AHC: Can you tell us a bit about your process, themes & inspirations? Anne: If I’m being honest, my art making process is probably 50% research, 30% experimentation and self-questioning, and 20% production. Of course, it’s always my never ending goal to increase production, but it goes to show that when it comes to achieving success as a professional artist, there's so much more to it than meet’s the eye. The single most important component to my work (and actually, my happiness) is just getting out there…. Traveling, learning and seeing more. New places and people carry new ideas and new ways of thinking. Connecting with other artists and seeing their process is also imperative. I spend most of my time, money, and energy traveling and absorbing everything I can outside my own reality, just to bring it back, and attempt to put it all in a picture, because I firmly believe content without context is nothing. From this process comes a handful of core themes I frequently explore in my work, including self-examination, subliminal symbolism, history, surrealism, folklore, society, womanhood, cultural differences, and great journeys. While they are not always exactly definable, and I prefer a viewer to come to their own conclusions, my paintings are usually allegorical symbols of my life experience. AHC: What first drew you to art? Was there a specific moment in your life or turning point where it became clear to you that you were being called to create? Anne: I have always, for as long as I can remember, been into art and art making. I credit my parents for much of my early exposure to art. From a very young age both my parents made a point to take me to museums. My mother was especially influential, providing me with proper art making tools and resources from a very early age. As a youngster, I spent a lot of time in hospitals (in simple terms, I was born with my heart backwards) and I was raised as an only child by a single mom, so I had lots of solitary time, perfect for introspective activities, which I believe naturally led to art. AHC: Who are some of your artistic influences? Is there anyone outside of the art world who has had a huge impact on your work or who just generally inspires you, writers, filmmakers, musicians, philosophers etc? Anne: I consider myself a Neosurrealist, inspired by movements such as Surrealism, Folk Art, Fraternal Art, Dadaism, Portraiture, Circus Art and Sign Painting. Those who’ve influenced me include Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Rene Magritte, Jan Van Eyck, Johannes Vermeer, Hieronymus Bosch, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo DaVinci, Jean Michelle Basquiat, Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Bob Marley, and Shel Silverstien, Neo Rauch, Chuck Close, Alex Katz, Matthew Barney, Andy Goldsworthy, Jeanne Claude and Christo, Marina Abramovic, Elizabeth McGrath, Kanye West, The Strokes, Fiona Apple, Tom Ford, Shepard Fairey, Mickalene Thomas, Maurizio Cattelan, Mark Ryden, Mira Nair, David Llynch, Baz Luhrmann, James Rosenquist, and Jacob Arden McClure. I’m sure I left some out. Beyond art, I am really inspired by the interior design and antiques industries, both which I’ve worked in, on and off, throughout my entire career, and which I feel pair hand-in-hand with art. The business of art really inspires me. As a former gallery owner, I’ve gotten a 360 degree view of the industry, inside and out, and I know what it takes to create and move works of art. I’ve been so fortunate in my life to connect with amazing forces in the industry that go about their jobs behind the scenes, procuring the finances, curating, and selling works of art. Collectors are some of the most fascinating people I’ve met. These are the people that are actually driving the industry of art. Places inspire me too. The energy, history and passion of the country of Spain is unrivaled in my mind. And the coolness of places like Berlin and New York always keep me on my toes and looking towards “the next”. AHC: Some recurring themes throughout your work are the heart, the hands and the eyes, which are perhaps our most important body parts, the eyes give us the world and our hands let us feel it and the heart makes all of this possible, what are the reasons, for you, for these particular images? Anne: Well, I am glad that you’ve noticed this, and applied your own conclusions, as that’s the goal of art… the transcendence and convergence of ideas though vision. At shows people often point at my work, and say, “So, what does this all mean!?” But often, as we look at the piece together, they answer before I can, with their own conclusions. I love this. I always hope for this. That’s because each of my paintings is purposely made as a layered, open-ended narrative. I reuse particular recognizable symbolic elements to build a story within a picture, which often relies on surrealistic thinking and subliminal messaging. The eye is indeed a symbol of examination, and the heart, of growth. As I mentioned before, I had heart issues in the past, and open-heart surgeries, so some of these elements are personal things I put in my paintings as a sort of “signature” if you will. But ultimately, each piece is it’s own saga, and I hope that people look at a painting and think about what each symbol means to them, and attempt to decipher the story on their own terms, from hopefully, the walls of their own collection. AHC: You’ve done a lot of work in other areas such as designing album covers and even making designs for shoes, what has been your favorite or most exciting venture so far beyond the core of your painting work? Anne: I love working with musicians, and my collaborations on Strata and Carolina Lima’s album covers were really fun crossovers to me. And I love the exposure that brand partnerships offer, like my collaborations with VANS clothing and shoes. But I have to say, doing concert posters for the legendary Fillmore of San Francisco was really special for me. The Fillmore posters are collectables, and there’s been one woman behind most of them since the 80’s, Art Director Arlene Owseichik. I wrote a fan note to Arlene when I was a teenager in art school offering my services- I was totally green, but eager to make a connection and get a job. No surprise, I didn’t hear back… until about 8 years later, when I had a few sold out shows under my belt, and a lot more experience. She responded to my original note, and together we did posters for Matt Nathanson and Dita Von Teese. It just goes to show that reaching out, no matter how far out, with good intentions, will eventually, somehow pay off. Also recently I’ve done some educational guest speaking to students at the Academy of Art University and Cypress College. I love academia, and it’s been really awesome talking to the new, motivated and uniquely situated guard of artists coming up! AHC: What is the first work of art you encountered that took your breath away? Anne: Early on, I was very influenced by Salvador Dali. My mother had an epic rare silver edition of Dali De Draeger that I used to sneak peeks at. I was born in Victoria, Canada, when I’d visit the island from Seattle as a child, my father exposed me to the work of the First Nations Peoples of British Columbia and I loved that graphic style. As an adult, personally attending the exhibitions of Neo Rauch, Mathew Barney, Maurizio Catalan and Robert Gober really blew my mind and changed the way I thought about art, made art, and talked about art. AHC: If you could spend the day with any artist, from any field, living or dead, who would that person be and how would you spend the day together? Anne: Of the living, I’d like to spend a day with Neo Rauch and just watch him complete a painting, beginning to end. Of the dead, I’d spend a day with Bob Marley, and just listen. Or perhaps with Diane Fossey and her gorilla friends. AHC: You say you are obsessed with travel and the "subconscious journey within", are these two themes interrelated for you? Which is more sublime, the physical or mental travels of life? Anne: Travel brings about “a subconscious journey within”, intended or not, so to kill two birds with one stone, I prefer a physical trip. I love to be out walking around, and most of all I love to see things I’ve never seen before. I can’t wait to get back to Europe in 2017! AHC: Do you have any upcoming exhibits or new projects you’d like to tell people about? Anne: I am represented in the U.S.A. by Martin Lawrence Galleries, and I look forward to continue exhibiting my work in their 13 locations nationwide this year and next. For more info: martinlawrence.com/anne-faith-nicholls/ www.annefaithnichollsart.com Follow Anne on Instagram @annefaithnicholls or #longlivetheartlife for related artsy stuff. Comments are closed.
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December 2024
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