kind of like the happiness i feel when i look at devon sioui's bright, vivid paintings. her use of color is amazing.
and thanks to devon, who granted me a short interview to share with you all!
1. When and how did you start painting?
I actually can't recall a time when I didn't feel inclined to paint. For most of my life, however, I felt very frustrated with it because while I knew I loved painting and creating art, I felt I could never fully portray what I wanted, I just knew I had an urge to do it. I've always had a really strong sense of colour and while I always loved drawing and did a lot of it growing up, it never satisfied me I think because I was striving for something tangible, realistic. That was never something I was good at, but I wanted to be - I just didn't have the patience. I am such a casual painter. I need my stuff set up and have minimal clean up otherwise I'll lose my motivation to do it. This may have been a reason that I gave up the paintbrush and picked up a knife and began experimenting with different textures and colours leading to my feeling I'd finally found my niche.
2. Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?
I am inspired by lots of things every day. For me, less inspiring are the things I can see and touch but more thoughts and feelings and reactions. I am inspired by improvised music. There is something so beautiful to me about the spontaneity, the originality of it, knowing it can never be created again. A recorded moment. I like to think of my work sometimes as "Improvised Paintings". I don't like to think too much about them and the only thing I am striving for is a flow. I'd be lying if I said that when I approach a blank canvas, that I have any sort of visual idea in mind. I feel most inspired when I find myself fully immersed in what's in front of me. If I am listening to music, I will be greatly influenced in what my ears are hearing, but if there is silence, I am still listening to the painting come to life; hearing its dialogue.
Jackson Pollack said it best, "I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess." (1956)
3. What is your favorite painting of yours to date?
This may sound silly, but I find it so difficult to choose as I am so ridiculously attached to each one. Each one is a story, a piece of me. Parting with them is like saying goodbye to a lover.
"Big Painting" (2009) will always have a special place in my heart as I felt it was the first time I really allowed myself to just let go. It was also the first time I'd ever used a painting knife (though I did use a paintbrush too) and I felt I discovered a huge part of what it is I liked to do whilst creating that.
"Things I Should Have Said (To My Father)" (2010) is another notable, as I remember it felt so easy. I was painting it on my porch in the sunshine last Spring and everything about creating it felt so joyous. Also, it was a gift for my dad and he always cries when I give him artwork. So there's that.
"Colour of Guill" (2011) is a very recent one and I like it because it was kind of a fluke. I was ridding my pallet of excess paint on an already-painted canvas and the fluorescent pink just burst out - it seemed so intentional. I barely touched it after that.
4. What is your favorite painting by another artist?
I could never pick one. If I even tried to list a few I wouldn't be able to stop. And then I would read this later and kick myself. Lets just say: Paintings That You Can Hear.
5. Do you have any last advice or words of wisdom for aspiring artists?
Stop thinking.
if you love devon's work (and who wouldn't?), you can find her on flickr, tumblr, twitter, and/or her blog.
readers, which of her paintings do you find yourself most drawn to?
