Q & A(rtemis)

John Simpson

artemis • silkscreen • 75cm x 45cm

A stunning new John Simpson silkscreen arrived this week entitled 'Artemis'. This edition of 55 also came accompanied by some Questions & Answers from John.

How long have you been an artist?

I've been making work since I graduated in 1998 but became a full time artist 5 years ago. I left my last job and spent a season in the Canadian mountains - it was a very liberating experience!

How would you describe your style of working?

It's almost a hybrid of drawing and painting. The process is very important in my work. The Monotype print process adds a new dimension to mark making. It is often a fight to control the ink, but it is often this struggle which creates a new interesting surface.

Where did you learn the techniques you use?

Though I studied Printmaking at University, the process I now use is largely self taught through experimentation. It is a fresher, more immediate form of printmaking which doesn't rely on lots of traditional equipment.

Which artists do you most admire?

I love drawings. I have a particular interest in the two dimensional work of Sculptors - working drawings that exist as an exploration of a form. Alberto Giacometti was a master of this. Francisco Goya was a fascinating artist. He experienced life and work as a traditional court painter, but also behaved like a true modern artist, engaging with the world around him.

Three desert island discs?

Smog: I break horses
Arvo Part: Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten
Pixies: Where is my mind?