La Di Da in Belconnen is bringing back its very popular Commit No Nuisance art battle this Friday night. We thought it best to get to know one of the evening’s star performers, so sat down with George Rose (who has had a life-long desire to make everything she sees prettier!). We chatted about technology, scale and taking on other great Canberra artists in front of a crowd.

Is this your first Art Battle at La Di Da?

No, it’s not! I did one last year with two brothers. It was really fun! It was the first time I worked in a team version, which adds a great dimension.

It’s really fun. They just give you paint and say ‘Go!’ I’m used to painting in front of other people, because I do so many public works, but being able to challenge the other team adds a great sense of theatre.

Create No Nuisance pushes you to work in a way that’s different to the more structured commissions. What are the challenges and fun parts of working this way?

The most challenging aspect is being competitive. I tend not to work collaboratively, so having to spend an evening painting really quickly in the hope you’ll win is really different for me. It’s kind of ironic, actually, given when you produce art you’re being judged all the time.

The great part of these battles is the energy that is produced as you’re in the moment. There’s no time to think, and because I’m so focussed that the crowds tends to stand back with their drink, watch what I’m creating and chat about it among themselves. It’s different to when I’m working on a piece in a public space, as it’s not uncommon for people to randomly wander up and ask all sorts of questions about what I’m doing.

For you as an artist, where does technology meet creativity?

It always starts with a sketch – that’s where I always put together the ideas. But it really depends on the application. There’s a series of questions I’ll then sub-consciously ask myself, and I’ll look carefully at the brief and try to determine what the product at the end is going to be.

If it going to be a t-shirt, or if its going to be a mural, if it’s going to be for an older crowd – these questions all change when I might move from the pen to the computer.

Given that, which media do you prefer to work in?

I love it all, really. Again, depending on the project I will look to see which medium works best. I have painted with acrylics and oils, incorporated lighting design, I really want to explore jewellery as well as ceramics. I consider myself a problem solver. When people come to me with a commission, they generally have a question that needs to be answered, and its up to me to decide which material is going to provide the right answer.

Of all your commissioned pieces, which as proved the most challenging?

Actually, the one that’s coming up! I haven’t done it yet, but it’s happening at the end of August at university of Canberra. I can’t say too much, but there are over 10,000 separate pieces that make up one installation that will also be interactive!

These projects are great. I tend to get intimidated by the complexity, but once it’s been delivered I tend to sit back and think, “That was really fun!”

What’s on the horizon for George Rose?

I’m going to keep jumping back and forth between Melbourne and Canberra – which is great because I can change cities depending on mood. I love Canberra – and haven’t gone to Melbourne for the ‘big city’… It’s more a place where I can focus without the awesome distractions of Canberra’s arts scene.

Between the two, though, I’m going to keep working down my list of projects (which never seems to get shorter!). I’m doing a couple of Fringe Festivals in Newcastle and Melbourne, and a small show at Chop Shop in Braddon… then, in 2015… who knows?

You can see George Rose in action this Friday 22 August as a part of Commit No Nuisance art battle at La Di Da in Belconnen. Entry is free. Click here for more information