Natasha Wills describes herself as a bower bird – collecting: hair, driftwood, bones, rustic debris, nests, sounds, fabrics, glances, burnt sticks, train tickets, shoes in exodus, toys, found images, paper… These objects or feelings make their way into my her work, sometimes in an objectified, tangible way, sometimes they morph into abstraction. Her experience of it, shapes what she does.
Courtney O’Connor, marketing intern at Youth Arts Queensland, interviewed Natasha to find out more:
Natasha Wills, Artist
How would you define your creative style?
I feel through trying to define my style, I’d be categorising my work, putting it in a box and closing it off. I would much prefer for the art I make to remain open to continual interpretation, for people to be able to see and feel what they will, reflecting their own beautiful or sordid memories, senses and consciousness to build their own unique view of the work.
What do you hope to achieve from Starburst?
I hope to make industry contacts. To broaden my interaction and engagement with the arts community in Townsville. I want to work to develop my practice and produce a fresh, new body of work.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Art is everywhere. I try and keep open and observant, so inspiration comes to me. It’s no use going looking for it, it runs away with its tail between it’s legs the moment I ‘try’ to find it.
What are your thoughts on your regional area?
I moved to North Queensland at the beginning of this year, on a whim. I came up from Sydney to visit family and am still here! Initially I was a little dubious about the art scene here and worried I might have planted myself in a cultural wasteland, but over the past six months I’ve burrowed my way under the surface and found lots of wonderful creative people and a strong and engaging art scene here in Townsville.
Do you think being a young person in your part of Queensland affects you artistic practice?
The environment and place definitely affects my practice, it informs my perspective and therefore the work I make.
Natasha Wills' Artist Studio
