Being an artist

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

I don’t stand out in a crowd.

How and when did you start out as an artist?

I’ve been drawing since I was a child, as a form of relaxation. I find the whole process cathartic. To face a gleaming new white page with a pen in your hand – there really is nothing better. It’s only in the last few months that I’ve decided to take it more seriously. Some friends looked at some of my work and convinced me to give it a go.

What training did you have?

Absolutely none.

What has been your best creative achievement so far?

To see my work hanging in a gallery and to see my cartoons in magazines. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction, but I don’t want to rest there.

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

Paranoia is just a heightened state of perception – John Lennon.

Who is your favourite artist?

Joseph Mallord William Turner.

What are you aiming for?

Hmm, not sure on that one. Maybe just some recognition for what I do and some interest in what I have to say (if I have anything to say at all – that’s for others to decide).

How will you get there?

I’ll know that when I arrive.

Is anything holding you back?

Terrorism.

You and art

What sort of reactions do you get to your work? are you ever surprised?

Shock. It’s a nice surprise.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

It all depends on what I’m doing and whether I can get an uninterrupted run at it. Unfortunately I have a day job that gets in the way somewhat. Some of the more detailed ones (Machine Girl Malfunction! for example) take weeks. But I can feel the frustration pour out of me, and I like that.

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

The Beatles and other obscure bands.

What is next in the pipeline for you? Any new directions or shows coming up?

Next I hope to have more work exhibited, and to just create more stuff that people will hopefully enjoy. I have no real game plan in terms of timing, because that may lead to me not enjoying drawing. If I ever stopped enjoying it, I’d turn the lights off and go home.

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

People who overcome tremendous personal hardship to achieve their goals. Life or circumstance may have dealt them a rough hand but they don’t let it stop them or put them off. Breathtaking.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

Pop culture, the West and its insatiable appetite for self-obsession. The art of consumption.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

Technically, it would be You & Your King, but in terms of the message and the point I was trying to get across, it would have to be This Ain’t War. Machine Girl Malfunction! was the most enjoyable to do, because it was just a small pen on big paper. I found that tremendously therapeutic.

an artist’s advice

Have you got any advice for those starting out as an artist?

Never stop enjoying.

Thanks Paul!

You can find more of Paul’s artworks and cartoons over at www.thefinsburyparkdeltics.com

Hans

As a self-taught artist, when did you decide you wanted to create art for a living?
Ever since I could remember I’ve always been creating in one form or another,  from Etch-A-Sketch to painting on cereal boxes.  I’ve always known that I wanted to try and paint for a living.

What is it that you so love about the 1950′s-style art and have you always specialised in this?
I started out painting with different styles; abstract, surrealism and graffiti and then got pulled towards my love of pop art .  My goal now is to try and bridge pop art with a urban art vibe.  I love the 1950`s for its style, elegance and glamour, as well as the birth of modern living and pop thinking.

Where do you find inspiration for your art and how  difficult is it to translate modern-day inspirations into a 1950’s theme?
An idea can pop into my head while indulging in my love of pulp fiction, strange unusual comics, watching old films or going to galleries. What inspires me the most is seeing other artists’ work;  inspiration is something I never have a problem with.  I try to capture the brutal coldness of fast modern day living and soften it with a 50`s theme.

'Big Boys Don't Cry'

What about your audience?  Are they of a certain age and how do they respond to your work?
My audience is very mixed now!  Bringing  in the urban arts element to my work opens my portfolio of paintings to a younger market.  In general I’ve found that pop art appeals to the young and old and people from different social backgrounds.  People are surprised how good my paintings are in the flesh – I love receiving emails telling me this!

Tell us about any illustrations you’ve done; do you prefer working to the deadlines of somebody else or to your own? Is it one or two images that you have to create, or lots?
My illustrations are taking a back burner now; I used to work to tight deadlines working with numerous multi-layer imagery at once resulting in single creations.  I do work better with a little bit of pressure.

'Honey you're not home!'

How easy have you found it to publicise your work?  Any methods that have worked particularly well for you?
That’s the biggest obstacle for me – trying to bring attention to my work!  Exhibiting work is probably the best and  most instant way to bring attention to anyone’s work.   Going to a gallery and having a chat with the owner really helps to spread the word  and start letting people know you’re out there.

The black and white images are very striking against the primary colours paintings in your gallery.  How long do your paintings take to finish?
Black and white neutralizes then softens the painting which brings a whole new aura to the finished piece. One of my paintings can take anywhere from 7 hours to 3 days to create,  depending on the scale and complex nature of the painting.  When Ive been experimenting I’ve had paintings take up to 2 months to complete.

How are you finding working as an artist in the current financial climate? Has your work been affected?
I don’t think anyone has escaped the current financial situation.    I had to adjust my prices with the economic downturn.  Pricing is something you have to get right but on the whole I’ve not seen too much of a change in my sales.

What advice could you give to an artist specialising in a very specific style of art with regards to getting themselves noticed?
Try to be original and different from the rest;  it will in time get you noticed.  All genres of art are competitive but with belief and hard work you`ll get there.  Stay  positive!

What’s your favourite aspect of your job?
Standing in front of a blank canvas and creating something from my own hands; there’s great satisfaction in seeing something you’ve painted come to life   Also, seeing someones reaction to a painting is a big joy for me.

What’s next in the pipeline for you? Any new projects or plans on the horizon?
I have an Anglo-French partnership in place which is going to allow me to exhibit in Sao Paulo, Brazil and also an invitation to work with an award-winning art collective in Merseyside.  Then within the next coming months I am back exhibiting in Belgium.

'Uncle Graff'

We would like to thank Hans for his time and his pictures!  To further explore his unique and often thought-provoking work, take a look at his website; http://www.studiohans.com/