Welcome to Wolf Martinez Gallery, a space that celebrates bold, innovative art and the diverse perspectives of emerging and established artists. Today, we're honored to have the opportunity to speak with Steve Phillips, the first artist to join our gallery and showcase his captivating works to the world.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background as an artist?
I was born in Chicago Ill. Our family moved to Farmington NM around 1969. I was Influenced with art at the early age of 5 yrs. old. Mostly self-taught though. My experiences as an artist span over a number of things I've done; like cartoon illustration, working for a greeting card company, t-shirt designs, as well as working in a sign shop, dabbling in murals on occasion, and sculpturing.
How did you first become interested in art, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
As far back as I can remember, my mother was always drawing and working on crafts of some sort. She was my first inspiration. I remember sitting on her lap and her showing me pictures from a magazine of landscapes to draw. I continued perusing the art field without knowing there could be an art career in it. I was always interested in the cartoonist like Charles Schulz, Disney, Looney toons, and any kind of cartooning that I was interested in drawing. By nature, I wanted to become a cartoonist and so that was my first pursuit of a career in the arts. Thus, my works today are heavily influenced today by cartooning.
Can you describe your artistic style and any particular themes or motifs that you frequently explore in your work?
If I was to describe my art today, I am painting in more of a modern style, very loose, almost to the point of abstraction. How I tell a story is, I start the story with a creative concept, but I want the viewer free to conclude his or her own interpretation. Still today, I use cartooning by mixing the old with new, as well as taking the past and present things that are important to me, by putting the cartoon perspectives into an art form. It's nothing new it's an old form that's been around for a long time. Cartoons are something that both young and old are interested in. So, it's finding a way, just to do it my way.
What mediums do you work in, and how do you choose which medium to use for a particular piece?
My mediums are primary acrylics. In the past, I used many other mediums like oils, cloth, pen and ink, to mention a few. But I like the flexibility of acrylics, the way it dry's, and the way it flows. My favorite, that I usually paint on is large stretch canvas. Preferably 48x48 size because I can express better that way.
What has been your biggest inspiration or influence as an artist, and how has this affected your work?
Influence changes with the years. So, you start to follow great artists like Pablo Picasso, and illustration artists like Frank Frazetta who are entirely on two different perspectives, but I love both of their art. In any case my paintings have an illustrative quality in them.
Can you walk us through your creative process, from initial concept to finished piece?
Usually, the best impact is early in the morning, so I prefer to start at 4 am, with canvas ready and prepped from the day before. So, the underpainting usually has a bright color of intensity red or bright oranges. Then I start outlining with chalk. If I don't like the drawing, I'll erase and start over. Next, I usually use a darker color, very wet, with a medium of purple. After outlining the work, shading will be done with that same value. Next, I start applying the layering and glazing color.
How has your art evolved over time, and how do you see it continuing to develop in the future?
I started with an illustration quality and evolved to an expressive style. I found my way into modern painting with oils, and then worked onto studying and painting abstract expressionism. Which is still influencing my art today. You can't help but carry it with you. My paintings keep evolving with the past and present elements which is making up my own style today. Therefor they are simple by design but complicated by subject. I see my art evolving to be more expressive but still having a story.
How has your experience working with Wolf Martinez Gallery been so far, and what drew you to collaborate with them initially?
Working with the Wolf Martinez Gallery helped in many ways as an artist. Especially when the gallery owners are artists themselves. There's more understanding and better communication. It makes for a great friendship and business relationship between us. I love working with Manny and Carolyn we've become like family. I became a fan of Manny's work from the first time I seen him post his work online. Then, was quite surprised when he asked me to make a visit to the gallery. Needless to say, we hit it off jabbering about art and neither of us could stop talking.
What can visitors to 'The Contemporary West' exhibit expect from your contribution, and how does it fit into your larger body of work?
I think people will see the transition of the work in this show firsthand from a few months ago that was more illustrative. Now compared to my newest work that is more expressivist, so it's quite exciting to present it to the public.
Lastly, do you have any advice for aspiring artists looking to make their mark in the art world?
I would encourage one to study all the rules of art. Basic shapes, anatomy, landscapes, and learn to use paint, ASAP. Teach yourself not to be hard on yourself, because it will get easier when you put in the "sweat and tears." Produce many paintings and try different styles. Somewhere along the way you'll find yourself. Picasso once said, "you need to learn the rules before you can break them."
