Artist Interview

Well just this evening I went to the Ray at Night Art walk, every is 2nd Saturday of the month which is locarted at North Park in the city of San Diego, and i interviewed an artist by the name of Joel Sharp. For more information go to http://www.rayatnightartwalk.com/. He does quite a lot of styles because as he says "I tend to get a little bored if I stick with one type of art.", which is the reason i chose him because I don't like to stick with just one either. Here are the list of questions and answers.

Interview questions

1.What inspired you to become an artist?
A: I was born as an artist. It was pretty much the only thing I could do that I was good at. When I was in second grade I noticed that I was, not to brag or anything, much better then the other students.

2.In your art what do you try to convey?
A: I try not to convey anything in my art, no political views, no point really. Like when I draw an abstract, I try to draw with not intention but when people look at it they see something else and then it pretty much becomes a general audiences perception.

3.How do you keep with modern art trends while still keeping with your own style?
A: I really don't follow trends much, when I grab a modern art magazine I really don't follow what other artists try convey. I do what I feel is right and I don't feel that it should be anything that the other artists do.

4.How do you keep with your own style while trying to satisfy other people’s artistic needs? Also how do you choose which artists to show in your galleries?
A: Well when I choose artists that go into my gallery, their art has to follow a certain aesthetic, like if most of the art is beautiful the other artists art must be beautiful as well. Well for peoples artistic needs, I am sort of the person who will paint literally what the costumer would want but I will not copy other artists art if they asked me to.

5.I see that you do different types of art; do you think that you keep one certain style within the different types of art you do?
A:Well...people say that they could see a thread within my art that identifies it as my work. Though personally, I don't see such a thread in any of my works. I tend to get a little bored if I stick with one type of art.

6.What do you think is the toughest challenge of being an artist?
A:Surviving, paying the bills. Trying to sell art. That's all I can pretty much say.

7.I have 3 art pieces that are possible paintings that I want to paint, can you critique them for me?
A:These pieces are very good but it all depends on the pallet you use. What i see with a lot of new artists is that they use the paint right out of the tube and not try to mix any of the colors to make a little more interesting, if not it looks a little mediocre. For example if your painting is a little earthy then you would want to mix the brown with the green or vice versa.

8.What tips would you give for someone who was going to paint for their first time?
A:Well i find that a little hypocritical because there should be no boundaries for an artist because there is no boundaries for art. I've had friends who pursued art classes in college and they said that it ruined them as an artist. So do what you feel is right.

Cool huh? Well I think i know which art piece i want to paint but you never know.

Until next time,

-Alec