Interview with Fiona Hooley (March 2006)

As part of my features to celebrate International Women's Week, I have the pleasure of interviewing the wonderful Wishmistress.

Fiona : Alexandra, you are one of the most successful female digital artists on dA, and your work is an inspiration to many. Can you give us a little bit of background as to how you discovered dA?

Alexandra : Hello Fiona, thank you very much. Well, I discovered Deviantart in late 2003, thanks to Ashlie Dawn aka `devildoll - one day she suggested me to open a Deviantart account to display my digital artworks, that were really poor at that time, and then I decided to join the community. I can say that I have discovered photomanipulation thanks to Deviantart.

F : You have done some art work in the past for various bands in Europe. Are there any female artists or bands out there who you would love to get a chance to work with?

Indeed, I have worked with many metal and black metal bands, and one can say that they are mainly "male fronted". Unfortunately, women are not really numerous on the metal scene, and it's a pity. But it's a tendency that is going to change and more and more women become involved in such bands. Recently I have been hired by the female fronted US band Grigori 3 to design their album cover art, and I am delighted about it. I will have to design the artwork around a manipulated portrait of the singer, and it's really nice to do. It is also always a pleasure for me to postwork the pictures of Lady Angellyca, singer of the spanish band Forever Slave. If I had the opportunity to collaborate with a metal diva, I would chose Liv Kristine Espenaes or Simone Simons of the dutch band Epica. To be true, what interests me the most is to work with artists with whom I can feel a real understanding and mutual respect, may they be famous or not.

F : As a young female living in Europe, what do you think are the main issues for women which we need to address with the rest of the world?

I think that the issue of domestic violence has to be taken very seriously. Since the death of the french actress Marie Trintignant (beaten to death by her companion), people speak more and more about violence made to women, I can say that mentalities are going to change, but very slowly. It's always frightening to see that, according to statistics, 4 millions of french women are beaten by their husband/companions...Recently, near Paris, a girl has been burnt alive by a man because she refused to date him...And such horrid facts seem to repeat very often. The issue of violence made to women worldwide is consterning. Hopefully, more and more people stand out, create organizations and associations to encourage women to talk and to help them, and it's a very great thing, though much remains to be done to defend and protect women.

F : I love the dark, grungey style which appears in many of your images. Can you give us some insights into the ispiration behind your work?

Yes for sure. Well, as far as I can remember I have always been attracted by the "darker side of life". By the age of 7, I discovered the french singer Mylène Farmer, a woman with a very aesthetic and strong visual identity : her lyrics referred to 19th century writers, and the universe of her videos combines elements of dark fairytales, of visual atmospheres borrowed from Goya, Velasquez, or from movies like Barry Lyndon. She perfectly managed to combine beauty and death in her works. I can say that as a child, it impressed me much and it still does.
So I can say that music is my main source of inspiration, and this, since I began doing photomanipulations. Especially gothic and metal songs, for I listen a lot to this style of music. I am also deeply influenced by the imagery conveyed by the movies, especially if they are dark and romantic, or sometimes horrific. Generally speaking, I am attracted by the beautiful side of darkness, which I try to depict in my images. I can say that it is something very natural for me. And last but not least, I put a lot of my personal experience and emotions in my artworks, that is why I mainly work with female models, or now, with my own image.

F : Has being a member of dA helped you develop as an artist?

Yes of course, and more than people could imagine. When I joined Deviantart, I had hardly ever done any photomanipulation in my life. And then, little by little, I have learnt the basics, then some techniques thanks to diverse tutorials and thanks to the other artists' help. If I manage to do what I do now, it's thanks to Deviantart, I am really aware of it.

With the help, comments, support of the deviant community, I have really developed my skills and I can say that being a member DA has really affected my whole life, because now I am about to start doing artworks as a full time job, and I will make a living of it...Being able to turn a passion into a profession is really fantastic.

F : What are your other passions in life?

I appreciate playing music a lot, especially the guitar and bass, I also like to travel much, and I'm also very fond of collecting antiques, especially old jewellery, accessories, and small pieces of furniture and decoration. But creating graphics and artworks is time consuming, so it doesnt allow me much time for doing anything else !

F : What do you think are the most challenging issues that young female artists experience today, and what can other artists do to try and support and encourage their development?

Well, I don't know if I can talk on behalf of all the other women artists, but I think that one of the biggest issues for us is to have to struggle to be taken seriously. It's a pity that female artists are underestimated because most of them are really creative and passionate. We always have to struggle or to prove that we can achieve things. Recently I have stumbled across a press feature dedicated to the art of Lady Morgana in a famous french metal magazine, and I was really happy of it. It's a proof that female artists are emerging and begin to get some recognition and it's really a good thing.

I think that the artists, especially on DA, encourage themselves mutually, I witness it every day and the genre doesn't seem to be a problem. When it comes to me I have never felt any resentment against me because I was a girl, I have always felt encouraged and supported.

F : What do you see the future bringing you?

Well, many good things I hope ! I want to go on combining my own photography with the traditional post work techniques I use, I really enjoy this creative process so I'll probably go on this way. On a personal point of view, I am about to start working as a graphic designer and it's really challenging. This year is going to be a very crucial one for me. I also hope to have the opportunity to design graphics works for bands, that is what I am aiming to.

F : In closing, do you have any message or advice for our readers and fellow artists?

First of all, I thank them for the constant support and affection they give me...I have really made strong connections with many artists here, that I probably wouldn't have done elsewhere.

To the artists, I would only tell them to let their emotions and inner feelings guide them when creating, so they can accomplish themselves through their art. The only way to create unique art is to find your inspiration into your heart and soul.

Thank you!

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