Artist Statement: This month’s featured artist: Jago Neal
* Where do you get your inspiration from?
I think if you are open to it, Inspiration can come from anywhere. I find it in writing, films, music, conversations, teaching and of course from looking at other people’s work.
Mostly I produce images based on responses to my environment and nature. I find myself looking at the world in terms of images the entire time, as though permanently seeing it through a viewfinder.
This can sometimes be annoyingly obsessive, as I can't go for walk on the beach without thinking in terms of pictures.
* Who is your favourite artist?
My daughter Frida (she's two and half). Seriously though, I have lots of favourites and I am always looking at work as I teach art at secondary school.
I have recently discovered the website Pinterest which I find very helpful for viewing artwork. I have built an 'Inspiration board' so If anyone is on there they can look me up to see some more of my favourites. http://www.pinterest.com/jagoneal/
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
Again, that is a really tough one as there are so many. But, to name a few.....impressionism, surrealism, pop, nouveau, Graffiti and street.
* Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a paint brush? What do you aim to do within your paintings? Are you a 'clean' painter or do you need to get your hands dirty when you paint?
To start, I wouldn’t say I’m a painter. In fact I’ve tried hard ever since school not to categorize myself into one field. I’ve always drawn, painted, taken photos, written and expressed myself creatively in different ways. I think, or at least I hope my art is always evolving. I feel that that is the most important thing- not to get stuck in one idea or medium. So I try to explore lots. I like to believe I’m a polymath and that the idea or problem dictates the medium I choose to work in, not the other way round.
There is a time to get dirty and a time to be clean.
*Are there any exhibitions/art event you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
Trevor Parker’s show at Kumeu impressed me because it was intelligent and a radical use of the space. Also, an exhibition of Primary school art currently on at MOTAT because of the quality of work produced by such young minds.
* In your opinion, what makes good art?
I believe that art is intrinsically good as long as the intention is genuine. If the person making the ‘art’ derived some pleasure or learnt something from the experience then it has value.
I use a fairly cheesy analogy when teaching that artworks are like flowers- there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ ones, just some that certain people prefer to others.
It may be cringe worthy but it’s also true. And young kids make great art precisely because they don’t have associations of what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
I find assessing art in my job very hard because of this belief. Of course we can say something is skilful or looks beautiful
but people are far too judgmental about art. If you don’t like it don’t let it bother you. I’m always amused when people are affronted by art.
* Do you have a website;
Yes - http://www.jagoneal.com/
and my photography blog is - http://jagoneal.wordpress.com/
* What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
That it serves the community well.
* What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
It would be great to see it continue to grow and improve (as it has done in the last few years) into a place that is well known as an art institution out west.
Expanding, not only for Kumeu and the neighbouring areas residents but also for the wider Auckland community to use. Keeping close to its core the ground roots values of a ‘community’ art centre, as well as generating wider exposure by holding great exhibitions and events such as Arts in Action.
* Where do you get your inspiration from?
I think if you are open to it, Inspiration can come from anywhere. I find it in writing, films, music, conversations, teaching and of course from looking at other people’s work.
Mostly I produce images based on responses to my environment and nature. I find myself looking at the world in terms of images the entire time, as though permanently seeing it through a viewfinder.
This can sometimes be annoyingly obsessive, as I can't go for walk on the beach without thinking in terms of pictures.
* Who is your favourite artist?
My daughter Frida (she's two and half). Seriously though, I have lots of favourites and I am always looking at work as I teach art at secondary school.
I have recently discovered the website Pinterest which I find very helpful for viewing artwork. I have built an 'Inspiration board' so If anyone is on there they can look me up to see some more of my favourites. http://www.pinterest.com/jagoneal/
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
Again, that is a really tough one as there are so many. But, to name a few.....impressionism, surrealism, pop, nouveau, Graffiti and street.
* Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a paint brush? What do you aim to do within your paintings? Are you a 'clean' painter or do you need to get your hands dirty when you paint?
To start, I wouldn’t say I’m a painter. In fact I’ve tried hard ever since school not to categorize myself into one field. I’ve always drawn, painted, taken photos, written and expressed myself creatively in different ways. I think, or at least I hope my art is always evolving. I feel that that is the most important thing- not to get stuck in one idea or medium. So I try to explore lots. I like to believe I’m a polymath and that the idea or problem dictates the medium I choose to work in, not the other way round.
There is a time to get dirty and a time to be clean.
*Are there any exhibitions/art event you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
Trevor Parker’s show at Kumeu impressed me because it was intelligent and a radical use of the space. Also, an exhibition of Primary school art currently on at MOTAT because of the quality of work produced by such young minds.
* In your opinion, what makes good art?
I believe that art is intrinsically good as long as the intention is genuine. If the person making the ‘art’ derived some pleasure or learnt something from the experience then it has value.
I use a fairly cheesy analogy when teaching that artworks are like flowers- there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ ones, just some that certain people prefer to others.
It may be cringe worthy but it’s also true. And young kids make great art precisely because they don’t have associations of what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
I find assessing art in my job very hard because of this belief. Of course we can say something is skilful or looks beautiful
but people are far too judgmental about art. If you don’t like it don’t let it bother you. I’m always amused when people are affronted by art.
* Do you have a website;
Yes - http://www.jagoneal.com/
and my photography blog is - http://jagoneal.wordpress.com/
* What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
That it serves the community well.
* What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
It would be great to see it continue to grow and improve (as it has done in the last few years) into a place that is well known as an art institution out west.
Expanding, not only for Kumeu and the neighbouring areas residents but also for the wider Auckland community to use. Keeping close to its core the ground roots values of a ‘community’ art centre, as well as generating wider exposure by holding great exhibitions and events such as Arts in Action.