AS: It would be hard to suggest that, having
worked with a school group photographer, my style
of painting has changed at all. I don't believe I
ever really saw it as anything artistic. It's
more a test of organisational skills and a
tolerance of hyper active young children or
unruly teenagers. However, when dealing with
large numbers of people in one place at one time,
trying to get everyone facing the camera, it
forces you to look at things as a whole.
"Music has strong affect on me. It is an essential part of my work. Perhaps even the driving force for what actually comes out on the canvas."
OC: Did it teach you anything about composition?
AS: It taught me to step back from what I'm painting. I tend to be up close, involved in the colours, and the shapes. I know it's a rule I was taught from an early age, but sometimes I just forget that many paintings are best seen from a distance, well, a medium distance for any good ones! Sometimes I've felt, if anything, school photography slowed my process for painting, with long distance travelling, early starts...you know, there's always something to whinge about. My best work comes from relaxed surroundings, and without doubt, music. Infact painting with music is a necessity for me. Music has strong affect on me. It is an essential part of my work. Perhaps even the driving force for what actually comes out on the canvas.
OC: You allow the music to influence your creative process? What sort of music do you listen to while you paint?
AS: The best type of music to listen to when painting is probably something
soothing, something a little moody. If music can relax you, then painting becomes more natural, a lot easier. Occassionally to put on a playlist of random songs of different genre can help to shift and develop ideas. For example, a piece of classical music will induce more subtle colours and smoother lines, where a heavy rock song can create disruption and force more peculiar shapes.
OC: Do you have any plans to use this influence in a more structured way?
AS: I remember a project in college where we were asked to produce a series of works that represented different individual sounds. It is something that still intrigues me & I intend to do it again soon. Perhaps interpreting a collection of songs or sounds to a visual medium, depicting the contrasts or relationships between them.
"Music has strong affect on me. It is an essential part of my work. Perhaps even the driving force for what actually comes out on the canvas."
OC: Did it teach you anything about composition?
AS: It taught me to step back from what I'm painting. I tend to be up close, involved in the colours, and the shapes. I know it's a rule I was taught from an early age, but sometimes I just forget that many paintings are best seen from a distance, well, a medium distance for any good ones! Sometimes I've felt, if anything, school photography slowed my process for painting, with long distance travelling, early starts...you know, there's always something to whinge about. My best work comes from relaxed surroundings, and without doubt, music. Infact painting with music is a necessity for me. Music has strong affect on me. It is an essential part of my work. Perhaps even the driving force for what actually comes out on the canvas.
OC: You allow the music to influence your creative process? What sort of music do you listen to while you paint?
AS: The best type of music to listen to when painting is probably something
soothing, something a little moody. If music can relax you, then painting becomes more natural, a lot easier. Occassionally to put on a playlist of random songs of different genre can help to shift and develop ideas. For example, a piece of classical music will induce more subtle colours and smoother lines, where a heavy rock song can create disruption and force more peculiar shapes.
OC: Do you have any plans to use this influence in a more structured way?
AS: I remember a project in college where we were asked to produce a series of works that represented different individual sounds. It is something that still intrigues me & I intend to do it again soon. Perhaps interpreting a collection of songs or sounds to a visual medium, depicting the contrasts or relationships between them.
Profile
Biography
Gallery
Copyright of images belongs to the Artist.
Copyright of interview belongs to Ovenden
Contemporary (Art Promotions) Limited. Any
un-authorised use is strictly prohibited. All
rights are reserved.
(c) 2006 Ovenden Contemporary (Art Promotions)
Limited
OC: So Alex, how did you get from a Graphic
Design degree to surreal art?
AS: Well I think it was more a case of going from surreal art to graphic design, then back to surreal art. I was always drawing as a child, and right through school I enjoyed painting and using my imagination to create something different or unusual. At Diploma level I opted for graphic design, purely because I felt it would put me in good stead for the future. I wasn't aware then of the discipline involved, and the need to send a clear message to an audience. Painting the way I do now has allowed me to break free from the restraints of graphic design and express something more personal. I guess it's just the self-indulgence in me, to be creative on my terms, not somebody elses.
