Ask Me a Question...
If you have any questions about any of my pieces or if you'd like to find out more about my techniques and processes then send me a Tweet @mcarltonart, leave your question on the Facebook Page, or enter it in the comments section below...
Below you'll find some questions that people have already asked - if you have any questions of your own let me know and I'll reply as soon as I can :D
Below you'll find some questions that people have already asked - if you have any questions of your own let me know and I'll reply as soon as I can :D
Questions and Answers
Q: How did you become an artist and is it something you always wanted to do?
A: After graduating from university I started keeping notebooks of doodles and mind maps for fun and as a way to organise my ideas and thoughts:
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One day I was showing them to someone and he said I should colour them in an have an exhibition. So I did, people seemed to enjoy them, and at that point I became an artist.
Although I've always been interested in drawing and creativity I never had any aspirations of becoming an artist when I was younger. When I grew up it just happened quite naturally and spontaneously.
Although I've always been interested in drawing and creativity I never had any aspirations of becoming an artist when I was younger. When I grew up it just happened quite naturally and spontaneously.
Q: Did you study art at school?
A: I studied 2D art at school and I also studied graphic design and technical drawing, which has formed the foundation of my technique and style.
At university I studied Mechanical Engineering for a year, and then Economics and Philosophy. This gave me all the training I needed to convert abstract ideas into practical and to an extent "functional" pieces of art.
At university I studied Mechanical Engineering for a year, and then Economics and Philosophy. This gave me all the training I needed to convert abstract ideas into practical and to an extent "functional" pieces of art.
Q: What's your favourite medium?
A: My favourite medium is Promarker Letraset pens.
These are the pens I use to create my Ink Drawings and I love how bold and vibrant the colours are:
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Q: What's your art all about and is there a specific way of interpreting or looking at it?
A: My art is the point at which my imagination meets the world around me, and there's no specific way of interpreting it.
One thing you can do though is focus on any one point in the picture and then let your eye naturally move to another point in the picture. It might move to an adjacent point, or it may jump somewhere else, or it may move round in circles, but just let it go wherever it wants to go and see what happens :D
Try it on the piece below to see if you can get what I mean:
One thing you can do though is focus on any one point in the picture and then let your eye naturally move to another point in the picture. It might move to an adjacent point, or it may jump somewhere else, or it may move round in circles, but just let it go wherever it wants to go and see what happens :D
Try it on the piece below to see if you can get what I mean:
Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspirations from?
A: I'm particularly inspired by Nature and I'm fascinated by the way things work and interrelate.
I feel inspired by life and the world around me and I then channel and translate that into my work.
I also feel like all my creations exist somewhere in their own right (in another dimension perhaps) and I just help give birth to them by bringing them into form.
I feel inspired by life and the world around me and I then channel and translate that into my work.
I also feel like all my creations exist somewhere in their own right (in another dimension perhaps) and I just help give birth to them by bringing them into form.
Q: Who are your favourite artists and which artists inspire you the most?
A: I like the artists of the Renaissance the most - particularly Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
There seems to be a profound understanding and expression of the laws and beauty of nature in their work which I enjoy.
I also like the scale, passion, and movement of Michelangelo's work, and I like Leonardo's expression of scientific knowledge through his painting and notebooks.
There seems to be a profound understanding and expression of the laws and beauty of nature in their work which I enjoy.
I also like the scale, passion, and movement of Michelangelo's work, and I like Leonardo's expression of scientific knowledge through his painting and notebooks.
Q: Has anyone famous ever bought your art?
A: Not yet, though maybe one day someone will :D
My only claim to fame at the moment is that John Madejski, the chairman of Reading FC, almost came to an exhibition I was featured in once (but he couldn't make it because he'd injured his leg...)
My only claim to fame at the moment is that John Madejski, the chairman of Reading FC, almost came to an exhibition I was featured in once (but he couldn't make it because he'd injured his leg...)
Q: Do you think you will ever get bored of art?
A: I don't think so - the more I create art the more I like it, so I don't think it would be possible to get bored.
Q: What are your goals as an artist?
A: To create the best, most beautiful art I can, to make the world a more vibrant and colourful place, and to uplift and inspire people wherever I can.
Q: What's your biggest ambition as an artist?
A: I'd like to create something really big and impressive, something that people can walk in or through and feel uplifted and inspired - something like the Sistine Chapel, but in my own style.
Q: Do you have a favourite piece or pieces?
A: I don't have a specific favourite piece as such, but if I had to put forward just one piece that would represent my work it would be a piece I call "Pyramids":
Q: Do you like doing commissions or do you prefer to do your own thing?
A: I prefer to do my own thing rather than commissions because I can really let the piece be whatever it wants to be.
That being said I do also enjoy creating pieces that are especially for someone else that they can really enjoy.
That being said I do also enjoy creating pieces that are especially for someone else that they can really enjoy.
Q: What words of advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming an artist?
A: See if you can find your own style or visual "voice" if you can. Be patient because it may take some time, but when it comes then you'll know where you stand and you'll have more confidence. When you're ready put it out there at an exhibition or wherever, see what response you get, and go from there...
That's what I did and it worked for me, so hopefully it will work for you too :D
That's what I did and it worked for me, so hopefully it will work for you too :D
Thanks for Reading...
Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed this post!
If you have any questions send me a Tweet @mcarltonart, leave your
question on the Facebook Page, or enter it in the comments section
below and I'll get back to you as soon as I can...
Best wishes,
Michael
If you have any questions send me a Tweet @mcarltonart, leave your
question on the Facebook Page, or enter it in the comments section
below and I'll get back to you as soon as I can...
Best wishes,
Michael
 | Related Post... Art Insights by Michael Carlton Find out my interpretation of a selection of my pieces... |
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