Mark Woods BA (Hons) Interview
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(c) 2006 Ovenden Contemporary (Art Promotions)
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OC: What about art? Does that work in reverse?
Can art make you feel good?
MW: That's a good question. Its hard to answer I guess, as I think art, much like music just happens to work when things 'click' into place, and its hard to justify it too much.
OC: How do you mean?
MW: Well, if you look at Jackson Pollack's 'drip' paintings as an example. He made a whole series in the early 50's that for all their similarities of technique and colour, some work really well, while others look boring. Why did that happen, when I guess the process was the same with each one? I suppose some click and others didn't. Maybe my brain which has been looking at design for years, prefers the designed' ones, rather than the random ones, but I suspect everyone has different opinions on what they prefer. I don't think there is a right answer to this question. I don't think art needs an element of design to be good, but then again a good design in art always works for me.
OC: Is that why, in your art, your subject is invariably a designed object, like a building or a vehicle?
MW: I suppose it must be, yes. I started out drawing things around where I lived, the houses in the street, shopfronts in the town, as well as things that you might not expect from what you've seen from me. I completed lots of drawings of the countryside around me, and the woodland near my home. I drew lots of graveyards and churches, self portraits, my hands, feet etc. I tried drawing lots of different things because I was trying to learn how to draw, and I enjoyed challenging myself with the subject matter I choose.
Recently when I restarted drawing and painting as more than a hobby and more as a career choice, I wanted to draw things that appealed to me and things that I could get an immediate 'buzz' from. I love old cars, so I loved illustrating Carters Steam Fair from the vehicles perspective rather than the fairground rides, I love architecture, and things like the Wapping Metropolitan Wharf, Battersea Power Station, and Smithfield Market all made perfect sense in the choice of subject matter for me. I suppose another reason why I draw 'designed' things is that I live in London & its actually quite hard to find something that isn't designed.
OC: You paint things that appeal to you. Is that exclusive? Would you paint something that you didn't like or that didn't appeal?
MW: I've had to draw and work on projects that haven't appealed to me by many clients over the years. I usually grin and bear it, and try to make the best job of it that I can. It’s strange that usually clients can’t tell if I've enjoyed a project or not, which I usually take to mean that I've done my job well and they approve of the final result.
The reason that, when I work for myself, I draw things that appeal to me is simply that I want to enjoy what I draw, and the only person I want to appreciate the final result is me. I know that sounds awfully self indulgent, but I figure that if I draw things that really mean something to me, then the end result is better. I care about the end result.
MW: That's a good question. Its hard to answer I guess, as I think art, much like music just happens to work when things 'click' into place, and its hard to justify it too much.
OC: How do you mean?
MW: Well, if you look at Jackson Pollack's 'drip' paintings as an example. He made a whole series in the early 50's that for all their similarities of technique and colour, some work really well, while others look boring. Why did that happen, when I guess the process was the same with each one? I suppose some click and others didn't. Maybe my brain which has been looking at design for years, prefers the designed' ones, rather than the random ones, but I suspect everyone has different opinions on what they prefer. I don't think there is a right answer to this question. I don't think art needs an element of design to be good, but then again a good design in art always works for me.
OC: Is that why, in your art, your subject is invariably a designed object, like a building or a vehicle?
MW: I suppose it must be, yes. I started out drawing things around where I lived, the houses in the street, shopfronts in the town, as well as things that you might not expect from what you've seen from me. I completed lots of drawings of the countryside around me, and the woodland near my home. I drew lots of graveyards and churches, self portraits, my hands, feet etc. I tried drawing lots of different things because I was trying to learn how to draw, and I enjoyed challenging myself with the subject matter I choose.
Recently when I restarted drawing and painting as more than a hobby and more as a career choice, I wanted to draw things that appealed to me and things that I could get an immediate 'buzz' from. I love old cars, so I loved illustrating Carters Steam Fair from the vehicles perspective rather than the fairground rides, I love architecture, and things like the Wapping Metropolitan Wharf, Battersea Power Station, and Smithfield Market all made perfect sense in the choice of subject matter for me. I suppose another reason why I draw 'designed' things is that I live in London & its actually quite hard to find something that isn't designed.
OC: You paint things that appeal to you. Is that exclusive? Would you paint something that you didn't like or that didn't appeal?
MW: I've had to draw and work on projects that haven't appealed to me by many clients over the years. I usually grin and bear it, and try to make the best job of it that I can. It’s strange that usually clients can’t tell if I've enjoyed a project or not, which I usually take to mean that I've done my job well and they approve of the final result.
The reason that, when I work for myself, I draw things that appeal to me is simply that I want to enjoy what I draw, and the only person I want to appreciate the final result is me. I know that sounds awfully self indulgent, but I figure that if I draw things that really mean something to me, then the end result is better. I care about the end result.
Continued....