See more of Paul’s work at www.paulsamphillips.artweb.com
Being an artist
Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself
Freelance Designer with a huge passion for Design, Digital Art and Painting.
90% of my artworks are all based on one word ‘Tactile’. I love to produce a piece of work that contains multiple surfaces and textures that draws the viewer in.
When did you decide to pursue art as a career?
Ever since my 2 year Art & Design course back at school. I love using different textures i.e. Wood, metal etc in my work.
What training did you have?
I worked for a Professional artist for nearly a year a few years back that taught me lots of different techniques.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
Going for it full on and getting my work out there. For years I never thought I would ever get my own work out there as I was worried what people would think. I now have no issues with any feedback I may receive good or bad and even if someone does not like my work I see that as a positive as I have provoked a reaction or thought.
General Questions
What’s your favourite quote?
If its not one thing its your mother
Who is your favourite artist?
David Carson – massive inspiration on me over the years.
What are you aiming for?
My main aim is to continue adding to or creating new collections and if people like my work then that is a bonus. My long term goal is to have my own Gallery which will have a combination of my Digital Art and Paintings.
How will you get there?
Short term would be a lottery win but realistically as long as I keep my love and passion for producing my artwork I hope things will just snow ball and who knows what can happen tomorrow.
Is anything holding you back?
I still think my self confidence can still hold me back but I have fully adopted the attitude of ‘Why Not’. By this I mean just go for it and see. Im willing to make mistakes or make the wrong decision but I would much rather look back and say at least I tried it than just sat back.
You and art
What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?
I want people to look at my artwork and get drawn in. This is always easier to achieve with painting because you can produce the different textures and surfaces with different paints and materials. The challenge is to produce that through my Digital Art. I want to give the impression that a 2D piece of work has depth and layers with different textures.
Im never surprised by reactions I get to my work but try and use all feedback/ reactions in any future work.
From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?
The beauty about being a Designer is that every brief you work on you have a set deadline with certain criteria that you have to stick to. These aspects help you to stick to a plan/ time frame. When you have complete freedom to create your own artwork there is nothing to tell you to stop or a deadline to meet so it can be easy to continue with a piece well after it is finished. Criticizing your own work is the easiest thing to do but it comes down to producing something and being happy with it and then leaving it alone.
What music do you like to listen to when you work?
I don’t have a specific type of music that inspires me but I always listen to music not only when im painting or producing a piece of work.
What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?
The thing I love about my inspiration is that I can simply be walking down to my local shop and come across a surface that could kick off an entire new collection. I never go out looking for something its normally when Im not that something can crop up.
In terms of new work I am contently adding to my image library that is a great source for new projects.
Being inspired by art
Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?
I have no one individual that inspires me or someone that I turn to for help. I dont have a book I look through it just hits you, you cant predict when it will hit you but as long as i have a pen handy to make a quick sketch then great.
What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?
Painting and Digital Art are my inspiration. Someone could be the ultimate IT Guru producing code, spreadsheets etc but really don’t have anything at the end of it to kind of sit back with a degree of satisfaction, again I might be completely wrong not being a IT Guru. For me looking over the final piece of artwork is almost as good as working on it.
What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?
All of my final pieces are my favorite as they are the final pieces. I could have 4,5,6 versions that just don’t work for some reason but these are important as they are the steps needed to produce that final piece.
an artist’s advice
For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?
For me you have to have a complete LOVE for doing what you do, doesn’t have to be art just anything in general. If you really don’t love what you do then eventually it wont work out.
Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?
Im very much a rookie when it comes to this… any tips for me 🙂
