{"id":5359,"date":"2023-03-27T16:28:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T16:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/27\/interview-with-painter-lee-ellis-makersplace-magazine\/"},"modified":"2023-03-27T16:28:26","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T16:28:26","slug":"interview-with-painter-lee-ellis-makersplace-magazine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/27\/interview-with-painter-lee-ellis-makersplace-magazine\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Painter Lee Ellis | MakersPlace Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Bristol-based artist Lee Ellis is a multimedia artist known for his expressive abstract portraits. Combining elements of painting, drawing and printmaking, Lee\u2019s dynamic approach makes for rich, bold and emotional works of art. With colours and figures reminiscent of Francis Bacon\u2019s visceral style, Lee\u2019s dynamic approach conveys the raw emotion and inner turmoil of his characters. Characterised by saturated colours and heavy brushwork, the process-led nature of Lee\u2019s art reflects the energy of each piece.<\/p>\n<p>Lee was one of MakersPlace\u2019s first phygital artists, so we were excited to sit down with him to learn about how he bridges the physical-digital divide. <\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>Brady Walker: I read that you don\u2019t pre-plan your pieces. Let\u2019s say it\u2019s 60 seconds before you start a piece \u2014 how much do you know about what you\u2019ll do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lee Ellis: <\/strong>Typically, I always know that I\u2019m going to do a portrait because that\u2019s what I love painting. But 60 seconds before, all I know is that I\u2019m picking up some spray paint or charcoal. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m doing exactly. So I let the linework do it for me and see how it evolves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I usually do a lot of time-lapses for Instagram, and you can see in some of them where I might change my mind halfway through or start drawing one thing and then do something else. It\u2019s quite organic, and it just evolves as I go.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes I do plan, but it\u2019s usually for bigger canvas pieces, and even then, the planning is minimal because I don\u2019t know where the paint is going to take me or how it\u2019s going to work. I might start doing one thing and then think of trying a different color or medium, and it all just constantly evolves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So for me, it\u2019s all about the process rather than the end result. That\u2019s how I see it. I love the process of creating, and I just let it flow naturally. I try not to force anything; I just let the medium decide what I\u2019m going to do, whether it\u2019s charcoal, spray paint, or oil paints. That\u2019s the extent of it.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/OIW2IYltXBrCxRHc097ZmTkHJ5f65MwDT__w1WsNDfMrSngueLV9q5AxMfamYcby-D5N8lePoBcppAXmvQILKa__VyKmJyGVoGByNIBrV01MtUmGBKGqb5GM9HMVPl0C2itX8A6fpqG3HzXbT_Hjl5k\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/leeellis\/queuing-for-sloppy-numbers-1-of-1-463118\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Queuing for sloppy numbers <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: When you create a piece of art, do you consider what you want your audience to experience when they look at it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Actually, I prefer not to give any direction to the audience. I want them to take away whatever they want from the piece. That\u2019s why my titles are usually unrelated to the paintings themselves, so that the audience can form their own interpretations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As an artist, I focus on the process of creating and living in the moment. I don\u2019t want to influence the audience\u2019s experience in any way. It\u2019s like looking at a Rothko painting \u2013 different people will feel different emotions. I want the audience to experience the art for themselves, without any guidance or direction from me.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: I would like to challenge your Rothko analogy a bit. Reading emotion on a face is something humans are engineered to do, and it\u2019s different from reading a Rothko painting.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Yes, you\u2019re right. That was just a rough analogy I used for interpreting artwork.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: I\u2019m not trying to one-up your analogy, but I\u2019m curious if there\u2019s an underlying mood to your work that is more tangible than a Rothko or abstract art. A face has an inherent mood.