Fillia Barden — Indonesian born artist in Wolverhampton, UK.
Once upon a writer
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been somewhat creative, but writing was more my thing back then. Long before the existence of blogging platforms such as Multiply and MySpace, I used to have a lot of notebooks where I wrote my own short stories or series as well as a collection of poems. Those notebooks were then passed around the classroom and to the next-door classrooms to be read by friends —some would leave their comments on the comment pages I left blank in each book. My writing journey continued to some publications and writer/contributor/journalist occupations later on. My love of writing was bolstered by my fascination with anything paper and stationery. Yep! You bet, I keep a locked personal diary, collect journals and stationery, and have penpals.
Accidental Illustrator
My occupation as a writer somehow made me an accidental illustrator. It happened twice to be exact. I was part of a children book project and later a curriculum project for young people when they couldn’t find illustrators and somehow they made me pick up a pencil and start drawing. There you have it!
Drawing has become one of my things since then, and I started to learn how to paint. When I moved to UK at the end of 2013, I was involved in facilitating an art workshop as part of my work in Milton Keynes. However, music workshop was more my responsibily then and art was not my main gig. Only recently that I decided to reconsider art. This year, I am excited to venture more in art, to retell things I found worth proclaiming, and to grow my skill that I may create beauty that glorfies my Lord.
I work mainly with oil and watercolour, and I am committed to omit solvents and toxic medium from my studio and works.
Christian Artist
“We were free to create, as long as we never forgot that we are slaves to Jesus.”
― Francis A. Schaeffer, Art and the Bible
As I tried to understand what it means to be an artist, I found myself on the brim, wandering if I ever would be one and if my art is valid. But through prayers and reading some good books, the Lord in his grace has given me clarity on where I should stand and what my Artist Statement should look like.
I believe art is projection of the artist’s worldview and certainly mine showcases my faith as a Bible believing Christian who strive to live a life biblically. I pray that the Lord will be glorified through my art.
Let’s Collaborate
letter@filliabarden.com
instagram.com/filliabarden
Art Shows
New Dawn, Fox Yard Gallery, Ipswich, UK — January 2025
In Solitude (Issue VIII), Meta Space Gallery, UK — February- March 2025