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Sarah Larnach
Tell us a little about yourself...
I grew up in New Zealand where I had typical small-town childhood experiences; playing in ditches, building forts, cousins and grandparents within walking distance, camping out in the forest and drinking down by the river as a teen. My parents knew how to throw a good party with kids and adults zones, and had a great DIY indoor/outdoor sound-system. I acquired my obsession with music and records from them... and my appreciation for a good party. Mum was an artist (painter) when I was quite young, so I hated to go to school as I'd rather stay home and paint or make books, like Mum (who repeatedly told me never to be an artist). She was always yelling at me "Move! you're in my light!" We later moved to the big city where I was finally in my element taking all art subjects at a liberal high school (they let me take 'practical' art as two of my 6 subjects!) After school I suppose I should have gone to University, but I ran off to Australia, Canada and other places for several years, and before I knew it, I'd collected a lot of records and made a sideline in accessories, but I hadn't so much as picked up a pencil for 5 years. Then one day I drew a huge portrait and it was so much better than anything I'd ever done - by this time Mum was making a living as an artist again, so I thought it was about time to ignore her earlier advice, and went to art school in Melbourne. Another creative lull after studying was fixed when my friend knocked some sense into me, pointing out that I was most happy when I was creating, so we made a 'sink-or-swim' move to Sydney.
You tend to work in watercolor a lot, has that always been your medium of choice?
I was very loyal to oil colors for years, but I had it pointed out to me that I used oils in a very watercolor-y way. I like to build up layers of transparent color and have the original construction lines visible... I'm attracted to that honesty and fatalism. Watercolor, which I'd never used, suddenly became a necessity when I first moved to Sydney 5 years ago; oils were impossible in a shared studio apartment with no ventilation and scary white carpet.
Your works consistently have a colorful approach to them, do you ever feel like working in black and white?
I don't have any 'rules' to my work, and perhaps that is a decadent indulgence... Though I have worked in a limited B&W in the past, these days I don't really want to stop at black when I can keep going with color! Colors make me happy and they are one more aspect that allows the viewer to connect to my work. My palettes are chosen with a few obscure but meaningful points of consideration, for example the Ladyhawke series heavily featured Blue Manganese which is classically the color of swimming pools in the Dogtown movies that Pip and I used to watch obsessively.
You were invited to be a part of the Music inspires Art project with Becks Beer last year, how did that huge achievement come about?
Now there is an example of loyalty and faith; stick by your friends and they will stick by you. When Pip conceived and established Ladyhawke, I had absolute faith in her vision, and willingly helped her any way that I could. Similarly, Pip was my biggest champion and is the person who 'knocked some sense into me' when I became disillusioned, and catapulted my career when I worked on artwork for her album and singles and videos. Our collaboration is the most rewarding art experience I know, and that was recognized by Becks when they were looking for an art/music collaboration for their prestigious annual artist series.
You were nominated for an Aria for Album Artwork last year via your work with Ladyhawke, how did that feel?
Amazing! I'm usually a pretty low-key person, but I became a dork with pride over that... I just wanted to tell everyone and anyone. A music industry accolade was the best thing I could imagine - the modern 'folk art' of album art, similar to board graphics, is a unique art movement of the last century. In my life and career I have been more moved and inspired by album art and music video than any other art format.
Have you exhibited lately?
In the last few months have been in group shows at Monster Children, Neon Parc - both great galleries here in Australia, and a showcase for Absolut. I'm working on more exhibition pieces at the moment, getting a big ol' series done for a solo show.
What's ahead for Sarah Larnach?
I have the foundations underway for the next Ladyhawke album, which should appear in the last half of 2010. Also, my first solo show will be later this year; I had held off on doing a solo show as I wanted to make sure it was something I would be proud of forever, and not premature. I'm also looking to exhibit in the U.S. and Japan this year... any takers? I really wanted to make 2010 a big exhibition year, so I 'sacrificed' my last painting of 2009 for good fortune... by which I mean that I sold it for really cheap so that I got the first 'red dot' at a group show. The superstition is working out well for me.
