Wildlife Art
by Richard Macwee
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Dear Richard, How do you define yourself as an artist? My creative journey, especially when I first began seriously drawing and painting, was a search for an artistic identity through exploring various techniques, genres and styles. I tried landscape, illustration work and portraits in various styles. I experimented with different materials ranging from graphite to oil paint. But it was my deep fascination and concern for animals that naturally drew me to this subject more predominately than any other. In recent years, I have continued this exploration to the exclusion of other subject matter. Ultimately, I want to show, through my artwork, how amazingly diverse, fragile and important wildlife is and to promote concern for it and its environment. |
Photo: courtesy of the artist |
How long and how much training did it take you to get to your level of skill?
I am fundamentally a self-taught artist. I learned how to draw and paint by studying the work of other artists who I admire and also through trial and error. Although I enjoyed art at school I did not take it up again seriously until my late twenties. Graphite was the first medium that I really felt comfortable using, having been disillusioned with my attempts at oil painting and watercolor. However, the discovery of soft pastel opened up new doors for me as an artist. It was a medium that I felt added an extra dimension to my work in terms of tonal balance, harmony and pictorial narrative. But the creation of any artwork is an exhaustive process of practice, technique, inspiration and mood.
Art, and the learning of art, is a lifetime pursuit and, although it can be frustrating, it is also endlessly rewarding. I feel that I still have so much to learn as an artist.
What do you see as the most important aspect of your work?
Wildlife is so diverse and multifaceted. Communicating the distinct personality, character, environment and status of each animal is a goal I strive towards in my work. It’s not really a matter of technical accuracy or a literal translation of reality that I’m attempting, but more to portray the essence of an animal with all its unique and compelling qualities. I want people to be able to see the spirit of the animal come through in my art.
Art is very often about mood and emotion and whenever I begin an artwork I try to decide what message this picture will convey and what I want people to observe about it.
What do you consider your biggest achievements as a wildlife artist?
The moment when I sold my first original artwork was a highlight for me. It was something I had never thought would happen a few years earlier. It gave me a huge boost in confidence and since then I have started my own business selling prints of my work to other clients. This is an area I am now focusing on more intently.
Another aspect of my wildlife art that means a lot to me is being able to express my concern for the natural world and the species that inhabit it; and, by extension, to promote the causes that I feel strongly about. Although I am only doing this is in small way at the moment it is still something that certainly provides a sense of achievement for me personally and I certainly hope to expand on in the coming years.
Do you follow a set routine or do you create in response to whatever feeds your creativity at any given time?
The creative process, and my time spent on it, can vary from day to day. But I do try to spend time on my artwork every day. If a painting is not going well, for whatever reason, then I try to work through the problem – pastel is actually a very forgiving medium and one of its most appealing aspects is the lack of preparation involved – I can simply pick up a stick of pastel color at a moment’s notice and continue where I left off whenever the mood takes me.
This spontaneous approach is somewhat evident in my working method. I never plan out my pictures. Some artists are very methodical in their approach to an artwork; preparing tonal studies, color schemes and preliminary sketches, almost every aspect of the picture is worked out beforehand. I prefer more of a spontaneous approach. I tend to just jump right into a picture and see where it leads me. I like the idea of not really knowing how an artwork will end up.
There have been many times when I have made radical changes to an artwork even near completion; the joy of creating a work of art is seeing where the picture leads me as I am working on it.
I am fundamentally a self-taught artist. I learned how to draw and paint by studying the work of other artists who I admire and also through trial and error. Although I enjoyed art at school I did not take it up again seriously until my late twenties. Graphite was the first medium that I really felt comfortable using, having been disillusioned with my attempts at oil painting and watercolor. However, the discovery of soft pastel opened up new doors for me as an artist. It was a medium that I felt added an extra dimension to my work in terms of tonal balance, harmony and pictorial narrative. But the creation of any artwork is an exhaustive process of practice, technique, inspiration and mood.
Art, and the learning of art, is a lifetime pursuit and, although it can be frustrating, it is also endlessly rewarding. I feel that I still have so much to learn as an artist.
What do you see as the most important aspect of your work?
Wildlife is so diverse and multifaceted. Communicating the distinct personality, character, environment and status of each animal is a goal I strive towards in my work. It’s not really a matter of technical accuracy or a literal translation of reality that I’m attempting, but more to portray the essence of an animal with all its unique and compelling qualities. I want people to be able to see the spirit of the animal come through in my art.
Art is very often about mood and emotion and whenever I begin an artwork I try to decide what message this picture will convey and what I want people to observe about it.
What do you consider your biggest achievements as a wildlife artist?
