I am a complete rebel, and always have been. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum, and make no apologies for that fact. Since attempting to squeeze the square peg that is me into a round hole is only going to create untold grief for all concerned, I recommend that those who would try to change me, give up trying. 

 

I am an artist, illustrator, musician and writer; with the personality of a tiger, and the attitude, and metaphorical teeth, to match. I studied at both Winchester School of Art and London College of Fashion. I was nearly expelled from one institution - and left early, and got a full refund, for something which was apparently called an "MA" - but turned out to be a joke - from the other. 

 

The University of Life has invariably taught me all I need to know about art, and more; as it should, others. We don't need teachers to tell us what to do, or else; we have our own brains, and our own minds, and it's up to us to use them, and exploit them to our full potential, during the limited time that we have here. 

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One thing one can never accuse me of, is having stood still during my life. I believe in seizing the opportunities that life offers us, going for the ones which float our boat the most, and shaking every last drop out of them, until we've satisfied and satiated ourselves. And to look within ourselves; not to do simply "what is expected of us", but to go much further than that - to give ourselves what we need. I'm a keen Ayn Rand-ite, by the way. 

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Yes, I'm an artist, through and through. But you have to let me bring my own take on things to the table. Otherwise, I'm not playing. I refuse to be a "repeater". For a time I was a botanical illustrator. After a hiatus following my first degree, I swore I would never do Art again, and didn't touch a paintbrush for three years, Then slowly, I got back into it again. Going away and practising botanical illustration, off my own bat, teaching myself, taught me everything I was never taught at Art School, or at any time beforehand. It was my drawing and painting training; I experimented with various media and found a failsafe method, which worked for me and indeed, worked for about 99% of other people too, during the time that I did teach (yes, I was a teacher once - but it was never my intention to be anything like some of the "Art" teachers I had encountered - whose paltry efforts I rightly scoffed at).

 

However, I did not intend to become a botanical illustrator for the rest of my days, albeit I did not rule out returning to it, for inspiration. I wanted to explore other things. For example: I'd love to become a better figure drawer. I'd love to be an all-round better draughtsman. I'd love to be better at perspective. I wish I could draw better from my imagination.

 

Art is not, and should not be classed as, an academic subject. It is a vocational one - or dare, I say, a life-style, for which there is simply no training. You shouldn't have a degree in Art; if you desire any sort of qualification at all, you should be satisfied with a diploma. A PhD in Art? What's all that about? Why be satisfied with any sort of degree at all? You should be satisfied, or not, with your own talent, the wellspring that resides within you!

 

I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of Art, yet, and I don't intend to die until I get the chance to try everything I want to, out. ​I had another big break from art on turning 40, as uncharacteristically for me, I ran out of ideas. I don't know whether I'd boxed myself into a corner or what, but realize now that I just simply hadn't given much thought to what I was going to do upon turning 40. There was a blank, somehow. I didn't know what was going to come next, but one thing is for certain. I know this is a hackneyed phrase, but you should never assume that life will go on being the same, forever.

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I returned to Art in late 2019. Then, along came lockdown, and the rest is history. I started to find my groove again, and came up with a few more interesting themes for my work, and avenues for exploration. 

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My output is currently split into the following sites:

www.christinabrodieart.co.uk (Links to where my work can be found on the Web)

www.pollycock.com (The Pollycock series of books)

www.barghello.uk (My barghello work)

https://christinacrimari.wixsite.com/mysite (Post-2015 painting, drawing, music, digital work)

https://queenchristinabrodie.wixsite.com/queen-christina (Pre-2015 painting, fashion, music)

 

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I believe in upward mobility of thinking. I have come to the realization that I can only do good, and give gifts to the world, by being my creative self. If we have imprints for our lives, that is certainly mine; and by my own free admission, I don't seem to be able to do anything else.

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It's fair to say that one of my greatest strengths is that of documenting the world around me, in great detail. I place a great deal of value on narrative and strength of ideas, and can't underestimate enough the quality of that in one's work, rather than of merely being overly literal. Art should always tell a story. Perhaps this is why I become a little impatient with much commercial design, its generic qualities, and its recycling of motifs and lack of personality; I vastly prefer the vision and touch of the individual.

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Nowadays, I basically draw and paint whatever I like, when I feel like it. Art as taught in art-schools is too rushed, which is why the most favoured graduates often form a very neat production line. I feel that progress in Art comes about by doing, and that there is a place for teaching by inspiration, and by example. 

 

Art cannot be rushed. If you want to produce something meaningful and of value, go away and hibernate for several years. Only then will you learn to find yourself, which I can guarantee won't be your old self; it will  be your new self, re-emerged, remodelled, reinvigorated, and reborn! 

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I'm a Spring baby, and Spring babies are, notoriously, fighters, with a life-force within us that others can only gawp at. 

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"The force that through the green fuse drives the flower..." - Dylan Thomas

"I have been dead, I have been alive. I am Taliesin." - Anonymous

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Christina Crimari (Brodie)

April 2021 (updated March 2025)

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