Artist Spotlight: Owen Normand

I have always had what I would call a natural impulse to create art; I think this comes from a deep-seated curiosity about how pictures communicate to us and how paintings are made.

Jul 1

The purpose of the artist spotlight is to bring awareness to notable artists pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. The art world constantly expresses its thoughts on canvas and other visual mediums based on culture, politics, and social commentary. I am continually looking for people who inspire me in this world with their artistic expression. I hope you enjoy these great artists' artwork and support them. Now let me introduce the artist that we are going to be spotlighting today!

Would you please tell everyone your name?

Owen

How would you describe your art?

I see my paintings as snapshots of a parallel universe: it's a world similar to ours but skewed. The figures that inhabit this space are swaying and weightless, have simplified faces and are lit with a harsh light. The images I paint come from my subconscious and are usually painted without any reference. I used to work in a much more realist style where everything was done from observation. I still see the work I do now as being observed. It's just that it is indirectly observed: it has been filtered through my memory and imagination, and only the parts that interest me most come out in the final work. I am interested in trying to capture something unusual and spontaneous that will catch the viewer's eye and hold their attention to convey something particular about the human condition that is relatable but almost impossible to convey in words.

What motivates you to create art?

I have always had what I would call a natural impulse to create art; I think this comes from a deep-seated curiosity about how pictures communicate to us and how paintings are made. There is something magical about how an artist can take such crude tools as a handful of pigments and some brushes and create the illusion of light, shade, form, and depth. The freedom of creating these imaginary worlds motivates me to paint.

Who inspires your artistic creativity?

I am most inspired by some of the incredible figurative paintings happening today. When I was at art school doing work that was in any way figurative was sneered at and looked down on as being too traditional and twee. It is, therefore, inspiring to see painters like Alex Foxton, Robin Francesca Williams, and Salman Toor making bold, experimental, figurative paintings and receiving critical acclaim for their work.

When did you know that you wanted to become an artist?

When I was about six or seven, Landseer's 'The Monarch of the Glen' was a large reproduction in our local chip shop. I remember having dinner there with my family and studying that painting. I was awed by the way he had painted light on the mountains and the fur of the stag. The skill level bowled me over, and I remember thinking that learning to do something like that would be a worthy lifetime's challenge.

What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming an artist?

I would give two bits of advice: the first is from the painter Chuck Close who said, "inspiration is for amateurs, professionals just turn up and get to work." I take this to mean you need to learn to work through your creative blocks, to work when you don't feel inspired so that when inspiration does come, it finds you already working. The second is from me, and it is perseverance. To learn to go through self-doubt, financial hardship, and criticism. It is often not necessarily the most talented but the most determined and resilient artists that prevail.