[Artist Interview] Dying and Decaying Softly with: ABIGAIL DOYLE
Canadian artist, Abigail Doyle, is as comfortable in her own company as she is with the darker realities of life. Death and decay are motifs that appear consistently in her work as an oil painter, and she approaches them with an instinctive affinity, offering a visually captivating and softer contrast to otherwise confronting themes. With her Sun in Scorpio, Abigail’s plutonian roots weave seamlessly throughout her craft—not purely in the visual outcome but also her attitude and obsessive pursuit of artistic authenticity. Her natural reclusiveness has perhaps been advantageous in offering time in solitude to look deeper within, allowing Abigail to develop a collection of work that is both honest and strong in its identity. She is meticulous about the materials and tools she chooses to create with, and this care for quality and her attention to detail is reflected in the nuance and precision of her gothic and melancholic realist offerings.
We speak with Abigail about the darker themes in her work, her artistic processes, inspirations and her earliest memories as an artist.
Hi Abigail, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me. I’ve been following you online and admiring your work for a while now. I’d love to learn more about your background as an artist and how it all began.
I'm a self-taught artist in oil painting, but I did some schooling in art history. School was never for me; I never excelled academically. Although I do love history, being in a university environment wasn’t where I thrived. I find that having the space and time to create and research on my own leads me down paths I enjoy a lot more.
What are your earliest memories as an artist?
I remember being in my yard as a kid, maybe three years old, while my dad would work on his cars and bikes. My sister and I would paint on our fence in the afternoons for as long as we could so we could be outside with him. Of course, we were no prodigies, but I do believe that our parents fostered our creativity in a way that allowed us to be who we are today. They never believed in the need for a traditional life, and I think that gave us the confidence to pursue art.
You work with oil paint on canvas—can you talk us through your artistic process?
I like to believe that I would create with whatever I have at my disposal, but I can’t deny that I do love the finer things in life, and this does translate into my work. I’m picky about what canvases I will and won’t use; my brushes need to be a certain length, and of course, I’m particular about the colours I use.
Once, I took a painting class, and no matter what, I was always told my colours were too muted and dull. But with how stubborn I could be, I never changed, because I liked the way it looked and was insistent that they just didn’t get my style.
For a long time, I was only painting with acrylics. I was scared to use oils because they were so intimidating. Everyone says that they are difficult and frustrating to use, so I never picked them up. Until I hit a point with my art where I decided I wasn’t happy with the way it was going and needed a change. So, I got the absolute basics to start with oils. I watched some videos on how to mix them, preserve them, and finish them, but I wasn’t getting the results I wanted—until I painted my deer. I went into that piece with no expectations and just used the paint freely, without following any of the rules I had heard. I was finally getting the results I was looking for. There is no right answer in art, and sometimes you already know what needs to be done; you just have to let yourself do it. Since then, I’ve stuck to that process. It’s one of those things that’s hard to describe but just seems to come naturally to me, which sounds cliché but is true.
The Rest Cure, 2024
Your style has been described as having “gothic visuals” and “melancholic attitudes.” What do you think draws you specifically to gothic visuals, and would you say the attitudes in your work reflect your personal life experiences?
I've always been drawn to the darker things in life. I was fascinated by what could be beyond this world, or what isn’t. Being a quiet and secluded individual naturally leads to a lot of introspection. I find it easier to express myself through visuals, as words have never been my forte. I believe that’s why I have always found myself on the outside of things throughout many parts of my life, but art has always felt like home to me; it’s a natural process that pours out of me with ease.
It’s taken time to develop myself both personally and artistically. I would like to say I’ve always been like this, although maybe I have, but it’s only in recent years that I’ve had the confidence to express myself outwardly as I do now.
I do not believe there is a right or true way to be goth. Goth is an attitude, a way of life; it’s the things that draw you in, the things you believe in, the way you conduct yourself. I don’t think you choose it, but rather that it finds you. My painting reflects how I see the world, what I notice around me, rather than what I project onto it. I find comfort in nihilism; it doesn’t scare me. I think that is something one can only understand for themselves. Death, decay, birth, and natural things in life that have always fascinated me all shine through in my work.
If you could summarise the visual style or the mood of your work with the following categories, what would you choose?
Song (or album or musician):
I do find a lot of inspiration in music. I can see the visuals in my mind while I’m listening to it. Sinéad O’Connor, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Soap&Skin, Chelsea Wolfe, Sortilegia, Mgła, and lastly Addison Rae—not so much in my art, but as an inspiration for life itself.
Book:
The Bible.
Fashion designer:
Rick Owens is a major inspiration in my life, not just my art. The way he talks about his work makes me feel like the path I’ve chosen is possible.
Animal:
Deer, swans, foxes, rabbits, horses, bears, sheep, doves, wolves, rats. Animals are an immense inspiration to me.
Location:
Paris. I’ve never felt more myself in a city than I have in the heart of France.
And finally:
The Catholics.
Venus in Scorpio Trading Co. is a homewares and lifestyle retailer. Our homes tend to be reflective of ourselves—our tastes, influences and how we see the world. Can you tell us about your own home and personal interior style?
I’m a bit of a collector. I adorn my walls with my favourite things: antique clothing, vintage objects, and personal effects. I have a large collection of vintage magazines and art books. I love to decorate with dried flowers and antique mirrors.
Finally, do you have any new projects or exhibitions you’re working on that you’re able to tell us about, or is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m looking to grow my collection and share my art with others. I think pursuing art is always worth it, no matter how it turns out. I spend most of my time avoiding questions about what I’ll do with my art or for work, when my real answer is just that I want to pursue it to its fullest potential, which is a project that won’t end until the day I die.
Words: Susannah I.
Pictures: Supplied
