x-in-conversation-with-sophie-tea-art