Six Foot Gallery is delighted to present its annual Summer Show, featuring thirty-four artists working in a diverse range of mediums and disciplines.

Desiree Skellern’s work navigates the complex terrain of cultural displacement, identity, and her intrapersonal struggles as a woman and an immigrant. Drawing inspiration from peers, contemporary art, and colour, she continuously pursues new avenues for creative expression by exploring various creative disciplines.

Her landscapes are creations born from her mind – collages of inspiration, pieced together from meticulously curated mood boards. These serene, yet expressive, landscapes offer an escape from the weight of current events and day-to-day struggles, which she processes by retreating into the act of creation itself.

Layering images and ideas serves as a methodical technique that brings order to the chaos of her thoughts and emotions. Her art is not didactic; instead, the artist creates out of a compulsion to share, express, and process.

The duality of feeling caught between two countries informs much of her work, infusing it with a sense of searching and unresolved tension. Her landscapes, though tranquil, are imbued with an underlying narrative of adaptation and belonging, making them not just an escape for the artist, but a metaphorical exploration of the internal and external worlds she navigates.

Hi Desiree! Can you walk us through your creative process?
My paintings aren’t depictions of actual places but are imaginative creations born from my mind. These works are collages of inspiration, meticulously pieced together from curated online images and references, forming digital mood boards. My creative process often involves layering, which helps bring order to the chaos within my mind. This technique mirrors my broader artistic approach, where layers of experiences, inspirations, and emotions converge into artworks rich with personal significance.

How has your practice changed over time?
Initially, I focused on creating aesthetically pleasing paintings that I thought others would enjoy. This evolved into crafting images with messages I believed others wanted to hear. Over time, my work began to explore themes of identity, particularly the lack of it, in my later university practice. Eventually, I realized I had been avoiding the most essential subject—myself. I spent years trying to meet the expectations I thought others had for my creative practice, only to find this goal unattainable. After taking a break from painting for over a year, I returned with a renewed focus on creating art that resonates with me personally, helping me navigate the constant overwhelm of daily life. This approach has allowed me to process the challenges of the outside world and quiet the noise within.

How do you overcome creative blocks?
To overcome creative blocks, I often turn to works that resonate with me and study them by recreating them. I want to clarify that I never replicate another artist’s work for personal gain and always credit the original artist if I share these studies. This practice helps me learn new techniques and keep my skills sharp, even during periods of creative block. For me, this method allows me to engage with art in a straightforward way—by translating what I see on my screen to my canvas.

How do you typically approach your creative process from initial inspiration to the completion of your artwork?
I usually begin with a digital mood board, where I gather and refine elements that capture the feeling I want to convey. After that, it’s crucial to get paint on the canvas as soon as possible to avoid overthinking and becoming intimidated by the blank white surface. Sometimes, to overcome this, I use a canvas as a palette or a place to wipe off excess paint from other projects. This creates a less pristine starting point, which makes it easier to begin. I’ve often had canvases where, if X-rayed, you’d see the beginnings of several different projects beneath the final piece.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your artwork?
My art is deeply personal, yet I leave it open to interpretation. I don’t aim to convey a specific message or moral; instead, I create from a compulsion to share, express, and process. I hope viewers find something meaningful in each piece, allowing their own experiences and psychological landscape to shape their interpretation. Ultimately, I want people to take what they need from my work.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
Every painting goes through what I call the “ugly painting stage,” where the image is formed but the details aren’t fully aligned. At this point, I proceed cautiously, taking time to view the piece as a whole to avoid overworking it. Overworking a painting can be detrimental, and I’ve learned from past mistakes where I’ve wished I could undo certain steps. Now, I consider whether leaving some elements unfinished might actually enhance the piece, rather than detract from it. While it’s easy to add more paint, it’s hard to take it back. My style is contemporary, and I’ve grown to appreciate the visibility of underpainting or pencil lines from the initial sketch, elements I used to meticulously cover. Now, I see them as integral parts of the finished work.

You can find out more about Desiree and her work on Instagram @dezuhrayofsunshine_creates or her website. Our Summer Open Call Exhibition runs at Six Foot Gallery until Friday 23rd August.