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Interview With John McKie

12/3/2012

5 Comments

 
Picture
Where are you from, and how old are you if i may ask?

My age is a secret, but I'll put it this
way, I'm 20 years younger than my dad, and he's 72. I'm from the north of England.

When did you decided to become an artist?

I've made pictures for many years on and off, sometimes doing nothing for years.  I made a decision at the end of 2011 to make art every day.

What artists inspire you the most?

There are many and they change all the time but at the moment...Ace of Trades
(Paul), the handyman that has done lot's of work in my wife and daughter's shop,
Massimo Nota and Outsider artist Momo.

What do you love about painting, and what do you hate?

I like making something out of nothing, something unique.  The element of surprise that often makes a picture work.  Also the escape factor and being focused on the moment is good.  There's nothing I hate about it really.  I'm crap at it often, maybe that's the only thing.

Do you remember When did you made your very first painting/sculpture?

Can't remember, but it would have been a big collage.

What mediums do you like to work with, and and why?

I use acrylic paint, pens, oil crayons, collage and on cardboard, paper or wood. 
They just seem to work for me.

Are there any members of your family who support you and your art?

My wife and daughters are great, very supportive.  If I can make them laugh or show an interest it's good.  I take notice of their opinions.

Do you find it easy to exhibit your work in galleries or there are any obstacles hard to overcome?

I exhibited in a gallery in Scotland years ago and just took some pictures in to show them. They accepted them straight away and all that I took in after that, and they always sold.  So it was easy really.  At the moment I have pictures in a gallery in
Berlin and that was because Reinhard Stammer told the gallery about me.  The
gallery contacted me and it went from there.  I have three more exhibitions coming
up, in London and in the US somewhere (not sure where yet), and Flanders, so I've
been very lucky in not having to push much, although I could do much more.  I'm
lazy and apathetic often.

Is there a favorite painting/sculpture you ever made?

There are a few.  But often it's the last one made, but sometimes I go off them.  If I still like them a few weeks later they will be up there with my favourites.
 
Are there any other forms of creativity that you like, other than painting?

I don't use any other medium personally although I keep thinking about making short films.  I like music and films. Something has to touch me in some way.

Do you have a favourite color when you paint?

I suppose grey, white and black but as long as a colour's in the right place.

What would be your ideal studio like?

A big light room with a bar and naked women in one corner and a wildlife section and maybe a swimming pool.

Do you ever open your studio to the public... and if not would you consider doing it at all?

Not really relevant at the moment.

What inspires you the most, abstract painting, just figurative, or a bit of both?

Mostly figurative collage/mixed media, sometimes i get ideas from abstract though.

Do you sell your work online, ebay or galleries only?

Online and galleries.  I've sold on an online art gallery through this year
and dozens through my facebook account.

Do you participate on any Artfairs, and is there one that you particularly like?

Never done it.

Do you paint for a living or do you have a job on the side?

A bit of both.  I buy and sell vinyl records too.  I aim to do art only as soon as possible.

How would you classify your work?

Sometimes good rubbish that, when it works, connects to something a little below the surface of the semi-awake modern human.  I'm technically not good but can sometimes come up with an image somehow.

Do you have an art degree at all, and do you find it useful?

No art training at all.

How long does a painting take from beginning to end?

Anything from 1 minute to 15 minutes.  Occasionally 30 minutes.  It's quite a quick process and I like the spontaneity.  Sometimes I go back the next day or days and change it a bit.

How do you know when a work is finished?

Gut feeling.  Sometimes I'm wrong.

What are your goals for the future?

My main goal is to become oblvious to the madness that surrounds me, or maybe
just be better at coping with it.   Art-wise, to have a great work-space like the one I described in a previous question.

Do you ever do any commissioned work?

No.

How would you like to be remembered in a few hundred years?

Not something that concerns me at all.  I'm just passing by, I don't think
I'm interested in leaving a mark.  I know that my pictures will remain, but it's not why I make them.
 
What advise can you give to beginning artists?

I don't really feel qualified to advise but I would just say, be yourself,
but steal all you want.
 

5 Comments
Federico van Kranen link
12/3/2012 07:57:35 pm

John McKie is almost overactive. His daily contributions, visible at facebook, are always surprising, original and fun. Most of the times good for a laugh as well. Keep it up John!

Reply
Gavin E Priest.
12/10/2012 03:43:02 am

I love John's work, I see it on a daily basis online and it is often very humorous and at times deeply affecting and beautiful. I love his use of line & composition.

Reply
Simon Halliday
12/10/2012 09:04:31 pm

I think John's spontaneity is a thing of wonder.His ability to see beauty in the banal,and wisdom in the preposterous is a talent indeed.The seances at his home are now quite legendary.Once my head fell off whilst John was channelling Carl Sagan.Not only did he put my head back on in the correct astronomical alignment.His hands did genuinely feel American.

Reply
nacho link
12/13/2012 03:41:26 am

yes i'm with us, you, but like Reinahrd, i cannot understand, how an "artist" cannot HATE!! something...in art i say, MAYBE IS THE AGE, well i d'ont want to be "cruel", but maybe, maybe not, sure, "nobody" or people with now , artists 30, maybe can know what is, make art and feel like world look at you like you are a marginal men, and later than "human" people goes to a MUSEUM! like was a cathedral! and me with 16 years try sell my work on bars etc,,well, maybe better take a ook Modigliani's film.......age is "atemporary_2 but well, i d'ont believe in time, but , well, times i "know" says the "truth"...or not "truth",,,,,,sorry but i speak with john, etc, good people, but i know they cannot feel my paint like a "young" painter..that's all.......well, yes remember me my firsts paintings, when i have 57 years old, if, what is it?,,, well, i hope be out of.......art!!!! what i hate? art!!!! jeje i hate , the poor of world,,well, and the lucky, i love, i'm happy for the "lucky" of ....luckyes,,sorry i have to say, i'm free to talk, and i hope not be bad for any body, i only like painter, lover of beauty, of "naked women" SPEAK THE TRUTH! art , when you think to be a painter in the "adolescent", is fucking hard! is a thing, sorry but people that have 20 years less than his dad,,thay cannot know and i s say for the history of art, for nothing more, FOR THE LOVE OF SO, HISTORY ART, but i'm happy for the hapyness of the people, better than make guns!!! "sorry" is peak, in the name of "basquiat", haring, maybe, so good painters, ion bardelaneau ( romanian) van gogh,,well, love,,,and sorry I HAVE TO SAY, MAYBE BETTER BE WITH MY MOUTH, LIKE THE MONKEY, ONLY SEE, HEAR, AND,,,AND D¡'ONT SAY NOTHING BUT, I'M "BAD" YES I'M "BAD" LIKE MUCHAEL JACKSON! AND POLLOCK,,NAMASTÉ, happy for hapyness....well, love, and it is an opinion, i say me, but like i say before, sure so more anothers artists, can feel in her skin,,,do you have to pay to be interwiew? well ,love, no problem, maybe "rebel without cause" ..yes...maybe nacho, shut up!! nice paint, i prefer, patrick nuppert! for example, or,,,nuno evaristo, patrick! maybe knows what i tell about,,why? wellpainting only "monsters" seems that now every body can be a some BASQUIAT or..."art.brut" men,,,yes,,welll i'm going bad in my karma way, love and peace in this new year...nachob, all for beauty.love

Reply
Stephanie Prong
6/4/2015 10:14:21 pm

John Mckie made me realise I was looking at, thinking about and doing art completely wrong; that's why I hate him.

Reply



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    If you hear a voice within  you say "you cannot paint" then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
    Vincent Van Gogh

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