An Interview with Maureen Brigden

Posted by Jazmine Saunders on 27th March, 2024

• ... With the help and encouragement of Tim Sandys Renton my tutor, completed my degree in Fine art in 2007 and I have never looked back.

  Jazmine Saunders

  1. Can you share a bit about your artistic background and what inspired you to become an artist?

  Maureen Brigden

  Having studied Sculpture with the Open Arts correspondence course in 2000, I was encouraged  by my tutor, Alan Saunders, to apply for entrance to Chichester University for the degree course. With the help and encouragement of Tim Sandys Renton my tutor, completed my degree in Fine art in 2007 and I have never looked back.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

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  Jazmine Saunders

  2. What specific media do you work with and how do you choose the materials for your work?

  Maureen Brigden

  I have always worked with clay, it’s material qualities fascinate me and so I choose always to hand build so no two pieces are the same.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• Jazmine Saunders

  3. Could you describe your creative process, from concept to completion, for a typical piece of artwork?

  Maureen Brigden

  I might draw a sketch but I mostly set to work as soon as an idea comes to me. I build with  small pieces of clay or slab build defining the features.  I build in the round sometimes the work dictates to me when it has reached it’s limit. So there is a freedom to my technique. I particularly love making heads and body parts.

   

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

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  Jazmine Saunders

  4. How do you draw inspiration for your work and are there particular themes or subjects that resonate with you?

  Maureen Brigden

  I choose less known local historical facts to influence my work so each piece has a story behind it. In particular Chichester’s Roman or more recent history.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

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  Jazmine Saunders

  5. Can you discuss any challenges you've faced as an artist and how you've overcome them?

  Maureen Brigden

  Hand building in clay has it’s ups and downs especially  working with locally dug clay. Sometimes one can spend hours perfecting a piece of work only for it to disintegrate on the way to or in the kiln. I am not very patient so I have to give myself a good talking to and leave it until I can work on the next stage.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• Jazmine Saunders

  6. What role does the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail play in your artistic journey and why did you choose to participate?

  Maureen Brigden

  I love showing in the art trail, I am sharing with my friend Annie Flitcroft and we love exchanging ideas as we work and our lovely visitors can watch our process.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• ... I love showing in the art trail

  Jazmine Saunders

  7. Are there any specific pieces you'll be showcasing during the Art Trail that hold special significance to you, and if so, why?

  Maureen Brigden

   

  This year I will be showing some heads and Roman grenades which the birds nested in last year, so I will be hanging them from the trees and waiting to see if they nest again. I love the idea that a replica of a weapon of war has become a home to nature.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• Jazmine Saunders

  8. How do you hope your audience will engage with or interpret your artwork during the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail?

  Maureen Brigden

  In the past, I have found people enjoy the stories behind the work and I delight in engagement with the visitors and also the conversations and exchange of ideas, hopefully encouraging  them to return.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• ... I feel that being involved in the community  and talking to people in the arts can only help enhance ideas and encourage others to take part.

  Jazmine Saunders

  9. What do you enjoy most about being part of the local artistic community and how does it influence your work?

  Maureen Brigden

   

  As well as sculpting,I am a volunteer on the hanging team at The Oxmarket and a volunteer at the New Park cinema. I feel that being involved in the community  and talking to people in the arts can only help enhance ideas and encourage others to take part.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden

• Jazmine Saunders

  10. Can you share your thoughts on the importance of community support for local artists and events like the Chichester Open Studios?

  Maureen Brigden

  I feel that Art has a role in everyones life as it reminds us all of our place in the world,

  whether it challenges us in a positive or negative way it allows us to have an opinion.

  Photographic Credit: Maureen Brigden