The essence of Clare McEwan is difficult to define – it’s like trying to pin a tail on a donkey – fun to try but hard to achieve in the dark.
Artist, photographer, designer, entrepreneur – she is all of these but you get a feeling that there’s a lot more to discover.
Playful yet determined, sociable but equally happy in her own company, Clare’s creative nature is highly tuned, sensitive to things both light and dark. Her specific seam of creativity and the paradox of an artist’s persona; seem to evoke the multiple layers that define her artwork.
Born in Dartford, Clare had an aptitude for science and thought that her future lay there until she was waylaid by the fantastic art department at Dartford Grammar School.
Inspiration appears in many guises – art teachers seem unlikely heroes but Clare will tell you otherwise:
“Artists themselves, my teachers had contrasting characters with different areas of expertise that complemented each other perfectly. They were extremely encouraging, introducing me to Abstract Expressionism, Cubism and Minimalism and through their infectious enthusiasm gave me an independence and freedom to create bespoke products from an early age. Drawn to the abstract, I developed my drawing skills, studied composition and the formal arrangement of layer and colour. They made me realise that I could have a career as an artist.”
With supportive yet chilled out parents, Clare left school with ‘A’ Level Art and chose to do a degree at London’s Central Saint Martin’s College. On successfully completing her foundation course, Clare opted to do a BA in Textile Design for Print.
Graduating with a First, Claire developed a firmly established style based on her independent thought and love for experimentalism and produced six huge 2m x 1.5m wall hangings in a variety of translucent fabrics including PVC mesh and crinoline for her degree show, one of which was bought by the college for their collection.
Clare said: “Textile design came naturally to me as this medium gives me flexibility to work in large format and to indulge my abstract ideas.”
On leaving and after a slight post-uni wobble, Clare moved back home to her parents and got a job with a freelance rug designer where she received an interesting commission to produce an artwork to hang in the reception of a private Bone and joint Health clinic in the Emirates Towers, Dubai.
"I was so excited, what an amazing opportunity to showcase my work on an International stage. My largest artwork yet, I created a 6m x 2m textile hanging using similar techniques to those used in my degree show. My abstract imagery likened broken glass, while the back-lighting activated the layers, created an interesting 2-D effect."
Clearly a 'rolling stone' Clare was keen to experience as much of life as she could over the next few years - moving back to London and selling her art on Saturday morning at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, being selected for an Art's Council Residency Digital Artist Placement at Waddesdon Church of England School in Buckinghamshire, then moving to Brighton to work part-time for the council while setting up a print studio and providing creative workshops at a former coach works along with other artists and performers.
By 2011, hitting 30 and brimming with creative ideas, Clare felt the time was right to start her own business and by trial and error began designing silk crepe de chine scarves from her own original experimental artwork under the C F McEwan label.
"Walking is the perfect way to collect new colour whilst boosting my mental brightness, inspiration and the motivation to get started. I'm looking for five elements while on the move - Accidental colour, Material combinations, Light and shadow and Contrast."
You might try to describe this technique as the trendy new meditation of ‘Mindfulness’ but I’m not sure that this is Clare’s style – it’s a little too self-conscious and forced. As Clare immerses herself into the space and her surroundings I imagine she’s an awe-inspired Dorothy stepping into Oz for the first time, what we see as mono, she sees as Technicolor.
Clare explains: "I collect accidental colour - unexpected new colours taken from urban or natural landscapes. Influenced by artists Eva Hesse, William Eggleston and William Christenberry, I look out for interesting material combinations that have beautiful, sculptural and textural qualities and an ephemeral instant - a brief experience or moment in time captured and translated."
"I observe how a structure imposes itself in a space depending on the quality of light and look not only for the contrast in light but also for contrasting materials and textures. I enjoy finding infinite ways of photographing through layers as this is central to my whole practise and provides the tools to combine all my imagery, inspiring me to create smaller and lighter objects back in the studio."
And what of the future, has this restless spirit found its true vocation and is she content with her current success?
"I am very lucky as I love what I'm doing and I'm proud of my achievements to date. It meant a lot to be one of four selected artists to create contemporary artworks for Dartford in 2016 and I've just launched my autumn/winter 2016 ‘The Cut-Out’ inspired collection and it’s already selling in well.
I do think that I am creatively restless though - I’m keen to develop collaborations with other artists and designers and in the immediate future I’m taking some time off to travel.”
Bearing in mind what Clare has achieved; one cannot doubt that whatever she does will continue to involve movement and her fascinating multi-tiered view of life.
For more information, visit Clare's website at www.cfmcewan.com
