Q) A skilled pressman for over twenty years, what was it that interested you in your present style of creating modern art? Also, do you feel that there are relations between the two professions?
A) It just happened. I have always loved and enjoyed art, but mostly only sketched for fun. It was out of the blue that one day I was working and I had an idea with the inks that I had been using for years and years. I looked at the ink knife and just experimented to see what I could create. There is definitely a relationship between my two professions. My work as a pressman is what influenced me to experiment with colors and what gave me the whole concept of color and blending. I have been working with colors for 35 years, and have branched out to the creative side of it.
Q) You started painting just two years ago and have already received accolades from recent exhibitions. What is the process that you go through when you start a painting for an exhibition? Does this process differ from a commission?
A) Yes the process differs. When I'm creating a piece for an exhibition, I gather my inspiration from within, using the colors and designs that appeal to me, and how I'm feeling at that particular moment. When I'm painting for others, I ask them what colors they prefer, but still I try to put part of myself into the work.
Q) Printer's ink and a printer's knife are the tools that you use to construct your pieces on paper. Tell our readers how printer's ink differs from acrylic and why the medium is so alluring.
A) It creates a unique texture. It blends well because the majority of the inks are transparent, thus creating a vibrant, different and appealing look. Honestly, I have never used any other paint for my creations. This is what I have worked with all my life and am very familiar with the way the colors blend together.
Q) Elaborate on where your ideas come from.
A) My ideas come from my soul. When I start out, I pick my color scheme, relax and use the natural environment around me and my mood to motivate the direction the painting is going. Every painting is different and reflects how I was feeling at that particular moment. |
