| Virus: How long have you been painting? Scott: I have been painting for years, but only became seriously interested in it when I completed 2 years of foundation courses in Fine Art and Art History. After completing courses in film, photography, literature, sculpture and digital media, I realized painting was my strongest passion. I completed a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design soon after, and have been painting ever since. Virus: Why did you start? Scott: Painting, for me, started as an interesting way to express my ideas. Now, it's a stronger way to put parts of myself into my work - more than mere expression. It reflects who I am and what I am made of, both physically and mentally. Virus: Describe your art. Scott: My work is process based. I work quickly, and with a lot of material in the beginning stages; building grounds and textures before my final image comes around. I work in layers: sometimes 20-30 each painting so that when the colours, forms, spaces, and lines all interact in a comfortable composition. |
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Virus: What inspires you?
Scott:My body. Your body. The delicacy of how we are constructed; how I and others react to the immediacy of our mortality.
Virus: What Obstacles (If any) have you encountered, thus far?
Scott: With each painting I come across major obstacles - especially while I was involved with the insitution of Fine Arts. It wasn't restrictive at all - each enounter assisted how I would use the process of painting to create a variation in another work. Some of my earlier works included some imagery that was disturbing to many - a few paintings that were banned from my University's Gallery. They were works that included immaciated forms with bloodied forms referenced from destroyed cow legs. Since then, I have worked less literal and have driven each piece with the intent of describing both image and abstraction.
Virus: Do you listen to any music while creating? If so, what?
Scott: most comfortable setting I could have while painting is one with activity. If I am surrounded by great artists, listening to great music, drinking fine wine, I am most comfortable. It's hard to say what is best to listen to while painting, but I know I've had Squarepusher, Plaid, Tool, Miles Davis, Lamb, and Ministry very close to my player. Lately, Jaga Jazzist is sounding excellent
Virus: Have you worked with any other artists? Perhaps in a writing group? if no, would you like to work with others?
Scott: I have a great history painting beside a sculptor named Derrick Piens. He has a major iron sculpture in downtown London England, and quite a few circulating in the Southern Ontario and Halifax Nova Scotia regions in Canada. As a great friend and critic, he is one of my greatest influences. I had the opportunity to make friends with artists such as Terry Winter's (NY) and Sheilagh Keeley (NY) - both of whom had some interesting things to say about my work, and the direction of painting. Aside from that, I am involved with the online Art Group RASTER where a group of my paintings are held.
Virus: Has any of your art been displayed in galleries? If so, share your experiences, adn your overall feelings of the time.
Scott: shown work in Chatham, London, Halifax (all in Ontario), as well as 2 shows in Taiwan. If I can remember, I've had 3 one-man-shows, and have been included in about 10 group shows. My greatest achievement was the 98.6 Degrees show at the Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax, Canada. It was my graduation show where I completed 7 large scale paintings in a massive space with a public talk. The curator for the National Gallery of Canada made an appearance, as well as nearly every professor from the University. I am looking forward to another one-man-show in Tainan city (Taiwan) where I will be completing 20-30 new works. Its opening will be sometime in January or February.
Virus: What do you hope to achieve?
Scott:I am returning to Canada in August 2005 where I wil begin a Master's Degree in Painting and Art History - hopefully in Toronto, Montreal, or Victoria. After 2 years, I wish to teach full-time as a drawing or painting professor while continually painting and showing across Canada. Aside from the formalities, I hope to achieve success in gallery showings. To me, selling is not the most important thing: allowing my work to infect, or even to change the way one sees themselves or the human body is the most relevant to why I am painting.
Virus: Do you have any advice for artists just starting out?
Scott: have found that pretentious artists may perhaps find success, they don't neccessarily gain friendships along the way. I generally do not fit the stereotype of 'artist' anywhere I go, and I think it's an advantage to not have art flowing constantly your bloodstream. There is definitely a strong business and professional side, but I make sure the time with the right people is always evident. There needs to be a level of professionalism (with slides, portfolios, making contacts, meeting new gallery people), but there should always be part of an artist that knows when too much is too much. I love my friends, and have always made my openings or talks as fun as possible with plenty to eat and drink. There is so much advice for beginning artists, but I think the most important way to experience what it is like to be an active artist is to get out there and work hard at anything you are passionate about. When surrounded by like-minded individuals, the passionate ones can sniff out the half-assers like charred meat.
