Kathy Servian's Circle of Hell

Memento Tea
Aug 5, 2019
4 min read

Welcome to the new "Artist's Circle Of Hell" editorial: a journey through the eyes and thoughts of magnificent Dark Artists.

Today we are delightful to talk with Kathy Servian... We'll be honoured to show her outstanding art for the upcoming "Centuries Decay" exhibition, from September 9 to October 7, 2019. A life-long creative, Kathy studied fashion design, screen-printing and jewellery design. She then worked for more than twenty-years as a clothing and jewellery designer. In 2016, she wrote her first novel, Peak Hill. The manuscript was a finalist in a local competition so she published it and went on to write and publish three more novels whilst studying for a diploma in creative writing. In 2018, Kathy’s short stories won two writing competitions, one local and one international. Although she grew up with a photographer father, Photography only began as an interest for Kathy in 2017 when she couldn’t find an image she liked for the cover of her third book, a historical novel set in 1850’s New Zealand. Kathy made and photographed a costume for the cover. This set off a passion for making costumes from different periods ranging from Tudor (1500’s) through to the 1950s. Kathy now photographs the costumes she makes and sells the images on stock sites such as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock. Recently, Kathy began compositing her photos into fantastic, fantasy artworks. Her images are a culmination of her life-long interests in research, pattern making and sewing, story-telling and design. As a story-teller with a fascination with fairy and folk tales, each of Kathy’s images tells a story that transports the viewer to a strange and wonderful place. Enjoy the interview!

First circle - Limbo

How old is your soul? Do you have an inner child?

I have a fascination with history of all periods but particularly the mid-Victorian period (1850s) so maybe my soul is 170 (ish) years old.

My child is inner and outer - I can be very immature!

Second circle - Lust

Before you have reached your artistic path, have you ever instinctively tried different fields that did not appeal to you, just for the sake of it? Are you still in search for your art style?

I have always been creative, even as a child I was always drawing and making things. I trained in fashion design in my twenties and worked as a clothing designer for 20 years. Then, I took up writing and published four novels. Photography and image manipulation are just the next stage in my artistic journey.

Third circle - Gluttony

How hungry are you for the art, for your passion? How much are you addicted and addicted to it, moving away from your perception of reality?

I’m constantly creating inside my head and bringing my ideas to fruition with my hands. It is part of me and I could not live without it.

Fourth circle - Greed

Sometimes, do you feel greedy with your job? Do you think that a strong attachment to money can compromise your art? No intention to offend, but only to explore what goes beyond being a "starving artist".

I have made my living from my creative pursuits for my whole working life. My parents also did the same - my dad was a photographer and my mum an antique dealer. Also, my grandmother was a costume designer. However, I am lucky now that I can create my art and not worry about making money from it. I know for a fact that having to make a living from your art forces compromise. Now, I create what I like and if others like it then that’s great, but if not, I don’t care.

Fifth circle - Anger

How you see the Art World today? There are some stuff that make you uncomfortable?

The way in which copyright laws are ignored and people take and use your work without your permission makes me unhappy.

Sixth circle - Heresy

Have you ever done a project or commission totally different from your kind of art? (for example, as fairy art, erotic art, fantasy art or comic art)

I recently wrote a children’s book as a commission project. The whole thing had to rhyme so it was like writing a twelve page poem with a story, a message and a satisfactory conclusion. I’ve never written one before and probably won’t again but I enjoyed the process.

Seventh circle - Violence

Are you afraid to represent cruel stuff of the reality in your art? If not, it goes beyond the simple visual impact?

My work has an element of darkness to it but I don’t feel comfortable showing exploitation or cruelty. There is enough of that going on in the world and I don’t feel the need to glorify it in my art.

Eighth circle - Fraud

Without naming, have you ever been deceived by a false customer or company? What was your initial feeling? Do you want to give some advice to those who are new in this field? Don't worry if you do not want to answer.

Not that I know of.

Ninth circle - Treachery

Would you ever exchange your life as artist with a safer and quieter life? What would you do if you could not make art?

I can’t imagine not being a creative person. It’s part of who I am.