Friday, 1 November 2013

Visiting Artist Number 1

Stuart Cumberland

Notes:
A painter that graduated from London Royal College.
‘Carry on painting’ in 2006. Where he got 4 of the most inspirational artist of the 20th century and put their heads on 4 of the ‘carry on’ cast.
In 2009 made about 70 paintings – could have 14 on the go at once in the studio.
2011 - Four circle paintings exhibition at The Approach: no depth, shallow, cheap, basic, primary.
Painting in the studio is, to the artist, an anti-social activity – something you can do on your own without talking to anyone else in the studio, but it can get lonely.
Used oil paints – loosely painted Ben-day dots on the background then four different coloured circles over them.
Suddenly stopped selling work over night –then had a breakdown.
He decided to let chance take over – not worry about where he is going, something will turn up.
Lived with friends for a while, moving around a lot, house-sitting. Lived in studio space for a while.
Applied for a residency in Rome – felt that painting was finished, said all he could say about painting.
Does he stay inside the studio in Rome like he has the last 10years in London or go outside and experience Rome. He goes outside because if he wanted to spend time in the studio then he could have stayed in London.
Had a water glass in his bag and cycled around Rome for 3 months, everytime he found a fountain he drank from it and took a photo of the fountain. The fountains ranged from 1600’s to present day ones.   
Inspired by Jasper Johns (after 1985) and Christopher Wool.
Skill and how long something took doesn’t affect the quality of the work.

Old paintings are beautiful but Picasso paints people the way they really are – real people showing the stuff that everyone does but never says.

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