Ella Boon

Broadway Spotlight: Ella Boon

Tell us a bit about you: age, occupation or course you’re studying, what kind of art you like to create.

I am Ella Boon, currently a year 13 student studying Fine art, Biology, and Theatre Studies. My art is constantly evolving with me as I am placed in new situations and gifted knowledge to fuel my reality. The art you see today has evolved through an unconscious process guided by emotion and intuition - emotion is the real basis for any art I create. I generally paint or draw, but really, I love to explore any media I can get my hands on!

When did you first become interested in art?

Perhaps when I was quite young. I could not draw, but I was fascinated by tracing images in colouring books. When I was older, though, I was first consciously interested in art when I began learning to draw people; in the beginning, my art was always about finding likeness, but as soon as I became more confident, expression was maybe more important.

Who or what are some of your artistic influences?

Cindy Sherman. She has deeply interested and influenced me for years. She is bold, brave, and theatrical; some of her B&W stills I think will be forever in my mind.

Similarly expressive musical artists such as Tori Amos, Björk, and Fiona Apple, do also constantly empower honesty in my art. Their anger and expression resonate with me, and my voice does not become lost.

Specifically in this exhibition, Singer Sargent, and Redon – Impressionist and post-impressionist artists - inspire my painting approach and its composition.

Redon’s symbolic paintings communicate emotion intensely and his dream – like works inspire my intuition to take hold while painting. Sargent’s portraits hold unique narrative identities, influencing the relationship I hope to portray between person and nature. I think his strokes mimic the elements of nature beautifully.

What are the meanings/ideas/concepts behind the work you’ll be showing at the gallery?

I like to think that some of my drawings are otherworldly, which I hope viewers find interesting! The image featuring my dog was drawn over digitally, and I think it looks like my dog just entered a new world through the gate behind him. Sometimes I feel that worlds we imagine may not be so different to our own.

My series of digital drawings, mostly made spontaneously, are also inspired by a kind of spirituality. My angel drawing began to form at night; an expression of mystical peace one dark blue - violet night. The meaning changes with age – now I see her like a guardian angel. She reminds me of my Grandma who believed in the angels looking over us.

What do you want your audience at the gallery to take away from your work?

I hope it might bring a feeling of peace or wonder to people. Maybe it could remind some people that art is really anything you want it to be, like you don’t have to fit in a box while you make art – to me, art is about demolishing any remains of a ‘box’.

What’s your relationship with The Broadway Gallery?

I have volunteered at the Gallery for around a year now - I help with ’Family Arts’ mainly. I’m so glad that Letchworth continues to have such a special community.

How do you hope to develop as an artist going forward?

Learn, grow, connect. Be a listener and a ‘speaker’. Relax. Shout, scream, cry, smile, sleep, laugh, and put it in a picture :).

Ella Boon's work will be displayed in the gallery from 18 April – 18 May 2024.