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> I understand where you\u2019re coming from. The way I carve into the faces creates a more macabre and morose feeling. I don\u2019t paint the eyes, which adds to the effect. The contours of the face are emphasized with holes, which can make it feel more depressing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To balance this out, I use bright colors and patterns in the background. People can interpret the work as they want, but the visual side of it is not necessarily a reflection of my personality. It\u2019s just my way of playing with contours, accentuating features, and removing eyes.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/gisp8Iggn4o3Sf6GD2JKUyK7SHKfRjdezwd6Ng9-oP371spLzQfqjTlwxsuiWD00vIh43JMJjW0JxKGAWwMY1SiY_NMieda8VEuN3PKA7dzrRfTEUl7dFxsAOiUK-62QcujXdxVk5MpHhGqeNCmF6MI?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/gisp8Iggn4o3Sf6GD2JKUyK7SHKfRjdezwd6Ng9-oP371spLzQfqjTlwxsuiWD00vIh43JMJjW0JxKGAWwMY1SiY_NMieda8VEuN3PKA7dzrRfTEUl7dFxsAOiUK-62QcujXdxVk5MpHhGqeNCmF6MI\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/0x37c03c6775b5c43cd861f7454001c303ba72b2de\/chairman-of-the-bored-02-1-of-1-215701\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Chairman of the bored 02 <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Do you aim to create a different face every time or do you have recurring characters?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> It\u2019s a bit of both, actually. I use the same technique for creating eyes and noses, and usually, the nose is always mine. So most of my portraits have this massive nose, and I use elements that I\u2019ve saved in my memory.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s like a generative process where I pick and choose bits that work rather than having a load of files. You\u2019ll see recurring elements, but they\u2019re not always in the same place. A lot of the portraits are of my own face, and the key recurring elements are my nose and chin. It\u2019s just the way it has evolved over the years.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Yeah, that\u2019s interesting. It\u2019s similar to jazz. I studied jazz for a while, and it\u2019s this thing where even if you\u2019re improvising, you can never fully escape the patterns and habits you\u2019ve developed over time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> That\u2019s true. I think that\u2019s what makes abstract art quite challenging. You can get set in your ways of creating certain things or using certain patterns, and it\u2019s hard to avoid having some sort of formula. Even if you try to escape it, there\u2019s no way to completely get rid of it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/m4vz5lUAKiIWCMYWPP3h2n4sfsL03mVIk2lpqFtk1ZJVBkA4uwDof4EeK0PS71LaaOuKObTE-jbstzX0eIYvEthZqq7Nfqk1XeN0WIFRKsgFMXecMBO8jObEzmPrGuTOuPcJF2jWNkmveQ6Agu63L-M?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/m4vz5lUAKiIWCMYWPP3h2n4sfsL03mVIk2lpqFtk1ZJVBkA4uwDof4EeK0PS71LaaOuKObTE-jbstzX0eIYvEthZqq7Nfqk1XeN0WIFRKsgFMXecMBO8jObEzmPrGuTOuPcJF2jWNkmveQ6Agu63L-M\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/0x16f806b135f19e199e44811acbad3cb226f22a96\/curious-doom-scroller-06-1-of-1-87507\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Curious doom scroller 06 <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: If you were unable to paint faces or face-like objects, what would you choose to paint instead?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>LE: Hmm, that\u2019s a tough one. I would probably go for abstract art because the faces I create, especially with spray paint and oil paintings, are quite abstract. It\u2019s just that they\u2019re held within the vessel of a face. So without that, I would lean towards abstract or semi-abstract landscapes. I could still use the same techniques and mediums that I enjoy and apply them to those subjects.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I like to paint with tools as well, so I usually have scraps of wood, hand saws, and wire brushes nearby when I\u2019m working on a portrait with spray paint. Since the paint dries quickly, I have to work fast and move the paint around in a destructive way. It\u2019s kind of an oxymoron, but it\u2019s a part of the process that I enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So, anything that would allow me to use those techniques would be my choice, like abstract or landscape paintings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/KcYPiTP7lF_6iBOLwQnIEByEhS0N_DdCEGu1SnGFp-_JMfDe6EE8Eofmr1Cr-QBhNiMpc_qS5C7005-1GkUAT-BrBV-LhQg5_IVRhV5ovse_ECWNe76x-82nwc1__zm7goSju_WX0QyMJfsiNrCnkns?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/KcYPiTP7lF_6iBOLwQnIEByEhS0N_DdCEGu1SnGFp-_JMfDe6EE8Eofmr1Cr-QBhNiMpc_qS5C7005-1GkUAT-BrBV-LhQg5_IVRhV5ovse_ECWNe76x-82nwc1__zm7goSju_WX0QyMJfsiNrCnkns\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/lemqq\/i-dont-clown-anymore-1-of-1-81709\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>I don\u2019t clown anymore <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Are all of your pieces 100% analog and then digitized? Do you have a digital art practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>That\u2019s a great question. I have worked digitally in the past for jobs, creating digital illustrations and such. However, I am so invested in the physical process of creating art that staring at a screen all day wouldn\u2019t satisfy me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After completing a design degree, I felt everything was too structured and based on strict guidelines, which is why I turned to painting to get away from it. Now, I need the physical act of creating to feel fulfilled. It allows for more experimentation and freedom than working digitally, in my opinion.