The moment when I sold my first original artwork was a highlight for me. It was something I had never thought would happen a few years earlier. It gave me a huge boost in confidence and since then I have started my own business selling prints of my work to other clients. This is an area I am now focusing on more intently.
Another aspect of my wildlife art that means a lot to me is being able to express my concern for the natural world and the species that inhabit it; and, by extension, to promote the causes that I feel strongly about. Although I am only doing this is in small way at the moment it is still something that certainly provides a sense of achievement for me personally and I certainly hope to expand on in the coming years.
Do you follow a set routine or do you create in response to whatever feeds your creativity at any given time?
The creative process, and my time spent on it, can vary from day to day. But I do try to spend time on my artwork every day. If a painting is not going well, for whatever reason, then I try to work through the problem – pastel is actually a very forgiving medium and one of its most appealing aspects is the lack of preparation involved – I can simply pick up a stick of pastel color at a moment’s notice and continue where I left off whenever the mood takes me.
This spontaneous approach is somewhat evident in my working method. I never plan out my pictures. Some artists are very methodical in their approach to an artwork; preparing tonal studies, color schemes and preliminary sketches, almost every aspect of the picture is worked out beforehand. I prefer more of a spontaneous approach. I tend to just jump right into a picture and see where it leads me. I like the idea of not really knowing how an artwork will end up.
There have been many times when I have made radical changes to an artwork even near completion; the joy of creating a work of art is seeing where the picture leads me as I am working on it.
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Do you like to challenge yourself once in a while and if yes, how so?
I think for any creative person it’s important to challenge yourself even if it’s just an attempt to depict a different species or breed. Lions and tigers, for example, are commercially popular subjects for wildlife artists but there is such diversity in the animal kingdom and I always like to take the opportunity to draw more unusual species.
Every animal is, in its own way, crucial to maintaining an ecological balance on earth. Although, from a business point of view, a depiction of a lesser known species may not sell as well as others it’s still very rewarding to make an attempt. Every artwork is a learning process.
I’ve started trying to explore the diversity and nature of marine life in my artwork. This is a new and challenging area for me as it is an aspect of wildlife art that I have never attempted before, in terms of both the species and the environment in which they live. I have also recently been attempting to work on a larger scale than before. This provides much more room for new and bolder interpretation of the subject matter particularly in terms of composition; I certainly hope to try more of this in the future
Who are some of your favorite visual artists from your area or around the world?
I have been inspired by many great artists, particularly wildlife artists. The great David Shepherd was a famous name in the genre of wildlife art and conservation and his work has been hugely influential. Other top wildlife artists I admire include Gary Hodges, Alan M.Hunt, Terry Isaac and Denis Mayer Jr.
I have been very lucky, through social media, to have connected with many amazing and talented artists from around the world, many of whom I consider close friends. I love seeing how other people interpret art and subject matter and in particular the unique personal expressions they display in their artwork.
In addition to visual art, what other type of art do you like and follow?
Music is certainly a big part of my life and can play a role in the creative process. When I’m working on my art I always have music on in the background. There is no particular genre that I prefer; it just depends on my mood. Sometimes I listen to classical music but other times it will be rock or even jazz.
The literary arts as well have always been important to me, the reading of artists’ biographies is a pastime that I enjoy very much.
Sometimes however it’s also nice to be able to detach myself from thinking about art altogether so I often enjoy watching film noir, particularly from the 30’s and 40’s.
Outside of art, what are some of your other topics of interest?
In many ways, it’s tied in with my artwork, but the conservation and protection of wildlife is a big area of interest and concern for me. I have long admired and supported the work of individuals and charities that further the cause of animal welfare. It is something that I feel very strongly about.
I hope that one day in the future I can use my art in a more constructive and practical manner to promote and help in animal welfare.
We have two new ongoing campaigns and it would be awesome if you gave us your take on both or either one of them:
#BeatTheBlues features works and confessions of artists and non-artists about experiences and ways to beat the blues and rise from the depth of darkness.
I certainly believe that creative expression as an outlet can encourage and motivate a re-connecting in to the general, everyday social world. It’s a great campaign to encourage people to open up about mental health issues.
I also think that drawing, painting or creating a piece of artwork can express thoughts and feelings that sometimes can’t be articulated in words.
#WhatMatters features confessions of what matters the most, to the artist, at this point in time and how does his work and life reflect that.
I think, as a society, we often dwell too much on the past and worry too much about the future so it’s a wonderful idea to have a campaign that highlights the significance of realizing what is important at this particular moment in your life and making the most of everyday. It can be in terms of family life or career but as long as we remember what matters in our lives.
Thank you and Good luck!
For more visit Richard's website HERE