Our community of artists is the core foundation of Artfinder. With such a vast community based in all corners of the world, we wanted to help them share more about their artist journey, their artistic process and technique and what inspires them. Today, we chat with one of our talented artists, Paul Ward.
Can you introduce yourself, where you are from and how long you have been with Artfinder for?
I'm Paul Ward (paulo) a painter and more from Manchester, currently living in Lyon, France. I've been on Artfinder for four years.
In just a short sentence, how would you describe/summarise your work?
Artworks that shine a spotlight on the endless wonder of the natural world, whilst condemning those practices that destroy it. The outside of my hard heart protects the soft inside that could happily wander in the woods without a care in the world.
What influences you and your work?
The natural world, specifically things that fly, jump, swim, howl, chirrup and squawk provides endless inspiration for my lighter works, which may include an army of birds, breath-taking landscapes and blooms of wild flower. Next to this, I'm incredibly active in pointing the finger at individuals and processes that seek to steal agency from others. This may be the poisonous act of pesticide use or the selling of arms that feed the war machine. To be an artist is to have these two sides, the light drags you out of the dark soup of the negative and the positive gives you a reason to fight.
What does your creative process involve?
Wherever I can I collect my own source material, this involves varied outings to blooming gardens, cemeteries and the countryside. I like to repurpose the images I collect and twist them to the narrative I'm seeking to explain, this is recently evident in my use of classical sculpture and carvings in my paintings and illustrations.
Aside from the narrative of my work, mark making, light and colour are incredibly important to me.
I have two simple goals in my works, to create something visually engaging whilst shining a spotlight on a worthy subject. If said painting revs a crowd into a riotous fury, to storm the bastille and change things rapidly for the better, well, that would be an excellent bonus.
Have you changed as an artist over time?
Thankfully some things have changed, technically I'm much more proficient than I was when I first started professionally ten years ago. I have a deeper confidence in my own visual identity and try as much as possible to follow my instincts (which come from years of practice).
Equally certain elements of my artistic practice have no changed, there's nothing that thrills me more than the pursuit and unveiling of an injustice. Such subjects as police violence, unsustainable farming practices and greed have always been hot button issues for me.
What’s your favourite artwork you created and why?
What a question! Let me choose my favourite child while we're at it! My favourite artwork, is usually the one I have just finished, when usually I'm flooded with a deep feeling of satisfaction.
However I'll give choosing a go and say 'Just like home' is one of my favourites. It encompasses all I wish to included in an artwork, technical skill, a beautiful image that keeps the viewer engaged and meaning behind the work. I really hit my stride working in acrylic when working on this painting about the serial franchising of the world.
What do you think is the role of art/artists in society?
To show what needs to be shown. If a ray of light graces the side of a hillside of heather, mingling light and colour in away that wrenches you away from your busy head, just to observe, that needs to be shown. Equally if certain civil servants restrict citizens rights to protest, systematically and violently, this also needs to be show. The implication isn't that the artist is showing something new, but is presenting it in a way that breaks through the brain fog of an overworked human and resonates with them.
What advice do you have for emerging artists looking to make a living out of their art career?
Don't be beaten into submission. Trust yourself, Instagram trends and pop icons come and go, but your genuine enthusiasm for something you love will shine through.
Cover image via Paul Ward