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: What are your weapons of choice for making art? I\u2019ve seen you with charcoal, spray paint, and with a paintbrush \u2014 with what do you feel most comfortable, and what pushes your limits?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> I feel most comfortable with charcoal because I can make minimal marks and still create a piece that works. It\u2019s also very manipulable and forgiving. On the other hand, working with oil paints pushes me to my limits because it\u2019s much harder, and I need more patience since the paint dries slowly.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/YXCThit1WZlLa9lgVzQR5G2P14azpEIbwWXLSL-xxkEQJYIawr_dh9R4zOLSyCA-Db5yaaLLykxs6vW3T0GI9rs_U-JDZo2oEPY9czQy8Lo2pk7aTBeob-kd0caDJFGMlhxaq7tPU1hQ8_fS7z9_R0k?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/YXCThit1WZlLa9lgVzQR5G2P14azpEIbwWXLSL-xxkEQJYIawr_dh9R4zOLSyCA-Db5yaaLLykxs6vW3T0GI9rs_U-JDZo2oEPY9czQy8Lo2pk7aTBeob-kd0caDJFGMlhxaq7tPU1hQ8_fS7z9_R0k\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/0x26389de504b3b245abb5ea563105f62b2f54de1f\/make-up-tutorial-101-removing-mascara-1-of-1-81574\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Make-up tutorial 101: Removing mascara<\/em> by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Are there any new mediums that you plan to incorporate into your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> Currently, I\u2019ve explored and covered every medium I can think of. However, I have started to use flat colors in my work, which is something new for me. I\u2019ve also recently started cutting up old canvases and using the pieces to create new portraiture, which is a new medium that I\u2019m incorporating into my work.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Which artists have had the biggest impact on your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Well, there are the classics like Picasso, Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, and Frank Auerbach, who all use amazing textures in their oil paintings. Basquiat is also a big influence.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In terms of more contemporary artists, there\u2019s Arnulf Reiner, who was the reason I started painting after seeing his painting <em>Wine Crucifix<\/em> at the Tate Modern as a kid. Adam Neate is another exceptional painter who incorporates 3D elements into his work. Joseph Loughborough is a charcoal artist who is amazing, and Andrew Salgado, a Mexican Canadian artist who uses a lot of collage and bright colors. Oh, and one more, sorry. Adrian Ghenie is a modern-day Francis Bacon, and definitely worth checking out.\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/TD8cJpsXKklPMTUitTKE2nUsJasV0XxsMBH5GSUDOWKyVNB9_7hoTpMm2ed3QjfhL0ScXkxQKDMLw25p3qNW49LpYhTFf1x2d_9nRfTEVC4K9Jbviaz715WwzdlFhso9Xa4uQmFPUqRXZIWBgeEZzIY?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/TD8cJpsXKklPMTUitTKE2nUsJasV0XxsMBH5GSUDOWKyVNB9_7hoTpMm2ed3QjfhL0ScXkxQKDMLw25p3qNW49LpYhTFf1x2d_9nRfTEVC4K9Jbviaz715WwzdlFhso9Xa4uQmFPUqRXZIWBgeEZzIY\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/band0x\/mayor-of-gentleman-town-1-of-1-186650\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Mayor of gentlemen town<\/em><\/a> by Lee Ellis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: I think my favorite pieces of yours are from your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/leeellis\/gallery\/created\/clowns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Clowns\u2026 <\/em><\/strong><strong>series<\/strong><\/a><strong>. What were you going for with this series?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> Actually, the <em>Clowns <\/em>series was more about the process and experimentation rather than a specific inspiration. It was the first time I used a digital version of my charcoal drawings to impact the way I created art. I scanned my charcoal drawings and added color using Photoshop by playing around with the channels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Then I thought, why not create it physically? So I experimented with transparent spray paints and found a way to incorporate them with paint and charcoal. This series influenced how I create art even today. For example, I have a painting on the wall that I created using charcoal, transparent spray paint, and layers upon layers, all because of the Clowns series.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/QpONrhTgydtbAIJSixZ-iI3Yx95CNXA7bDr8lQN06WXPnsV2LfQb4MmRJYLgMWyMl2TZs3hXf7UJyeoNHfitSDWIwCIEizm4457zIkNFismLpGGQhC1nSYONxyqj-I5Xc9R1kuAevWpnUH6w8i-RTXw?