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.
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.
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