Artist on Artist: Interview with Gavin Gardner.

Today, I have great pleasure in welcoming, Gavin Gardner, Sculptor and Painter, and longtime artist friend, to my studio blog for a little ‘Artist on Artist’ chat. Gavin received his BFA in Sculpture from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Gavin's work is represented by the Bridge Gallery of Shepardstown, WV, and the prestigous McBride Gallery of Annapolis, MD; his work is in a number of private and public collections across the country, most notably is the 14 Stations of the Cross for Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, North Potomac, MD. Gavin has won several notable awards and scholarships; most recently he became a finalist in the Portrait Society of America 2012 competition and won the Honor Award for sculpture. Gavin also teaches, painting and sculpture, part-time at the Griffin Art Center of Frederick, MD. Gavin’s studio is currently based out of Walkersville, MD. _____________________________________________________________________________

Gavin Gardner. Inner Rhythm. (Self-Portrait)

10” x 8“. Oil on Panel. 2012.

 

P: When did you know you were an artist? and what is the earliest memory you have of doing "art"?

G: As a kid, I was always drawing. Recently in fact, I went through 6 boxes of childhood things and all of it was art related. I had coloring books, paints, crayons, chalk boards, sketch books, a child’s easel. I remember the summer before I entered the first grade, my father and I went on a cross country trip. We visited 45 states, Canada, Mexico and Belize. As we drove I would sketch the scenery flying by. I decided to become an artist during my sophomore year of high school. One afternoon I was drawing a marble statue at the National Gallery of Art and fell in love with the form and the glistening white stone. The next day I was determined to become a sculptor. I located a sculptor and carver who did work at the National Cathedral and studied with him privately for the next 2 ½ years until college.



P: Tell me some of the artists who have influenced you as an artist?

G: Hans Holbein’s work has been of interest to me due to the isolated profile portraits. They are reminiscent of portrait bas relief. I am also drawn to the well-known reliefs of Lorenzo Ghiberti and those of Augustus St. Gaudens. Among my other favorite sculptors are Jules Dalou, Carl Paul Jennewein, Ivan Mestrovic, and Alfred Gilbert. Dalou, Jennewein, and Mestrovic were all extraordinary relief sculptors. The early figurative works of Constantine Brancusi are an inspiration as well! Many people may not be aware that he was a very accomplished figure sculptor.

Gavin Gardner. The Conversation.

Approx Dem: 24” x 16”. Terra Cotta. 2012.

P: You majored in sculpting during college and worked for many years as a sculptor, and only just 2 short years ago started painting professionally, what inspired you to change directions?

G: After college I worked for a time at my mother’s flower market, En Masse. Working as a designer there I became conscious for the first time of color (for most artists sculpture is monochromatic). The floral arrangements were often bold fields of color, and flaunted bold color palettes. Several years later I began painting, not to change direction (I will always have a romance with sculpture) but to expand my vision. There is something efficient about painting. In addition, painting and sculpture are like two knives that sharpen each other. They each offer only part of the illusion of reality. Sculpture typically lacks color, but has form. Paint has color but lacks form. In my mind each art form sheds light on the other and vice versa. Painting feels like sculpting to me only with value and chroma. And sculpture is a 3-D value scale and study in modeling.



 Gavin Gardner. Lost in Music.

Life-Size. Cast Stone. 2012.

P: I know your primary palette is limited, could you tell me how you discovered this palette, what you've learned from it and why it's so effective for you?

