Jeremy Sutton

 

Why are you an artist?

Funny, this is never a question I ask myself. I don't question whether I am an artist or not. Being an artist is simply who I am. The choice is choosing to make my living as an artist. I have always loved making art. Making art has been a major part of my life since I was a child. I grew up with art-my Mum is a painter and her pictures always adorned our walls when I grew up in London. Even when I worked in scientific sales and marketing for twelve years after earning a degree in Physics at Oxford University I still made art, went to life drawing classes and studied various media such as sculpting, etching, lithography, monotypes, oil pastel, digital painting, etc. In 1994, when, aged 33, I was I lost my job and decided, after two weeks of sending out my resume, that this was the opportunity to do what I wanted with my life and to follow my heart in being an artist. That decision is why I am a professional artist today, eleven years later.

Could you tell us some more about the kind of art you make?

I love painting people. Most of my art involves mixed media, including the use of digital and traditional paint, sometimes based on reference photographs that I take, and sometimes painted from life, and sometimes a combination of both. My work includes both painted and collage portraits. I enjoy playing with color. Many of my artworks are lively and colorful. I don't like labels, but if you were to try and apply a label to what I do, I guess it would be somewhere in the ballpark of "Contemporary Expressionistic Portraiture". Better than me trying to describe my work in words, would be for Mission Arts' readers to visit my web site www.jeremysutton.com. Readers are also welcome to call me at 415.641.1221 to make an appointment to visit my studio (or come to the MELT Open Studios exhibit at the Art Explosion Alabama Street studios, April 22nd - 24th).

What made you decide to create this kind of art?

It is not so much a decision to create such art, so much as a natural development. My art expresses who I am and how I see the world. I love exploring different media and seeing what different media have to offer me in terms of expanding my expressive vocabulary. When I first was introduced to using the computer to paint with in 1991 I knew right away that this was a medium I wanted to explore, and I have been exploring it's potential ever since, now using the Macintosh computer with Wacom tablet and Corel Painter IX software. My choice of subject matter is simply what I am interested in: people. My use of color reflects my fascination and desire to work with color. My color choices emerge intuitively as I paint.

What artists have influenced you, and how?

My mother, Margaret, is the artist who has been a major influence on me being an artist today. As I was growing up she exposed me to the wonderful art galleries and museums in London and elsewhere. She has often been a useful sounding board and artistic mentor in my adult life. My sister, Debbi, also an artist, though with different media and approach (she creates unusual installation and conceptual art), has also been a great sounding board for ideas and a source of critique for my art. When I lived in the Netherlands my greatest artistic influence were two artists who were both my mentors and friends, Martin Helm and Let Bijkersma.

Whilst living in the Netherlands I was exposed to the beautiful art in Dutch museums such as the Kroller Muller, the Van Gogh, and the Stedelijk and, in Denmark, the Louisiana, and, in Paris, the Picasso and Rodin museums. In these museums I grew to appreciate the qualities of different artists whose work, or aspects of their work, resonated with my own approach and vision.

Artistic qualities that struck a chord for me included the colors and bold brush strokes of the Fauvists, such as André Derain, Wassily Kandinsky, Maurice de Vlaminck and Henri Mattise, and the lively colors of contemporary artists such as Peter Max and LeRoy Nieman. I like the thick, loose expressionistic brush strokes and application of paint of Post Impressionists, such as Vincent Van Gogh, and of Bay Area Figurative Movement painters, such as David Park. I like the playfulness of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. I like the sensitivity of Renoir's paintings, the quality of light in the Impressionists' work, such as the beautiful "plein air" paintings of Claude Monet, and the passionate sensuality of Auguste Rodin's sculptures.

What inspires you to make art and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

I am inspired to make art by a desire to express personality, passion and soul in my portraits, and by the effect my paintings have on others. I am committed to my painting process, even when things get tough in making a painting, even when I feel like giving up or starting again, I keep going.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

I have learned to always be professional and first class in everything I do, to bring in expert help when needed, to take my commitments and responsibilities seriously and to be true to my word. My advice to others in general is to always get things agreed in writing up front to avoid any misunderstandings down the road. Keep things simple and clear. Be clear on your priorities and don't be afraid of saying no when you need to. Treat others as you'd like to be treated yourself.

What do you do for fun (besides making art?

Lindy Hop swing dancing. Lindy Hop is the original swing dance, dating back to the late 1920's, that developed in dance halls like the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. I love to dance!