The latest issue of the quarterly Keyframe magazine from the Animation Guild has a piece on me and my paintings! It's an edited version of the following exchange. Buy my art books and original art at my store here
What inspired you to paint the Samitaur building? Feel free to mention your Iconic Places series and anything else that's relevant.
A: I moved to LA to work at a small animation studio in the Hayden Tract and I'd explore that area on my lunch break with my sketchbook. I was struck by the innovative architecture in that district of Culver City and learnt that it was mostly by the same architect Eric Owen Moss. The Samitaur 'tower' changes its appearance throughout the day -it's often lit up colorfully at night and during the day it's textures are revealed. As a new resident in the city I used painting and sketching as a way to explore and familiarize myself with the streets and neighborhoods of this (huge) metropolis. Living in foggy San Francisco previously I was making line drawings but LA inspired me to dive into color and try and capture the vibrancy of SoCal.
Could you share a little about the medium and techniques you used?
A:I use gouache paint on heavy Canson paper. My set-up is relatively lo-fi; I use a metallic baking tray as a palette and cycle around until I see something that captures my eye. I may drive if it's a specific architectural spot that I've researched and is further across town. In the car I'll carry a folding stool or a BBQ chair to sit in on site otherwise if I'm cycling I'll find what functions as a seat (which often dictates how long I spend on a painting. I'll stop when it gets uncomfortable, the sun gets too hot/I lose the shade or ants find me!). When I find a spot to paint I'll do a quick pen and ink sketch to solve any perspective/architectural problems then loosely pencil out the broad shapes on the Canson paper and get stuck into painting. I try to maintain spontaneity and embrace happy accidents. If I find myself 'noodling' details I'll stop- that's when I know the picture is 'finished'.
Was your Iconic Places series in your book?
A:Just before the pandemic I collaborated on a group show at the Anim Guild with 2 old friends; Matt Cruickshank and Mike Dutton. Every year for 5 years we went away together to a chosen destination for a few days to paint and draw. So the show and the book 'AM3RICA' represents the different views of the same places by 3 artists. In my section I included Iconic Places from not only the US but also iconic places I found in Mexico on trips to explore the Mayan Pyramids and Mexico City.