G: I wanted to simplify and several friends recommended I look at Anders Zorn, a Swedish painter who popularized what is the most basic palette around. Zorn’s palette consists of Ivory Black, Flake White (may be substituted with Titanium White), Cadmium Red Medium, and Yellow Ochre. Some sources say he occasionally added Cobalt. Zorn’s palette is composed of primaries. Ivory black functions as a low key blue (and black). Otherwise there is only red, yellow and white. Many artists prefer a palette composed with a warm and cool of each primary. The Zorn palette offers something similar but it requires some mixing. Ivory black and the occasional addition of cobalt allow for a warm and cool selection of blue based colors. Cadmium Red Med and Yellow Ochre are warm but can always be cooled. The best argument for a limited palette is the over-abundant choices in our modern world. Many people want the basics. At the end of the day all we require to be effective is the essentials. And if we can learn to be masters with them, we can thrive in any complex system. A very limited palette also forces you to find the full range of color and chroma with 4 or 5 colors. Finding all of these colors is empowering.





 Gavin Gardner. Plein-air: Abandoned Farm House.

10" x 14". Oil on Panel. 2012.



P: What do you enjoy painting?

G: I enjoy landscape and still life, but I love portrait and figure painting.

Gavin Gardner. Plein-air: Speed.

16" x 8". Oil on Panel. 2012. 



P: How would you describe your work?

G: The recent renewed interest in European atelier and academy training is a stark contrast to contemporary art movements. The result is syncretism, a reconciling and fusing of seemingly opposed movements. It is the Hegelian dialectic expressing thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. Many artists are finding ways to make their Classical style relevant and I have always seen my work as attempting to marry disparate ideas.

P: What is the best thing about being an artist?

G: I love that feeling you get when you’re in the zone and things are coming together. After all the observation the organized mess becomes transformed.

Gavin makes his own tubed paint.



P: Has the internet helped your career as an artist? If so, in what ways?

G: The internet is a fabulous tool for artists particularly. Ayn Rand wrote in her Romantic Manifesto, “Art by its very nature is a solitary profession.” The internet has connected all the hermits who never leave their studios. I always knew in the back of my mind that I needed to be networking with artists and galleries and attending exhibitions. I went from knowing 15 artists scattered across the United States, to networking with thousands all over the world. This internet platform has accelerated networking and people can gain enormous visibility now in a matter of years when it used to take decades. And by exposing me to great talent the internet has given me a deeper awareness of the great challenge we are called to as artists.



P: And lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring artists?

G: The two most critical components to an artist’s success are their skill and their spirit. Both require cultivation. Always remember it is not about the money, it is not about success, it is not about quantity. It is about the art which may well speak louder and longer than you. Your focus should always be on the improvement of your skill and everything else will follow as a matter of course. Cultivate your spirit so you are not a stereotype of the self-destructive, imploding, angst-ridden contrary artist. There have been too many of these types. The world doesn’t need more. These qualities may make for compelling stories, but you will create longer if you cultivate a positive, self-aware, curious, generous, humble and kind, spirit. Be forever self-improving, never stuck.

Gavin's palette on a select day.



And, now for a bit of creative fun ...

P: Coffee or tea?
G: Both

P: Drama or comedy?
G: Both

P: Ocean or mountain?
G: Ocean

P: Hiking or shopping?
G: Both

P: Violin or piano?
G: Both

P: Sun or moon?
G: Both

P: Book or film?
G: Both

P: Cat or Dog?
G: Cat

P: Indoors or outdoors?
G: Both

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Learn more about Gavin at his blog and website.
Blog: www.gavingardner.blogspot.com
Website: www.gavingardner.com

Became a fan and follower of Gavin’s on his Facebook and Twitter pages.

Facebook: Gavin T Gardner Sculptor and Painter

Twitter: gavintayce

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Gavin, thank you so much again for visiting my studio blog and for this wonderful opportunity to interview you. I wish you the very best with your career and your art!

Cheers, ~ Polly ~ 

Rain drops ...

 

 

Rain Drops. Oct 19, 2012.

 

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A little fleeting

Autumn beauty

made me take

a pause today 

while venturing

to the mailbox.

 

Sweet little

rain drops

embellish  

a freshly fallen

Maple leaf.

 

Mmm ....

 

Ok, back to the

studio for me!

 

~ Polly ~

 

 

 

From the Studio: Photo of the Week ....

