Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Grillet.
Hi Sophie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sophie Grillet [Gree-yé] is an English-American artist, since 1996 a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She took up Fine Art in 2010 and works in oils and acrylics, photography, stone, metal and clay.
In the U.K., Sophie was a cartoonist and regular contributor to The Guardian newspaper and the London Evening Standard. She has authored cartoon books and has drawings of the Czech ‘Velvet Revolution’ in London’s V&A Museum. Sophie studied at Central St Martins and has a BA (Hons) in Graphics from the University of Brighton. She has also studied Physics, Philosophy, History, Logic and Math.
As a Docent (for 19 years) at UMMA, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Sophie provided tours for children, adults, student groups, the general public, and for older adults suffering memory loss. This training built her skills in explaining the form, meaning and content of art in an entertaining way. She also taught Family Art Workshops there, as well as private classes in abstract painting and drawing from life.
Sophie has had paintings, sculptures, prints and photographs accepted into many juried shows
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Moving from friends and family in London to Michigan with a toddler and another child on the way, before the internet existed was a big challenge!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Mostly I paint, mostly abstracts in acrylics. I also make abstract wire and ceramic 3D work. It often relates to the climate crisis or other contemporary issues. The wire or wire & yarn sculptures so far have been in honor of women mathematicians and physicists through the ages. Also I take photographs, mostly of buildings, shadows, rocks, plants or anything with interesting shapes.
I also organize an annual art fair/art walk, Westside Art Hop, in June. https://westsidearthop.com It’s exists for artists, to provide a low cost or very low cost opportunity to show and sell their work. Kind neighbors offer space on their porches, garages or front yards and people can walk around the neighborhood enjoying the event to see the work of about 90 artists. I’m one of a few participants locally opening their home or studio to the public for Art Hop (and sometimes for other events).
I also offer Art Consulting as a service, to find art (other than my own) for clients, and/or to help them to place and hang their existing artwork collection when they move to a new home or business.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
It’s always good to keep in tough with other artists. Ufortunately I’m pretty bad at it! I have mentored and led some critiquing sessions at Riverside Art Center for a short while.
Pricing:
- From $30 to $1500.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sophieartist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieartistA2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophieartist
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sophie-grillet/
