Photographer Kathy Servian
Kathy Servian is a London born, New Zealand based Photographer who has had an immensely creative journey on her way to discovering her passion and talent for photography. She placed as a Finalist in the 3rd Edition of the Boynes Emerging Artist Award.
Were you always a photographer?
I studied Fashion Design and Technology in my twenties and went on to enjoy a twenty-year career in the fashion and apparel industries including owning my own clothing label. I’ve also had a successful jewellery label for about five years.
In my mid-forties, I needed a change so I tried my hand at creative writing and three years later I’d completed a creative writing qualification, published four novels, and won several local and international writing competitions. In the pursuit of the perfect image for the cover of my third novel (A historical work set in 1850’s New Zealand), I began making and photographing historical costumes. This quickly became an obsession and I soon had a rack full of costumes ranging from the Viking period through to the 1950s and over a thousand images available for sale on the major stock sites.
While photography is a relatively new interest for me, (I purchased my first DSLR about three years ago) I found it came naturally as I’ve been around it my whole life. My father is a retired professional photographer so I grew up ‘in the studio’ as well as being ‘the client’ on numerous photoshoots during my time in the fashion industry. In 2019, I began using my costume images to create digitally composited fine art pieces with Photoshop. My work is now shown in both physical and online galleries and I’ve placed in both local and international awards
“Statuary” (Finalist Work)
By Kathy Servian (Finalist 3rd Edition)
Digitally Composed Photography
What inspired you to start creating art?
For me, creating is like breathing. There’s a constant stream of creative ideas flowing inside my brain. I’ve spent the best part of a half-a-century building the technical skills and experience I need to be able to make art that expresses the weird and wacky world that exists inside my head.
“Escapism”
By Kathy Servian
Digital Composed Photography
What inspires your work now?
My images draw on the visual narrative of myths and fairytales where the every day and the fantastic co-exist side-by-side. Myths and fairytales in their various forms are part of the folklore of every culture. These stories have been passed down through countless generations and have become part of the fabric of human society.
Through the mediums of photography and photo manipulation, I create visual myths and fairytales steeped in magical realism. The image is true and believable because it’s a photograph but it’s also impossible because people don’t fly unaided, float under the water in a Victorian gown clutching an octopus, or hold a burning orb in their hands. Each image is a story where I invite you to engage with the characters and immerse yourself in the fantasy.
“Dawn Chorus”
By Kathy Servian
Digitally Composed Photography
What mediums do you work in and experiment with?
Photography and photo manipulation. I also make the costumes and accessories that feature in my images.When I shoot, it is mainly with a Canon EOSRP and I use Photoshop CC to manipulate my images.
Do you have any particular ways that you work through a creative block?
I rarely experience creative blocks but if a piece is not working out as I envisaged I find if I leave it for a few hours and go away and do something else inspiration will return.
“Whimsey 2”
By Kathy Servian
Digitally Composed Photography
Can you give any piece of advice to your fellow artists on what you have learned while you practiced your craft?
I’ve found that in every creative pursuit be it fashion, writing, photography, or art of any kind it's essential to trust yourself and make work that comes naturally to you. It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘noise’ around creativity particularly now with social media. If you spend too much time examining and trying to emulate the work of others it will distract you from expressing your creativity. Allow instinct to drive your creative process.
“Untitled”
By Kathy Servian
Digitally Composed Photography
How did you manage the need for perfection within your work?
I am a perfectionist and am therefore never satisfied with my work. I don’t see this as a bad thing as it forces me to strive to constantly improve.
How do you process/come to terms with and even use other people's opinions of your work?
Having sold my creative work in one form or another for my entire adult life, I’m used to hearing what people think of it. I was more sensitive about this when I was younger but I’ve reached the stage now where if others like my work that’s great, but if they don’t, I don’t really care. Art is subjective - some people will love your art and some won’t and that’s fine. My art expresses my personal view of the world and creating it makes me happy and that’s all that matters to me.
“Women With A Monkey”
By Kathy Servian
Digitally Composed Photography
Are there artists who inspires you creatively?
I try to avoid being inspired by the work of my contemporaries for the reasons I gave in your question about the advice I’d give to others. My current work is inspired by and references the aesthetic of the illustrations of late 19th and early 20th century artists such as Arthur Rackham, Warwick Goble, Edward Dulac, and Richard Doyle. Their works are the cornerstone of the golden age of illustration and have fascinated me since childhood. Each drawing is achingly beautiful and complex but also contains an underlying sense of darkness and menace.
To view more of Kathy Servian’s work