We’re kicking off another round of the Random Acts of Art Project, this time with artist Rochelle Buckley. The project, which sees our 1kg bags and other ‘random’ objects in our world get art on them, started in 2013. Since then we have seen artists Brett Chan, Adrian Repeti & Georgia Hill’s incredible artworks adorn our 1kg bags and various places around our cafes and roastworks.
Rochelle Buckley is a local Sydney artist who has been drawing for most of her life. While normally we don’t give any content guidance with the art, we were a little bit excited about the recent install of our G120 restored Probat roaster (circa 1971). Then talk turned to tattoos, resulting in a twist on the old ‘Man’s Ruin’ tat, incorporating coffee as the vice. Gotta love art!
We did a little Q&A with Rochelle, so you can get to know her and her art a little better…
TELLS US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHEN YOU STARTED DRAWING?
Well my name is Rochelle Buckley, I live in the suburbs with my husband and together we own a little business called A Whole Lot of Buck. We make prints and stationary using my illustrations and sell them online and at markets around Sydney.
I wasn’t exactly born with a pencil in my hand but can’t remember a time where I haven’t been drawing. My parents have always encouraged me to pursue my love for creativity and that support has driven me to better myself everyday as an artist.
MOST OF YOUR ARTWORKS HAVE A PLAYFUL INTERPRETATION OF BEAUTIFUL, STRONG WOMEN, WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THIS THEME?
Being a woman certainly helps and I love that women can be everything all at once. One minute we’re a powerful, seductive, goddesses full of wisdom and determination then the next we’re an emotional ball of mess that just wants chocolate and a hug.
There are so many levels of emotion to a woman and I enjoy exploring them through my art.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU STYLISTICALLY?
Artists like Audrey Kawasaki and James Jean have inspired me the most over the years, along with Danger Girl comics and various tattoo artists on Instagram.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM TO DRAW WITH?
Pencil, paper and pen. We’ve been together so long anything else just seems like a fling.
DO YOU LIKE A MORE NATURAL PROCESS WITH PEN/PAINT TO PAPER OR STRAIGHT ON THE COMPUTER?
Computers are a great tool and I use them for producing some of my prints but give me pen and paper any day!
IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARTIST/DESIGNER WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
I would be a professional napper and food connoisseur.
IF YOU WERE TO BE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND COULD TAKE 3 ITEMS WITH YOU, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
A never ending bottle of water, a flame thrower and a yacht.
NOW THE BIG QUESTION – DO YOU DRINK COFFEE AND IF SO HOW DO YOU TAKE IT?
I can’t survive the day without coffee!!! I take piccolos most days and sometimes soy lattes with a dash of honey.
To see more of Rochelle’s work, follow her on Instagram.
Keep an eye out for the 1kg bags popping up randomly around town, we hope you like the illustration as much as we do.
