q) Please introduce yourself.
a) Hello, my name is Hoagy.
q) Where do you live and work?
a) I live and work in Brentford, in
q) How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?
a) Someone described my work once as “it's all a bit funny but a little melancholic as well” I thought this sounded quite good and kind of summed up my work a bit.
q) How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?
a) I guess I have always been interested in art from when I was very young in school. I was never into academic subjects growing up. Though now I appreciate them a lot more.
q) What are your favorite art materials and why?
a) Tip Ex and pencil or pen. Because you can always make an image with these ingredients. black on white, or white on black. You can keep going until you are happy. And they fit in your pocket.
q) What/who influences you most?
a) ….Colour is something that interests me. Outsider art. Children’s drawings. Music and different ways of composing music. People. In fact, most things influence me, it is to hard to narrow it down.
q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.
a) This depends on what I am doing. Have some breakfast, play some music. Think quite a lot, perhaps a little too much. Then some drawing maybe. I spend quite a lot of time playing with ideas and images on the computer. Break this up with some food and getting out of my room. I often spend a lot of time recording ideas for pieces of music as well.
q) Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?
a) At the moment I am a bit unsure about this, so no, not at the moment.
q) What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?
a) I tend to be more influenced by things that have already past. History. But it is all history eventually I guess.
q) How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?
a) It’s either very short or very long. Usually I take quite a while finishing things, it’s either a day or a year. So lets just say 6 months.
q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?
a) Yes, though there is usually a few things that I become attached too, which I tend to keep.
q) Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?
a)Very much so. Recently I have been listening to Outkast a lot, ESG, the Lounge Lizards, Talking Heads. I also compose music at home and I like to play with people when I can.
q) Books?
a) Books.
q) What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?
a) It is important. It is the most important thing perhaps. Playfulness is important. I do think that everybody creates beautiful things when you look at them in the right way. It is to do with everything about the individual and how they live I think. Nature uses good creative processes as well.
q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?
a)Watching films, listening to music. Lying on the floor. Thinking. Drinking. Sinking… And then Dancing.
q) Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?
a)I am planning out a new project at the moment involving eating food and composing music, As well as small projects to do with people’s personalities. I am also meant to be writing a play.
q) Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?
a) I don’t really follow any art scenes. Though I like hearing about them.
q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.
a)
Q: You talkin’ to me?... You talkin’ to me?
A: No, you’re talkin’ to me!
q) Any advice for aspiring artists?
a)Be productive. Keep making things, unless you are interested in not making things.
q) Where can we see more of your work online?
a)I have a website which is www.hoagyhoughton.co.uk.
