Gallery M&Art agents international digital art magazine No.5

Aomi Kikuchi Japan

Title: Love for All Things Shirt Front Right Year: 2021 Size: 63 x 30 cm Medium; Fiber Scraps Price: ???? EUR Website: https://www.aomikikuchi.com/

Adam Starr USA

Title: Disconnected Year: 2020 Size: 22 x 24 in Medium; Oil on canvas Price: 1500 EUR Website: https://www.adamstarrart.com/

What materials do you use when building your boards?

It all starts with a sketch that then takes shape in a big polyurethane blank that is wrapped in several layers of fiberglass saturated with polyester. Everything is done by hand the old traditional way and hasn't changed much since the late 50s.

How do you get your inspiration from building a board and painting it?

I get my inspiration from everything from boards from the 60s to classic cars and nature. All you do is crafts and art, but why do you establish yourself in southern Sweden and not in Hawaii or Bali?

Living in Sweden is for sure not the best place to live if you like to surf but even though I travel a lot there's something absolutely magical when the elements come together and deliver waves not many would think is possible in our waters.

Instagram: @Jdshapes www.jdshapes.com Info@jdshapes.com

Photo: Daniel Hägglund & Måns Jensen

Francesco Ruspoli UK

Title: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Year: 2021 Size: 23 x 30 in Medium; oil on canvas Price: 1760 EUR Website: www.francescoruspoliart.com

Conversely, what would be your advice to artists seeking representation by a gallery?

Get your work into art fairs, use social media well. Persevere and above all believe in yourself!

What are you currently focusing on?

We are currently focusing on digital art and NFT as the new art revolution. We feel at Blackwater it is imperative to remain current and moving into the Digital market seems like the logical next step for us.

To finish up, what are your hopes for the future of the gallery?

As previously mentioned I am passionate about supporting emerging artists its a dream of mine to use the gallery as a platform to mentor new artists as they begin their journey. I would love Blackwater to be respected and viewed as a groundbreaking gallery.

www.blackwatergallery.co.uk/

How do you select your subject matter?

It always depends. If I paint pop art, I always have a plan in mind. I start with the background and then draw the chosen subject in front. When I do my more abstract paintings I don’t really have a subject. It often becomes something completely different to what I had originally thought. I try to let the painting lead the way.

How do you create one of your works / What is unique or unusual about you technique / process?

I alway start with the background and work in layers. That is what is so wonderful about art. If you are not happy with it, you can just keep changing it until it works, I never finish any of my paintings until I’m completely happy with it. Sometimes I put a painting aside for some time and then bring it back out and add new touches to it, until Im completely happy with the end result. In fact, I fall in love with all of my creations, which makes it hard for me to part with them. I use a lot of colors and patterns, I create very colorful and happy paintings, which is a reflection of me I think. I try sometimes too make less colorful pieces but normally end up adding colour anyway. It's really difficult for me to paint with dull colors or in black and whites. I also use old

Alison Aplin Australia

Why you start work has an artist?

My art is based on passion and it enables me to release energy. I have loved modern art since childhood, especially abstract and impressionism. I used to paint as a teenager, many years ago, but my style was scoffed at. The energy release as an older person, in such a fulfilling way, causes me great joy. I now disregard the naysayers.

What do you select your subject matter?

I have no preconceived idea of what I am going to paint before I start. I have noticed that every one of my paintings, starts in the top, left hand corner and moves from there. Many of these eary strokes are gestural with the intuitive inspiration following. My design knowledge takes over towards the end.

How do you create one of your works / What's unique or unusual about your technique / process?

Techniques are very different: I use acrylic, spray paint, stencils, stains, ropes, sticks, markers, pencils, but what I see as unique is that I use anything that will allow me to move away from the classical way of painting with brush and brush strokes. I used to paint in an expressionistic manner with a very rich color palette. Today I love to challenge myself by using a very limited number of colors or limited visual elements. I love to combine gestural with almost like mechanical lines or shapes, to combine accidental spills and imperfections with planned structures, hard edge contrasts and geometry.

If we speak about my process, I can say that thinking and contemplating over the canvas takes most of my time and the painting itself is much shorter. Sometimes I could plan my next artwork for days but when I finally start, it turns out quite different from what I want or what I feel, so I have to sit in front of it and to think it over. On many occasions painting will take the lead and I will follow. I guess you hear that a lot from artists.

Jelena Antic Iceland

Website: http://jelenaantic.art/