Artist Profiles: Elliot Broome
written by miranda burnett & Rory bochner
Elliot Broome is a rising talent at Uni High at only 16 years old. He is a visionary, a stunning visual artist, the beloved director of our very own film club (see the Uni High website for details on joining ;D), a comedic genius, and a friend dear to our hearts. We interviewed him this week for our first artist feature, and asked him a few questions about his views on art, the education system, and being a creative in lockdown. But before we get into the interview, check out Elliot’s work!
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Miranda: I think it's fair to say that Uni High is largely science focused school. How does this affect your development as an artist?
Elliot: I agree, I think that's fair to say but ultimately, I like to make art with anything, anywhere, so a lot of the time, maybe not having the strongest access to resources or having a curriculum focused on creativity I generally still find enough room in my education to be able to do what I love. Although it can be difficult when that part of me isn't as valued by the education system as academic studies.
Rory: What would you want to see changed in the UHS art program?
E: Speaking to the education system in general, I think there shouldn’t be this idea that all students are working towards the same goal to be this one greater student who gets good grades in these subjects and is good at maths and is good at health etc. I think there should be an individual learning system where every student is able to work toward their goals that actually mean things for their life and everything a student is learning will contribute to their intelligence, rather than just sitting down in class so they can get good grades, so they can get a good job.
M: How has lockdown affected your art?
E: Lockdown is rubbish, but in a strange way restrictions, literally in this sense, breed creativity, so when I'm just stuck at my desk with a piece of paper in front of me, I'm just making art, and writing songs all the time , because I have no other choice, so I've actually found I've been making more art than usual. but, it's been in a burnt out way. I think I need to be stuck at school with all these ideas in my head, doodling in my margins to be able to be creative in a healthy way. if I constantly have my tools in front of me, it's too much.
R: Who/what do you cite as your main creative influence?
E: I think, in terms of what, nature, like the sky, and clouds, that's a big inspiration for me. (m: the world?) the world! the world around me, because the world is constantly there, cause no matter whats happening, if you're feeling good, if you're feeling bad, if you feel on top of the world, if you feel like you're at the bottom of the ocean, no matter what there's always gonna be a sky up there, and that's always been something interesting to me. it's a constant in a chaotic world
M: What is art to you?
E: It's just, a productive use of the creative process, which is just anything really, could be a dinner plate, could be the way you tie your shoelaces, it's just any way of being creative. and in that sense, not all drawing is art, you can be drawing in a way that's not creative I think.
R: How is your art a part of your life?
E: I don't know, I think I just do it, I've never really stopped to wonder why, because there's no reason to, I'll just do it anyway no matter what the answer is.
M: How did you get started with your art?
E: I used to do lots of drawings in kindergarten, and they were terrifying, often of ghosts and demons (I had my emo phase very early on) I also had an obsession with pirates, that was a big thing for a while. and then I grew out of that, and here I am today.
R: What do you think people expect of you as an artist, in general and in these times?
E: I'm a bit of a selfish artist to be honest, I try not to think of other people, I don't try to leave room for other people's interpretations in my art, Im often just making art for myself, I do feel like I have to be constantly improving in my art, which I think is not a healthy thing to believe. what I want to believe, is that the only goal I have in art is to be making art, and as long as I'm getting up and making art whenever I can, then I'm living the best art life possible, it doesn't matter if I'm improving in comparison to my peers, it's the fact that I'm still doing it. That's all I need.
Thank you for your insights Elliot, this has been a fascinating view into your mind.
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