introducing Lesley McInally
Where do you currently live?
In the middle of nowhere in an old converted one room school house, surrounded by nature. Cookstown is the nearest town to me.
Tell us the best thing about that Town.
It's a teeny weeny sleepy town which was once prized for its antique shops but the expanding road through has put an end to these. The best thing about the town is the wonderful Library: Books, classes, kids programs and splash pad! There's even a fireplace with a coffee machine……woohoo!
If you didn’t live there you’d love to live…..
Orkney. I'm a remote island sort of a lass and it is the one place I constantly hanker after………
Outside of ceramic art what other types of art/design/fashion etc are you drawn to and does it influence your work?
I'm very much drawn to traditional craft, constructed textiles, basketry, knitting and usually go weak in the knees at primitive and ancient art and artifacts. Does it influence my work, ya dugh!!
If you couldn’t be an artist next best job would be:
I should say something sensible that brings in lots of money for the hours I put in but I would probably go for archeologist…..living in Orkney and still playing in the dirt! ok, ok, if I drag myself out the mud then maybe I'd work in a museum. If you can't make the objects you may as well play with them!
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of art?
no comment, it wasn't me.
No cheating what’s the book beside your bed?
damn, it should have been such a cool intellectual book to make me look smart and interesting but it's an enormous pile of stories for a 3 year old and my book is a self indulgent romantic fiction “written in my own hearts blood” which is the last book of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon……..
If you could exhibit your work alongside any artist, alive or dead who would you want to show with?
Joan Eardley would be the painter I would choose, sadly dead way before her time.
But to exhibit alongside Pippin Dryasdale….Oh to DREAM………
Name someone everyone should follow on instragram:
This woman's posts are amazing, she is a talented potter living and working in Norway and her images of life there are always a pleasure to behold. She often sends me off in daily swoons and there can't be an artist out there who woudln't kill for her studio view.
Best tip you’ve ever been given on how to be an artist:
Live with someone who has a well paid job. Yup, I DID say that out loud!
Favorite thing to listen to in the studio:
CBC 2 Classical. I adore music and don't like silence in my studio, this station is my companion.
Creative blocks? How do you fix them?
you get your arse into the studio and you make what you know, Don't think, just do…….eventually it begins to flow again, you just have to ride it out.
Do you have a super power? If yes what? If no what super power would you choose?
yes, I'm a mum. I have the power to do a gazillion things at the same time having had 20 minutes sleep in several days and I'm still here to tell the tale. If I could loose that super power and choose another it would be to write, writing is one of the hardest things for me to do and sadly as an artist in this day and age, writing seems to be a very helpful skill.
One goal, art related or otherwise, that you want to accomplish before you die?
To have the opportunity to teach what I do all over the planet. Then I could travel my ass off whilst working, meet new people and play with mud, it doesn't get any better than that.
Find out more about Lesley on her profile page.