Interview
What made you decide to become an artist? What is your background?
I never decided to become an artist, I just was. From an early age, art was what I did, it felt natural, normal, and part of who I was. I studied art but I often felt restricted by education establishments who tried to dictate to me how and what. No one should tell anyone else how to create and put barriers to their creativity, or even criticise what someone else has created, all art is beautiful because it has been created by a person with a creative soul. I was an artist from the day I was born, because from the day I was born, I was creating.
I was educated in the UK and then went on to attend art college, after which, I travelled being inspired from what I saw and experienced.
What are the three things that differentiate you from the other artists?
This is a difficult question because if I am to compare myself to others, I first must know what makes others who they are. I do not think I can ever understand other artists in order for me to be able to compare myself to them and I don’t think anyone ever can. I can say that I never compare my art with other artist’s work. We are all individual and that is the beauty of art and expressing our own individual creativity.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I take my inspiration from a place of energy. I am inspired by things around me and what vibration they give off. That vibration tells a story. The energy is manifested into a piece of art that then will project a vibration that is then felt as an energy. I steer away from low vibrations, low energy. I am inspired by high vibration and an energy that uplifts. My creativity is inspired from a place of love and not fear.
Tell us about the conception of your works, do you have a long preparatory work or is it quite spontaneous?
Absolutely, always spontaneous. Firstly, I will be inspired by a thought, place, or thing. I plant that seed and over a period of time, I feed it and it starts to grow. I just wait for the energy of the work to call me and when its ready it does and then that is when I start the piece. It then takes me over and just go with it. I never force it, I just let it happen. I am not in control of it, it controls me. The more I surrender the easier the process is. Most importantly, I enjoy the process. If at any moment I am not enjoying it, I know that is when I have tried to control it and I step back and surrender once again to allow the work to form itself.
What do you want to show through your work?
I want to show an energy, a vibration that people feel and interpret themselves. I believe that every painting I paint is painted for someone and I do not know who, well until it’s sold. Its receiver or owner has been decided the moment I start the work or possibly even before. So, the energy and vibration that is manifested is especially for that individual. I do not know for what purpose, and I do not need to know, all I know is that they will get from it what they need.
In your work do you use techniques or materials that are special?
No, I surrender to the process, and I have no specific material or techniques. I let the work decide what I use or do, and every time it is different. I could never recreate any of my work because the truth is, I have no idea how I did it.
Do you have a favorite format? Why or why not?
I think I have answered this question already in my previous answer. I can say that I want to change and grow all the time, that is part of the creative process; so I feel that I would get bored if I had a favourite format.
What difficulties do you encounter in your work?
Allowing my ego to get in the way. I must surrender to it and let the process unfold. If I feel that my ego is getting in the way, I stop and return to the painting when it calls me and I am in a better place energetically. When it calls me back, I know the time is ready to return and I make sure I have evicted my ego. I always aim to love the process; it should never be difficult. If it gets difficult it’s not an enjoyable process and creativity should always be filled with joy. Joy is the essence of creativity.
How do you work? At home, in a shared studio, in your own studio?
I work from my own studio that has views of the mountains. It is a very peaceful place and allows me to escape from this world and connect with the energy of creation.
Does the work of an artist lead you to travel a lot?
It does indeed, I have travelled across America, Europe, and the Middle East. Travelling allows the mind to expand and an expanded mind is a creative mind – its fuel for the mind to explore and grow.
What has been the best moment of your career?
Whenever I finish a painting that is the best moment of my career. For me, life should be about creating best moments continuously, living in the present moment and aiming to make every moment the best it can be. If I focus on the past best moment, then I am not allowing for better moments to enter my life in the now, so I strive for better moments continuously and what a great journey that will be.
How do you see your work in ten years?
I see it very different to what it is now. I would not what to think that I will just produce the same thing over and over, that would be limiting. So, I am not sure how I see my work in 10 years, but I know that it will be an extension of what it is now, growth developed from the expansion of what my mind is today.
What are you currently working on? Are you planning an exhibition soon?
I am currently working on a new series of four paintings. I am working on them all at the same time as I want to see how my mind can create simultaneously. I am not sure of what the result will be, but I am interested to see what will happen.
If you could invite a famous artist to dinner (dead or alive), which one would you choose?
Da Vinci. I would want to ask him about his work especially the Last Supper, and who was it really sitting on Jesus’s right hand side because in the painting, Peter does not look happy about it.
Sept 2021 DP Media