SCOUT COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT - Artist Sophie Dumon

Hi Sophie, can you share a little bit of your background and what brought you to your passion for painting?

My passion for painting all started during lockdown. I am a Pilates + Yoga teacher and so during lockdown, all of the studios shut down along with most things in Sydney. This meant that I had a lot of time and energy that needed redirecting. I have always been creative deep inside, having studied textiles + art at school and studying Fashion Marketing + Branding at university. Even as a child, I would spend hours drawing, going to art classes and making mood boards from magazines. So when lockdown happened, I came back to my creativity. I had never picked up a paintbrush before yet had an intuitive ping to pick it up and from there, it became a way for me to shift the anxieties of the new covid world and to play and express myself. My creativity had been blurred in the years before covid, so it felt really special to reconnect to my inner child by letting loose with paints and a canvas. I love that with painting you can create something from nothing and there are never any wrongs. As long as you show up and keep going, that is all part of the creative process!

Can you tell us more about your routine as an artist painter (and studio owner!) and what your typical weekday looks like?

Honestly no two days are the same. I do try to keep my mornings in a routine to start the day off right. It usually starts with waking up early with a meditation and a coffee followed by a sunrise surf. Even on tiny days or with miserable weather, I get out there to experience mother nature during my favourite time of the day. There’s something about the stillness, the sun rising and the opportunities at that time of day being endless. The rest after that varies from teaching pilates or yoga at my studio, painting or working with other artists as a marketing specialist. The days are full but always exciting. I love the variety and embrace it when I work on multiple projects at a time.

Can you tell us more about your painting style?

My style of painting is abstract. Recently I have been painting people from the 1960’s poolside, it’s full of romance and soft colour. There’s something about that generation that really inspires me from the fashion style to the extravagance of life back then. Lately, I’ve been researching the surfing culture of the 60’s and 70’s so I’m excited to see what direction that takes me in. With my schedule being all over the place, what I do prioritise is moving my body with surfing and pilates, eating nourishing foods and making time for my creativity.

What do you most love about painting?

I love how it becomes a vessel for me to be in flow. When the paint brush starts moving itself and it feels like I become the observer, it’s so powerful and kind of addictive! I’ve never really had an experience like it before so I think it’s the thing that keeps me hooked. I love the sense of play and the curiosity that comes with it when mixing colours together, creating new textures and bringing an idea of work together.

Where do you mainly get your inspiration from?

Wherever and whenever but mostly, in nature. Most of the time my inspiration comes from my daily experiences that I feel called to share with others. One of my previous collections this year was based on a dive near my house when the water was clear and the ocean was full of life. I happened to have an

underwater film camera with me and managed to capture turtles, sharks, rays + all sorts of creatures in their colourful homes. It was pretty special. This became the inspiration behind SUN-RAY, which you can find on my website. It’s a dreamy, colourful collection with shapes inspired by this day.

What past painting are you most proud of and why?

‘As Above’ is one of my favourites and one that I’m most proud of. I am inspired by the contrast of this painting. This piece is a play of natural pigments that I foraged, crushed up myself and that I sourced locally. I love how the pigments sit alongside the acrylics and how this relationship is the symbolism of the man made vs the natural. There’s a softness of pastels and an edge of darkness. A roughness from the multiple textures and a softness from the watery layers.

What qualities are required for being a painter?

Dedication, trust, curiosity.

What advice would you give to someone who has a hidden painting talent but might get a lot of self-doubt when it comes to sharing it with the world?

Just do it. Honestly, there’s no other way than to simply trust yourself and take the leap. By showing your creative work, it’s doing a service to all others that have hidden talents. Creativity isn’t reserved for a few people, it’s something that is all within us so by showing off your creations and talent with pride, you allow for others to do the same.

It’s also worth remembering that everyone has self-doubt and imposter syndrome, so the sooner that we can greet it, thank it and show up with courage, the better and more authentic we become.

What goal do you hope to achieve in 2023? Or do you have any exciting projects coming up?

A big goal of mine in 2023 is to really dive deep into my creative offerings. I want to take this creativity to the next level and right now, I’m not 100% sure what that looks like but I know the clarity will come soon. I feel so empowered and aligned when I am being creative that I know it’s where I belong. I am excited to paint a new collection of works based on the surf culture in the 60’s and 70’s. Right now, I am still in the research stage which is always exciting but scary knowing a body of work is coming together. One big goal of mine this year was to have an art studio where I could really experiment and have a base for all of my work. I have been in this space for the last couple of months and it’s crazy how much more creative I have felt. Now that this goal has come to life, I can keep working towards other goals like exhibitions, prints + other offerings. It’s always small steps in the artist's life!

When you’re not working, what are you up to / how do you like to spend your free time?

Surfing, always. The ocean is where I feel at home and there’s no better feeling than gliding along the wave in pure connection + flow.

Finally, where can we find your work?

On my website www.sophiedumon.com or on Instagram @sophiedumon!