Phili a STANTON

The former stage actor on painting with synaesthesia, valuing the process and reigniting creativity. Interview: REBECCA BRADBURY

My new Conscious Creativity cards help with creative flow. If you’re feeling a bit stuck or want to break a pattern, you can pick a card for a prompt that will spark up your creativity again. It’s like having a creative thought on your shoulder.

I’m really big on process over outcome. In the theatre, you have weeks of dedicated rehearsal time and it’s always the fun part. It’s laid a very firm foundation for me in my art, as I value the experience of creating more than the final product.

I love Golden’s Crackle Paste. I often cover a canvas with it before I start painting as it provides a foundation layer I really enjoy working on. It does its own thing, it’s something completely out of my control within a painting.

Everything inspires me. I only have to open my eyes; it’s about looking and observing. If you’re engaged with the world, you’re never going to be short of creative inspiration.

Kassia St Clair’s book, The Secret Lives of Colour, was so interesting. It has given me a much deeper knowledge about the history of pigments and colours and what we take for granted in our everyday.

Painting using my synaesthesia feels like I’m painting the abstract in my head. It’s usually the sounds, smells and tastes that are around me. I don’t purposely go and find weird things to paint.

Anyone can open the door to synaesthesia.

I recommend spending time consciously listening with your eyes shut and working out where in your head it is. I’ve got exercises in my book, Conscious Creativity:

The Workbook, to help people try to access it.

If I could only look at one artist’s work ever again it would be Mark Rothko. His work feels so full of emotion. I remember my art teacher saying, “He paints what he sees when he closes his eyes” – I loved that.

What I need more than anything sometimes is to take time out. I don’t often need a creative boost, but I benefit from just trying to be and trying not to produce anything.

Philippa’s Conscious Creativity cards are published by The Ivy Press. www.5ftinf.com

If you’re engaged with the world, you’re never going to be short of creative inspiration