ARTIST INTERVIEW: Poppy Burr
Poppy Burr
PC: Paul Oscar Photography
Tell me about yourself. what inspired you to do art?
Growing up in Brighton, I spent a lot of time with my Grandma who is the most creative person I know. We would go to the beach and collect stones to take home and paint, or sit for a whole afternoon making little characters out of wooden pegs. She always encouraged me to draw, and would leave little cartoon drawings of herself hidden under my pillow, or post them to me once I moved up north. Her self portraits are my favourite thing because she draws herself looking like a crazy, wild-haired woman, when actually she is very beautiful. I love the silliness and humour in her drawings, and I think that is what’s really stuck with me in my own work.
I started sharing my work online during the first lockdown in 2020. Like a lot of people, I suddenly had endless days stretching ahead of me and the thing that really helped me was drawing. Nowadays, I’m really enjoying exploring the creative community in York, and getting to exhibit my work in person.
Your feminist series ‘Wonky Women’ celebrates the female body. Why is this subject important to you?
Before I began doing illustration, I was training to be a midwife. Although I didn’t finish the degree, it was definitely the inspiration behind a lot of my work to begin with. My Wonky Women series is a celebration of the power of the female body and the value of female friendship. Working on a maternity ward gave me an even deeper appreciation of this.
How have you used art to convey important messages?
I often use words in my work that I find powerful. “Share the knowledge, multiply the power” from this recent work is a comment on the way that for women, sharing information and our experiences is an important way that we can empower each other and keep each other safe. I learn and grow so much from the wisdom and guidance of the women in my life and this is a tribute to that.
How do you express vulnerability in your artwork?
For me, just the act of putting my work out into the world still feels very vulnerable! But I have found that the more you open up, the more people respond and relate to your work. A comic I made about my dog dying has provoked so many wonderful conversations with people who share their own stories with me. People are so happy to show me photos of their own dogs and reminisce and I think that is so lovely.
Tell me about your process for creating one of your illustrations.
My process usually starts with an incoherent idea scribbled in the back of a sketchbook or hurriedly written in the notes app on my phone. I doodle a lot and often sketch people I’ve seen throughout the day. If a sketch makes me laugh then I’ll usually carry that on and finish it.
Who is your favourite artist? If they were sat next to you right now, what would you ask them?
I really love the work of Tara Booth. Her drawings are messy and chaotic and colourful and always make me laugh. I would love to ask her to tell me the full stories behind a lot of her work because I just know they would be hilarious.
What are your greatest achievements/challenges as an artist?
My greatest achievement is simply the fact that people have my work in their houses. It’s the best feeling.
Why do you think art is important in society?
I think it's a very powerful way for people to connect with each other. It’s such a special thing to look at a piece of art that someone has made and really feel something. For me, art is very therapeutic and the best way that I can express myself. I feel most peaceful when I’m just sat drawing.
