Violet’s original artworks are created using natural, recycled, ethically sourced and/or sustainable materials. She uses charcoal created in her own fireplace on paper recycled from coffee cups, For her coloured artworks, she uses natural materials foraged from the environment of her subjects. These organic materials create authentic, natural and environmentally friendly pieces of artwork. Violet spends time with local villagers and tribal peoples surrounding the national parks and wildlife areas to learn ancient methods of creating colours for dye and art.
Violet has learnt to create dyes from boiling specific roots and leaves from tribal elders in Papua New Guinea. She has sourced the ingredients from the much loved betel nut in the Indian jungle to create tiger artworks. And collected soils from leopard territory in an Omani desert to colour her work.
Using live materials means embracing a state of change and evolution as the colours can change over time. By connecting us to the natural world, Violet wants to acknowledge that everything natural is in constant flux and celebrate the beauty in impermanence.
Original artworks must be taken extra special care of, they are not created with standard art materials but with materials that are alive and real. Therefore framing with protective glass and displaying out of direct sunlight is the kindest way to protect and enjoy the artwork.
The paper Violet uses is made from recycled coffee cups to raise awareness about the 16 billion paper cups are used once and thrown away per year which means that 6.5 million trees have had to be cut down, 4 billion gallons of water used and enough energy to power 54,000 homes.