AS: Well I think it was more a case of going from surreal art to graphic design, then back to surreal art. I was always drawing as a child, and right through school I enjoyed painting and using my imagination to create something different or unusual. At Diploma level I opted for graphic design, purely because I felt it would put me in good stead for the future. I wasn't aware then of the discipline involved, and the need to send a clear message to an audience. Painting the way I do now has allowed me to break free from the restraints of graphic design and express something more personal. I guess it's just the self-indulgence in me, to be creative on my terms, not somebody elses.
Alex Sadler BA (Hons) Interview
OC: Are you 'undisciplined'
then?
AS: Not entirely. There is a point where the discipline you use becomes a barrier. Sometimes it's up to you to make a judgement on where you feel something is going. The type of art I create usually comes from a sense of exploration which can result in a lack of discipline. However, there is, without a doubt, a discipline involved in trying to get my paintings to a certain stage....then knowing when to stop. A degree of control is required to get to a well finished product, something that I am finally satisfied with!
OC: Do you feel that you sometimes overstep the point when you should stop painting? Do you see that as an experience issue?
AS: It's definitely an experience issue, I can remember a number of times when I've had a painting almost there and then decided to add a little something, only to ruin it. However its often those mistakes that can help my work develop, perhaps from more texture, or interesting details not intended to begin with. That's all part of why I enjoy painting. It doesn't always pay off though, trying to be the perfectionist.
OC: Is that the Graphic Designer in you- trying to make everything perfect? Has your training been a help or a hindrance to you?
AS: It was always a case of trying to be the perfectionist, but rarely suceeding. I always felt my associates on the Graphic Design course had an edge over me, mainly due to their ability to finish work in a clean, clinical, and professional way. My work tended to be a bit rough around the edges, something I think I tried to improve on. Studying design wasn't a hindrance as such, it was perhaps a route of discovery, and certainly gave me an eye for things like composition. It also made me very aware of bad design, cliches, and bland advertising, something that really grates with me.
AS: Not entirely. There is a point where the discipline you use becomes a barrier. Sometimes it's up to you to make a judgement on where you feel something is going. The type of art I create usually comes from a sense of exploration which can result in a lack of discipline. However, there is, without a doubt, a discipline involved in trying to get my paintings to a certain stage....then knowing when to stop. A degree of control is required to get to a well finished product, something that I am finally satisfied with!
OC: Do you feel that you sometimes overstep the point when you should stop painting? Do you see that as an experience issue?
AS: It's definitely an experience issue, I can remember a number of times when I've had a painting almost there and then decided to add a little something, only to ruin it. However its often those mistakes that can help my work develop, perhaps from more texture, or interesting details not intended to begin with. That's all part of why I enjoy painting. It doesn't always pay off though, trying to be the perfectionist.
OC: Is that the Graphic Designer in you- trying to make everything perfect? Has your training been a help or a hindrance to you?
AS: It was always a case of trying to be the perfectionist, but rarely suceeding. I always felt my associates on the Graphic Design course had an edge over me, mainly due to their ability to finish work in a clean, clinical, and professional way. My work tended to be a bit rough around the edges, something I think I tried to improve on. Studying design wasn't a hindrance as such, it was perhaps a route of discovery, and certainly gave me an eye for things like composition. It also made me very aware of bad design, cliches, and bland advertising, something that really grates with me.
OC: Were there any other
benefits?
AS: Well, I ended up with sketchbooks full of ideas, which provided inspiration for some of my paintings. Although fine art would have probably suited me better, it's about visual communication at the end of it all, so it did help me out.
OC: As far as visual communication is concerned, you have spent some time employed as an Assistant to a Photographer. How has that affected your work?
AS: Well, I ended up with sketchbooks full of ideas, which provided inspiration for some of my paintings. Although fine art would have probably suited me better, it's about visual communication at the end of it all, so it did help me out.
OC: As far as visual communication is concerned, you have spent some time employed as an Assistant to a Photographer. How has that affected your work?
OC: Are you musical in any way? Do you play
anything?
AS: I play the guitar and learnt the piano as a boy. I'd like to think I'm quite musical.
AS: I play the guitar and learnt the piano as a boy. I'd like to think I'm quite musical.
Continued on
Page 2>