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/QpONrhTgydtbAIJSixZ-iI3Yx95CNXA7bDr8lQN06WXPnsV2LfQb4MmRJYLgMWyMl2TZs3hXf7UJyeoNHfitSDWIwCIEizm4457zIkNFismLpGGQhC1nSYONxyqj-I5Xc9R1kuAevWpnUH6w8i-RTXw\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/howdydoonft\/clowns-dont-eat-macaroni-1-of-1-80751\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Clowns don\u2019t eat macaroni <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a>\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Yeah, I have <\/strong><strong><em>Clowns Don\u2019t Eat Macaroni<\/em><\/strong><strong> on my desktop right now. The piece has a really bright duotone blue and orange polka dot shirt, but the guy\u2019s expression looks truly miserable, almost like he\u2019s from a Depression-era photo by Dorothea Lange. It\u2019s an interesting juxtaposition between the cheerful colors and the somber expression.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Yes, I do like playing with that juxtaposition. One of my inspirations is street photography by Vivian Maier from the 1940s and 50s, and a lot of those figures don\u2019t look particularly cheerful. So I think that influence may come through in my work as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I like to take elements from different sources and incorporate them into my own style, so there may be some truth to the figures appearing unhappy if it\u2019s based on past things I\u2019ve looked at.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: What about your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/leeellis\/gallery\/created\/abstracts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Abstracts<\/em><\/strong><strong> series<\/strong><\/a><strong>? Your portraits are already quite abstract, so what led to this series?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> It was more of an exploration for me. I don\u2019t usually work in abstrac. During the COVID lockdowns, I wanted to try some new things, and some pieces came out of that. It was just a way to break up the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been super focused on my portraiture work. The process of creating abstract art is helpful for experimenting with techniques, like layering paint and using different mediums. I bring that to my portrait work. It\u2019s been a helpful way to expand my skills and techniques.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: It seems like going back and forth between abstract and your style of portraiture would have interesting ways of informing each other. Did you take away anything from doing your abstracts that you now incorporate into your portraiture?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> Yeah, I would say the use of bright colors and mixing different mediums. In my abstracts, I used a lot of oil paints and spray paint, and then added oil pastels on top. This mark-making technique translates well into my portraiture. Since I wasn\u2019t trying to make a portrait with my abstracts, I felt more free to experiment and try new things. Some of those techniques worked well, and I now incorporate them into my portraits. It\u2019s more about the process and the little processes I can take with me and apply to the next piece.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/Oc65JJ3Z1BQ747-_o4M-CRmQTy4nZQ1_rkm3uhXNW-ZYXzfEeIWNWqhfs_pQqosL-AwyEt1Yr_FTb5pf2tSJC2JWjA11g0pZvkwi5E4n7h6sHU69XOiynZ8R1RbgxXZkV-NhJCqXNCa9e10u42rBqw4?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/Oc65JJ3Z1BQ747-_o4M-CRmQTy4nZQ1_rkm3uhXNW-ZYXzfEeIWNWqhfs_pQqosL-AwyEt1Yr_FTb5pf2tSJC2JWjA11g0pZvkwi5E4n7h6sHU69XOiynZ8R1RbgxXZkV-NhJCqXNCa9e10u42rBqw4\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/0xdae46e55e2dc09f603d542ffe48f544d51764f8e\/king-of-syrups-and-other-sticky-things-1-of-1-78429\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>King of syrups and other sticky things <\/em>by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Do you have a favorite painting of yours?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>No, I don\u2019t really have a favorite painting. I don\u2019t dwell on them. I paint them and store them in a unit.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: That\u2019s probably because you don\u2019t pre-plan them, so you don\u2019t have a lot of time to get attached.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Yes, that might be it. I\u2019m also quite ruthless with my work. If a painting isn\u2019t working, I\u2019m happy to destroy it. So I\u2019m not really attached to them in that way.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Cut them up for new pieces.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Exactly.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Do you have a favorite piece of art from someone else?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>LE: Yes, I really love <em>Study of the Human Body, the Base of the Crucifixion<\/em> (1944) by Francis Bacon. It\u2019s a triptych with an orange background and currently on display at Tate Britain. That\u2019s definitely up there as one of my favorites. And I also mentioned earlier <em>Wine Crucifix<\/em> by Arnulf Reiner, which is another one of my favorites.