Sophie Castle
Sophie Castle b.1995 is a British artist based in Falmouth, Cornwall. Castle studied in London, both drawing and painting, at the Royal Drawing School (2015) and Central Saint Martins (2018). Her practice has predominantly centred around the historical motif of the female nude and how the perception of the image can differ when the surroundings and pose change. Situating the nude in domestic settings, exposing positions and surreal surroundings, Castle explores the female image through both self portraiture and the adaption of mythological tales. Through reimagining these stories Castle aims to question the objectification and subservience apparent in traditional depictions of the female muse.
Instagram: @sophierosecastle
Where would you like your work to take you?
My work has always been an outlet to question and realise my own thoughts and beliefs so I hope it will continue to aid me and resonate with other people. I don’t think I’ve found my visual language yet and I think that can sometimes hold me back from even starting a painting. I hope I can get to a stage where I’m happy with my style and finally just paint all the strange ideas that flood my mind. People will always be the main focus of my work as analysing a person and capturing their personality in a painting has always driven me to create but I’m also really drawn to the bizarre. I like creating pieces that leave the viewer attempting to fathom what is going on. It’s always fun to be strange or confronting. The first piece that made me strive for a response that wasn’t necessarily admiration was during my A level when I painted a large, full frontal oil painting of my Grandad giving birth. Visitors were given a trigger warning at the end of year exhibition, whilst my painting of a queer wedding (which included Pope Benedict holding up a durex condom) was banned from being on display. I do hope my work will command an emotive response be it horrifying, confusing, beautiful or strange. Just having people like my work enough to have in their homes is the greatest compliment of all really.
Which part of your creative process do you enjoy most?
I enjoy the randomness and freedom of the ideas that pop into my head for paintings and then the very end of creating something, the last day or two. I can become quite manic when I see a painting finally arriving at the point of finishing. Paint begins to be wiped on every surface and I work at a far greater speed. I suddenly have certainty on what needs to change and how the painting needs to look which is far more exhilarating than the agonising uncertainty I feel throughout the rest of the process.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
My inspiration has always been drawn from my own experience, I suppose. When at school and university this was very heavily surrounding female sexuality and identity through the use of the nude. However, I think I view almost everything through the lens of painting now which, despite not having all that much time to paint, can make me feel as though I’m creating all throughout the day. Meeting new people, passers by, a distant landscape, a plant, a discarded shoe - I can’t help but analyse and imagine how I’d depict it onto a canvas. Sadly, my prolific approach remains firmly in my head at the moment. I think my move from London/Essex to Falmouth has created a new drive for work and that maybe due to how inspiring the surroundings are and the people I’m meeting. Strange anecdotal moments seem to happen far more often here and I think they often make me want to paint. Quite recently a woman spoke to us at the pub; her hair was wrapped up in a towel and she was holding her dear pet chicken, named Onion, who had attempted to escape her garden but was immediately attacked by a few ferocious seagulls (please do not fear reader, Onion held her own and is completely fine!). All I could think about was making the scene into a painting, it was so utterly eccentric and Cornish!
What piece of music would you say compliments your work the most?
I’m not sure what music would compliment my work.. I do have a particular song that I put on when I want to free myself up and think of strange things. ‘Soup’ by Issy Wood. Chloe Wise, the artist, is featured on the track and says it is about the domesticity of women. I suppose it reminds me that you can still have fun with your art even when you’re commenting on something serious.
Can you list a couple other creatives/friends/people you look to for inspiration?
The first exhibition I was captivated by was the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Tate when I was very young. I spent hours drawing from his paintings and my obsession has only grown since. I’m also lucky enough to have a lot of creatives in my life. My partner is a talented carpenter, his dedication and enthusiasm is really inspiring to witness everyday. My best friend, Manon Steyaert, is a brilliant artist, she is so focused, constantly experimenting and is confident in taking risks. Since moving to Falmouth I’ve met some wonderful creatives too including my dear friend Jonny Dry, the director, we have these great meandering conversations about ideas and creating. With regard to inspiration from other painters I’m currently drawn to the work of Sahara Longe, Ania Hobson, Faye Wei Wei, Megan Baker, Preslav Kostov, Jenna Gribbon, Naudline Cluvie Pierre and Nettle Grellier.
