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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Interview with Keith Watts





q)What is your name?


a)Keith Watts

q) Where do you live and work?


a)I now live in a small village in Norfolk (which is in the east anglian countryside, approx 1hour 40mins from London & 50mins from Cambridge).
I used to live in Southend in Essex, but as the area was full of city-worker-commuters my girlfriend & I were unable to buy a house, the move to the sticks made it possible.
I work, as I always have, out of 1 of the bedrooms at home which is set up as a small office, occasionally I have to travel into London to work in-house.

q)What is your creative process like?


a)I get a call to see if I'm available for work, then a brief is sent via email, I read the brief, phone back to discuss, then get stuck into drawing (occasionally have to do roughs but prefer to change the finnished artwork). Scan drawings, compose the piece, send linework back for approval, make changes if needed, colour (if required) then send back via email.

q)What is your favorite medium?


a)HB pencil.

q)What is your current favorite subject?


a)Whatever I get asked to draw for commissions or whatever occurs to me on a particular day with personal stuff.

q)How long does it take for you to finish a piece?


a)Depends on the piece, anywhere between 1 hour & 1 month.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?


a)Paying a mortgage by doing what I love to do. I draw pictures for a living. I live with my fiance in the country. We are getting married next year. Life is sweet.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?


a)I see stuff that I like here & there, but I'm not into the art scene. I like pop art from the 60's (Lichtenstien) and Edward Hopper.

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?


a) coshuk.com


kw@keithwatts.co.uk

q)Anything that people should know about that we don’t?


a) stemagency.com

supa7clothing.com

q)What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?


a)Work hard, play not quite so hard. Don't let the fuckers bring you down. Don't give up.

q)What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?


a)Being stubborn. I won't let it beat me.

q)How do you describe your work to those who are unfamiliar with it?


a)I wouldn't. I'd direct them to my section on the stem website or my own site when I get round to updating it. The work should speak for itself, I'm not going to come out with a load of bullshit to support it, if the work can't walk the walk then you definately won't find me talking the talk.

q)What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?


a)I've been drawing since before I can remember. I went to Art college after school, then University, then a course to learn how to use photoshop.
The most important thing has been the hours & hours of drawing over the years.

q)Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?


a)HB pencils as previously mentioned, I'd be pretty screwed without my Mac Aswell.

q)Who are your influences?


a)I'm not aware of being influenced strongly by anything, but I watch a lot of films, watch some TV and listen to a lot of music so I guess they all play their part. I also skateboard when I can find time so skate culture has been & still is an influence.

q)What inspires you to create?


a)With commissions it's easy, the money. Personal stuff comes from the things rattling around in my head, loads of information goes in and eventually something comes back out, sometimes it's good, sometimes not. You can find inspiration anywhere and everywhere and often it finds you instead.

q)…your contacts…


a)+44(0)7958107632


kw@keithwatts.co.uk

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