Isabelle
Goeminne
1. Welcome Isabelle to The Influx Gallery family. Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from?
Hi, first of all thank you very much for this opportunity. My name is Isabelle Goeminne and I live in Belgium. I grew up in a town called “Waregem”, later on I followed my husband, who’s a composer/producer, and moved to Dendermonde. I've attended several courses to develop my photographic skills and I've spend as much time as possible in being creative.
2. Were your family supportive of you deciding to become an artist?
My parents weren’t interested in art or in a creative job, however my father loved French movies and French music. He always said he recorded a vinyl record but I’ve never heard it. After I lost my mom in an accident, I bought my first Nikon. In the beginning I made pictures of my family. Years later I attended courses. My husband and son are more interested in creating music.
3. Was there anything specific that you can remember that made you want to become an artist?
It’s a process and the passion drives me. Circumstances and criticism (both positive and negative) encouraged me to make new things, to grow and to improve myself. Creativity gave me a platform to express and gave me peace.
4. Did your schooling or work affect your creative development in any way?
At some point yes, I became fascinated with photographers like Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon and others, it was the beginning of a learning process, testing myself, creating and developing.
5. When did you first discover photography and digital art?
As a kid I collected pictures from magazines (National Geographic and some fashion magazines) and kept them in a folder to view them over and over again. As a teenager I went to the drawing school (I drew with charcoal and at home I made collages with sugar and other coloured substances) and visited art galleries. In that period surrealism fascinated me. Art in general always interested me.
6. Are you very hands on with the processing of digital files?
I work with lightroom for the raw files and I use photoshop for the finishing touch and the abstract forms.
7. Your photography is beautiful and poetically inspiring. Do you use literature, film or poetry as an influence?
Thank you. My works are a fusion of feelings and moods. I like film noir, futuristic movies, pop art, traditional art, surrealism, abstract art, .... so maybe my ideas are a melting pot of subconscious influences together with life experiences. Even special music can be an influence. I almost never start with a predefined structure. The idea coagulates during the process, at taking the picture or while I evaluate it. Mostly the local circumstances create the opportunity.
8. Could you give us a little teaser as to the process that helps you create such fabulous artworks?
At this moment, I’m fascinated by the magnificent world of plants and its diversity. Photography is the basic medium where all depends on light and details, finding the right position, structures, contrasts and depth.... using different techniques, different atmospheres ... and I look for a story I can tell. For the transformation series I started to transform my images in a way they become a mix of expressions, feelings, impressions, atmospheres and abstract forms. I love doing this and can spend many hours on it.
9. Where do you get your inspiration and influences from?
The inspiration comes spontaneous and I’m trying to do my own thing. Life experiences (and feelings) are a big influence. I visit expositions and explore what happens in photography in the world. I’ve seen a lot of images that I admire, like or dislike, so probably there is an influence, subconsciously.
10. Do you have any tips for any inspiring digital artist/photographer who is using software, or picking up a camera for the first time?
Practice a lot and find what really fascinates you. Don’t force it, take your time and make it enjoyable. Don’t give up and stay true to yourself.
11. Your mastery of black and white photography is unique and extremely visually arresting. Is your methodology whilst creating this fantastic art?
I would say, practice makes perfect, but it is actually a search to find/create your own style. It is a way to combine the uncomplicated with atmosphere and sentiment, to find the working combination, all melted together with a strong preference for the subtle and timeless black & white.
12. Thanks a lot for your valuable time and interest. You can include any other details you want to talk about here?
It’s a pleasure to be awarded a place amongst the beautiful works and wonderful artists in your gallery.