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/CkCqYrL66manC6I4h83NHG4kG7oXIU0BXABC91BhvJN9-qigqwMz0tF8LmdbRgdjiqhAbo5wsH48suz-pqVkSsakBMZOe92mbHmJvX5q8f-IYbYosupWf0UwRXKAJ1yUq5wXg8SsZqRRy7uuYOLMTBw?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/CkCqYrL66manC6I4h83NHG4kG7oXIU0BXABC91BhvJN9-qigqwMz0tF8LmdbRgdjiqhAbo5wsH48suz-pqVkSsakBMZOe92mbHmJvX5q8f-IYbYosupWf0UwRXKAJ1yUq5wXg8SsZqRRy7uuYOLMTBw\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Wine Crucifix<\/em> by Arnulf Reiner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Do you have a favorite piece of fiction, and how do other art forms inform your process or subject matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been influenced by a lot of comic books and graphic novels over the years, although I\u2019m not exactly sure how. One that stands out is <em>Arkham Asylum<\/em> by Dave McKean and Grant Morrison. It\u2019s very dark and features Batman going into Arkham Asylum, which has been taken over by the inmates. That style of artwork has definitely influenced me. That and I think the thing that inspires me most other than paintings would be the music of Tom Waits. I really love his storytelling. And it\u2019s so surreal, and it\u2019s just something that I\u2019ve never really heard anyone else do.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/EyaSYLjj4lmne7gLYRkqf6fMPwHmJkpOMxGCIOj7oH4CUfrub_nFaMmc0xo8rpN1QEWnf7yCs7zfLwscW31bE0PZbKwjGQpyHuzCpj5MxfvdXfG7Cq8eapoSwewtsVZBqXa_ylgIK9nqGJRKNOp9U5Q?is-pending-load=1\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" class=\" jetpack-lazy-image\"\/><noscript><img data-lazy-fallback=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/EyaSYLjj4lmne7gLYRkqf6fMPwHmJkpOMxGCIOj7oH4CUfrub_nFaMmc0xo8rpN1QEWnf7yCs7zfLwscW31bE0PZbKwjGQpyHuzCpj5MxfvdXfG7Cq8eapoSwewtsVZBqXa_ylgIK9nqGJRKNOp9U5Q\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/makersplace.com\/0x2fa0bd091b78d9ef6a2fa308a562deb8b5c5019b\/screaming-into-sinks-02-1-of-1-227134\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Screaming into sinks 02<\/em> by Lee Ellis<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: What advice would you give your 20-year-old self about art and creativity?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Honestly, I don\u2019t think I would give myself any advice. I would just keep doing what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019ve been fairly relentless in my art practice, painting and drawing every day for as long as I can remember, and I would encourage myself to continue doing so. My advice would simply be to keep creating, every single day.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: Is there anything more pragmatic that you might tell yourself, maybe not about art and creativity, but about career building? About making a life as an artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE:<\/strong> Perhaps something sensible, like planning ahead financially. That\u2019s really important, and you can\u2019t just ignore it. I would suggest getting an accountant to help with that. It\u2019s a good start. Oh, and don\u2019t buy shit paints. If you buy shit paints, they\u2019ll ruin your pieces, and you\u2019ll have wasted your money.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>BW: So, what are you working on now, and what can we look forward to seeing from you in the next three to six months?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LE: <\/strong>Currently, I\u2019m using up the remaining cans of spray paint in my studio to create single-color portraits on paper. It\u2019s an experimental process, and I\u2019m enjoying it. I\u2019m doing that and also trying to figure out a Tom Waits series of paintings I\u2019ve wanted to do for ages. It\u2019s a long-term project, and I\u2019m still figuring out the details, but it should be quite surreal. I\u2019m also working on some more strange portraits and deciding what to do for the next drop on MakersPlace.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For updates on all of our artist interviews and editorial features, subscribe to our newsletter below.<\/h4>\n<p>!<!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.9.2 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin -->\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rare.makersplace.com\/2023\/03\/27\/interview-with-painter-lee-ellis\/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=interview-with-painter-lee-ellis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bristol-based artist Lee Ellis is a multimedia artist known for his expressive abstract portraits. Combining elements of painting, drawing and printmaking, Lee\u2019s dynamic approach makes for rich, bold and emotional works of art. With colours and figures reminiscent of Francis Bacon\u2019s visceral style, Lee\u2019s dynamic approach conveys the raw emotion and inner turmoil of his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/rare.makersplace.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-3.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5359"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}