The still life artist’s artistic journey …
I sketched and painted nonstop as a child, inspired by seeing a print by the amazing artist Escher in the dentist waiting room. I begged my mother for art lessons, keen to learn to draw like that! I’ve been hooked ever since. My art teacher was none other than Patricia O’Farrell, mum to renowned artist Roisin, both extremely accomplished artists.
I’m self-taught. I did contemplate art college after my leaving cert, but this was the 1980s in Ireland and my father’s stern words of “get a sensible job” rang in my ears. So, I did a language degree, eventually moving to London for a while. I always sketched and painted, more as a hobby and a method of relaxation than anything else.
Then, thanks to Covid I found myself with a little more free time and began picking up a paint brush more. I joined Instagram mainly for inspiration, but began showcasing my paintings. As people started following me and asking to buy them, my confidence grew.
I describe my style as ‘moody expressions of still life’ that explore colour and texture. I’ve always loved still life, the light and shade, the atmosphere they convey. I love vintage, antiques and collecting curiosities. They often make it in to my compositions. I’m a huge fan of Vermeer, the way he observed light. He’s the master of interior still life, in my opinion. Matisse too. I’ll spot a photograph in a magazine or online and just know I have to apply my artistic licence to recreate it in oils.
My current studio is a small log cabin in the garden, but as we are moving to somewhere with a bigger garden I’m already plotting a bigger creative space. I work from images I see in magazines and on social media of unique interiors or interesting vignettes, drawing on my imagination. My wife Sarah (@retwiggdstylist) is an interior stylist and I think it’s fair to say that our home changes all the time, with moments to paint as the mood takes her to switch up a vignette. She loves flowers and grows lots in our garden that I find myself stopping in my tracks to paint. I will also set up a vignette of collected treasures and paint from life in the studio. Let’s just say that my collection of vases and pots is growing!
Sustainability is key for me, so I love painting on old board and reusing restored vintage frames. I think that they lend themselves to my work, creating the old masters’ atmosphere I love. Heritage interiors are having a moment right now and I feel my work leans in perfectly. Each piece adds soul and character to a gallery wall.
I also work on commissions – each is different and will depend on the client’s brief. If they love my work, usually they ask me to recreate a composition that reflects some of their favourite objects that are personal to them and their story. For example, I recently I finished a large, custom made canvas to sit over a banquette seat in a new extension. I scaled up one of my smaller background compositions to the size that they needed. When you’re painting commissions, you feel the weight of expectation, so you want to do the best painting you can and make sure they love it. Thankfully, they did and it sits pride of place.
My brain totally switches off when I’m sketching and mixing colours, getting excited as I see a painting coming to life. I’m almost in a meditative state where I’m totally focused on the canvas and the feel of the brush in my hand. Like any job though, there are good days and bad. When my day at the easel isn’t going the way that I hoped, I’ll do something else for a while. I find a good playlist of music in the background gets me re-energised and refocused!
One lucky reader can win one of Gavin’s A3-size high-quality giclee prints valued at €110. To enter, follow @theglossmag and @artistgmd on Instagram, comment about why you should win, tag your friends and share the post.
SEE MORE: Artistic License – Kim Gaffney
