Feature Artist : Stacey Robertson

The Name people call you: 
Stace, or Trip up, to a very select few.

Number of years on this earth: 
Almost 24

How long have you been doing these artistic things?
As long as I can remember, I was always drawing, I ‘m really, really shy, and when I was at school it was way worse, I was completely and utterly useless at social stuff so I would sit and draw so I didn’t have to talk to anyone. At high school I got really into photography too so I was always either hiding in the art class or the darkroom… Then I got into hardcore and punk and started hiding behind a camera at shows and the photos turned into drawings and it all went downhill from there…

What are your goals art wise for 2012?
To paint a lot more, to be really disciplined and get a whole new body of work really well underway, to develop my technical knowledge and skills and to treat my paint brushes with the respect they deserve. I’m terrible at looking after them. They all die a horrible death then end up being used to clean bike parts.

What motivates you?
The idea that a painting or a drawing can add more to the viewers perception of a subject than a photograph can, I paint from photo’s I’ve taken so I have the basic reference there, but then I can add my own knowledge of the person to the painting, the slight narrowing of the eyes or twist of the mouth that changes it from a replication of someone’s features to a painting that captures their attitude or their personality which allows the viewer to connect with the subject. Most of the time I don’t succeed but it’s that concept which drives me to start each new painting.

What’s been your biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome with your art?
Loosing my pencils, I must have brought hundreds but I can never find one when I need one, except for the 2H ones and they are only good for unclogging tubes of paint.

Who are you biggest influences?
Shawn Barber and Sean Cheetham are the two main ones, for their approach to portraiture; they both have a very documentary feel to their work. Cheetham’s technical skill is especially inspiring, Glen E Friedman is too, the rawness of his photographs and his work ethic and ideals have influenced me a lot.

How do you get from start to finish, what’s your process?
I start with a photo which seems like it will translate well into a painting. Then I procrastinate, that’s when I tell myself I need to look after my brushes better. If I’m working on canvas I sand it lightly then prime with gesso then repeat a few times. I do a wash of burnt umber acrylic and water to tone it; I either sketch in the figure with diluted oil or project it depending on the complexity of the image. From there it’s just building up the tones, I start off with the darkest areas and work toward the mid tones, after that its not so structured. Once everything is there I touch up any bits that need it then add the tiny details like the highlights in the eyes. 

What’s been your greatest artistic achievement to date?
Finishing the honours year of my degree. I didn’t paint anything for a year afterward haha.

If you could be any other artist for a day who would you be and why?
Probably Cheetham, just to work out how he paints light and gets the depth into the tones he uses, he has a very particular palette, and uses really muddy tones but they still have this vibrancy which I find amazing…

What gets you through artist blocks? 
Music and reading, I just try and avoid any drawing or anything until I have a really solid idea. I don’t think you can force it.

Where can we see your work?
Ummm, I’m really bad at updating it but you can check it out here:http://staceyrobertsonart.blogspot.co.nz/

Artist: Greg Campbell

The Name people call you:
Greg Campbell

Number of years on this earth:
33

How long have you been doing these artistic things?
Pretty much my whole life, I did my first Tattoo when I was 17, but I’ve been taking Tattooing  really seriously for about 2 years now.

What are your goals art wise for 2012?
To paint more!  And to learn to paint with oils.

What motivates you?
My family - my wife & son motivate me to succeed.  And I want people to see my passion for my Art.

What’s your aim/main focus when drawing?
To give every piece a hundred percent and to produce a piece that is of high quality.

What’s been your biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome with your art?
My own self-confidence – building up my confidence levels in what I can do and learning to believe in myself & my capabilities.

Who are your biggest influences?
OG Abel, Mr Cartoon, Can2, Askew, Corey Miller, Jack Rudy, Paul Booth, Boog & Jose Lopez

How do you get from start to finish, what’s your process?
Most of the time I do a pencil sketch of whatever I’m working on and then go from there.

What’s been your greatest artistic achievement to date?
Opening my own Tattoo Studio with my wife.

If you could be any other artist for a day who would you be and why?
I’d choose one of the artists I mentioned above, they inspire me.

What gets you through artist blocks?
Taking time out, walking my dogs, looking through books and looking for inspiration online.

Where can we see your work?
Either come and see me at my studio, or check out:
http://www.lifestyletattoo.co.nz
http://www.facebook.com/lifestyletattooakcity
http://www.facebook.com/gregcampbellnz

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

Send in your creations and get noticed! Share you art with the world and lets work together to get underground artists the recognition they deserve! 

Less then a week.

Forever the Creator has been up for not even a week and there’s already been some amazing art submitted in and as well as that it’s reached 50 followers :)

Thank you to everyone who has been spreading the word and is keen to make Forever the Creator a perminant place for underground artists to show off their talents.

Keep spreading the word!

-Alex Heart