As an artist, I’m influenced by wondrous, bright and cheerful creatures of feathers and fluff. Nature influences me greatly and is often my starting point, with birds being a frequent, favourite point of inspiration . I love to dabble with many different ways of art-making, including digital art, painting, multi-media collages, sewing, and glass fusing. Lately, however, I have been developing an interest in imaginary monsters and anthropomorphic animals. I’ve become very influenced by examples of retro children’s popular culture, such as Sesame Street, Worms-on-a-String, and My Little Pony. I want to explore these new interests and incorporate them into my practice because of the sheer nostalgia and happiness I get from them. It motivates me greatly, and I hope it generates the same feeling in those who experience my work.
My work exhibited for the Art Trail, ‘Bookworms in Pontypridd,’ showcases four, extravagant, fluffy worms, intended to be reading buddies for younger library visitors - or simply for people who want something comforting with weight to hold in their lap or around their shoulders as they read. The goal is to encourage people to come to the library more often to meet these creatures and spend time with them all while discovering the power of books and stories. Meanwhile, the accompanying book about the ‘Bookworms of Pontypridd’ serves as a way to give the bookworms character and help the reader create a better connection with the bookworms. Additionally, to promote inclusivity and help everybody to experience the books, there is an audio read-along of the book that can be easily accessed through a QR code, along with a separate QR code that links to an online version of the book. Library visitors are invited to hold, hug, and take pictures with the bookworms, and are highly encouraged to send me photographs via my instagram, @Lextra_Art or post them to your own Instagram, using the hashtag #BookwormsInPontypridd.
I would like to thank Pontypridd Library
for providing the perfect home for my bookworms during the Art Trail!
