>>> I create images and music because I find it difficult to put the way I feel into words. I like my art to be experienced and felt, not just seen. So instead of telling them what they're missing out on, I'd rather give them an experience that they can relate to by playing them some songs off of my playlist... Or better yet, creating a song for them myself. I feel that music and colours can evoke the same emotions when used in the correct way, so, yeah, I'd probably get my guitar out and do that.
Your favourite mediums?
All the media! I'm using acrylic paint and oil pastels right now because of their convenience and availability, but I don't have one favourite medium. (Although charcoal is my least favourite)
Do you use unconventional tools or mediums in some of your works?
Yes, all the time. I use whatever I have available, or whatever benefits me the most at the time. I've made sculptures out of cardboard and duct tape, fairy wings out of melted plastic bags and wire, stuck pieces of broken number plate onto paintings. I've used grass, sand, bodily fluids, tea, coffee... And at the moment I'm using wood-carving tools to create textures in paintings, and scrape off layers that need re-working.
You do a lot of portraits – is there a specific reason?
I find humans fascinating, I can sit in a public place and just watch them be humans for hours. Shopping malls are like human zoos. The face and body can express and communicate so many different emotions or states of being just through muscle arrangement and posture. Then there's the way we present ourselves through clothes, hairstyles, tattoos and makeup. (Selfies are great) We relate to other humans and identify with their emotions. We can hate other humans, fall in love with other humans... I love the challenge of capturing emotion and personality in an artwork, because that goes deeper than just observing on a visual level.
If not portraiture, what's your favourite topic to draw/paint?
I guess I do paint portraits of people, but, I never intend for them to function in the way that a typical portrait would. For me, the word "portraiture" makes me think of fairly conventional, cheesy paintings and pencil/charcoal drawings of people and their families and kids... Emotion is my thing, I use faces because they can evoke certain emotions in the viewer. Its fun to capture individuality. Although, I am considering doing some work in the future with absolutely no human element.
What is your favourite project you've worked on so far?
Wow, that's gonna be difficult to narrow down. I get very emotionally involved with the work I create. Its a love/hate relationship with myself and the artwork from start to finish. Probably the shopping-bag fairy wings I made for Jes Hunter Photography because I had never done something like that before... and the portrait of my friend, Sel. I was able to create them with no issues. Just fun from start to finish.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Well, its been a while since I've had a very conceptual idea. Usually, I will just meet someone who has some unique characteristics that I would like to portray. Perhaps they made me feel a certain way... Or, a friend might post a cool picture on Facebook and that's that. I'll use the colours and media that I feel best capture their personality. I create hundreds of >>> notes and little doodles that I shove in my drawer for later. (Those ideas usually come from dreams, or just pop up at random while I'm doing something else) But before I go through any of those, I'd like to paint and draw all my friends with their interesting selfies.
How important is formal education in developing skills?
This is all just opinion based on my own experiences, but If you want to improve your painting or drawing skills, practice, YouTube and a little bit of self-discipline is going to help you out a lot more than going to university would -And for a much smaller fee. I don't know much about graphic design, but as far my own experience with fine arts goes; two years at university destroyed my confidence, instilled self-doubt and didn't teach me any new technical skills.
What are the challenges to being an artist? We know making money through art hell of a difficult but what else impacts turning art into a career?
I find mindset to be my biggest obstacle. As an artist you have to be your own promoter, secretary and manager. Taking something that I've been doing for fun my entire life, and adjusting my brain to treat it as a job requires a lot of discipline. In an ideal world I would spend 8 hours a day working on art like I would working at any other job, but, in order to create the best quality work, I have to be in the right mood and the right kind of environment. I haven't been able to find an "good mood on" switch as of yet. Then there's the guaranteed income factor. You may have made a four figure income this week, but, you don't know for certain if you're going to be making anything for the next two to three months. Social media is fantastic in the way that it let's you advertise and share for free, so getting your stuff out there isn't too much of a challenge. But, even if you have a few thousand followers, it still gives you no guarantee that you're going to be making money this month. If you end up getting a regular job, the challenge lies in finding a job that gives you enough time to work on your art... And finding a job that doesn't leave you too drained and miserable to even think about creating art.
What advice do you have for something starting out?
I'm just starting out myself, but practice, practice, practice. And don't stop. You can never have too much technical skill. There's nothing wrong with trying out new styles and techniques, but, its a lot easier to get recognised if you find a style you're comfortable with and stick to it. Books and the internet are your friends. Find out how your favourite artists started out and if they have online tutorials. Observe. Be aware of everything. Question everything. Don't just see something pretty or hear a cool song. Experience it.
Finally, what does the future hold? What are you planning in your life as an artist?
Well, in the past year or so, I've met some rather talented artist, musicians and film makers who are always keen to collaborate... I feel like Its time to expand, time to experiment, and time to get some sun. I'm bored with doing small artworks indoors. So keep an eye on the page and see what happens.
SELFIES ARE GREAT . . . Michael Patrick Anderson in front of one of his artworks.