 

 

Occupied. Oct 14, 2012.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

Shadow has recently

taken claim to the studio chair

which has put my heart in 

a tug of war position.

 

Let her stay and sleep peacefully?

Or

Boot her off, so I can paint?

(of course, in the nicest of ways, 

She is She-Sho after all.)

 

Today, the latter will win.

 

With that it's studio time!

 

Stay tuned.

 

~ Polly ~

 

 

 

 

 



A Blast from the Past (2) ....

 

 

 

Plein-air: The Roann of the Mystic Seaport.

20" x 28". Oil on Canvas. 2000.

Copyright.

 

Private Collection: Pittsburgh, PA.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

Every so often when sorting

through the many cardboard boxes in the studio,

I usually stumble upon photos

taken many years ago of my early works,

both of plein-air and studio works.

 

The piece above is a plein-air work.

 

I set-up at the back entrance of

the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Most of the painting was done on-site

with 2 or 3 visits after the initial start.

I took a few photos as reference

for the proper placement of the rigging

on both vessels so the piece could be

finished in the studio.

 

I remember the Antique Car Show

was happening at the time

during the 2 location visit.

It was fun hearing all the

old cars slowly puttering by

with happy laughing and encouraging cheers

coming from their freshly polished seats. 

 

I found the framestock somewhere,

during my many travels.

The stock was in rough shape,

but with a good hand-sanding and

a layer of gold leaf, it turned out nicely.

 

Stay tuned for more

from the studio!

 

Cheers, ~ Polly ~



Plein-air Efforts of the Day ...

 

 

 

Plein-air / October Colours.

18" x 36". Oil on mdo board. 2012.

Copyright.

 

----------------------------- 

 

I was planning on being

in the studio this morning,

but the heavy fog and

the spectrum of Autumn colours

had another plans for me instead!

 

The changing of the Seasons

can be so inspiring!

 

The cooler temps,

the colours,

the smells,

the many warm cups of tea,

the favourite sweater,

and

an overall sense

of change itself.

 

The last of wild flowers

for the warm season are in bloom!

(I don't know their respective name.)

Have created the

sweetest violet skirt

around the base

of the Honey Locust.  

 

 

 

 

I sign-off with this beautiful tune 

Bob Holroyd - Autumn Leaves

Enjoy!!

 

Stay tuned for more!!

 

Cheers, ~ Polly ~



A Blast from the Past ...

 

 

'The Passing - Savannah'

20" x 26". Oil on Canvas. 2001.

Hand-made frame. Copyright.

 

Private Collection: Niantic, CT.

 

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For the last couple of days

I've been doing a 'deep clean' of

tidying up and re-organising

the studio space to make room for

the anticipated influx of new works

all waiting to either be finished or born.

 

And in doing this 'deep clean'

I came across a couple of 'old' slide sheets

and a pile of photos with images

from my early days as a

'historical marine artist'.

 

As any historical marine artist,

it is paramount to have reliant and 

accurate source material.

I had been given

a wonderful little book on

'Ship Models'

from the Addison Gallery of American Art,

at the Phillips Academy of Andover, Mass.

While leafing through the book

I instantly fell in love with

the four masted schooner

the 'Savannah'.

 

She was clean, bright and

had a classic look about her,

and she was to be my next painting. 

 

I ventured to the Addison Gallery

so that I could draw her from Life.

 

The ship models were displayed

in a couple of long,

somewhat dark hallways

in nice large glass cases,

and their arrangements

were like that of a ship parade

which made for very limited viewings.

 

I found the Savannah,

was she beautiful! 

Her port side faced out

and that's what I had to work with. 

 

The Savannah,

was a four masted cargo Schooner.

She was designed for the lumber trade.

 

Here she's left her

home port of Portland, Maine,

bound for the Southern waters

of Georgia and Florida.

 

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Stay tuned for more

from the studio!

 

Cheers, ~ Polly ~