Interview with Geoff Farnsworth

q) Well, first of all please tell us a little about yourself.

a)I'm 39 years old, born in British Columbia, Canada. I trained in Vancouver, New York City, and then went on to live and paint in Toronto for 5 years before moving to Thunder Bay 7 months ago with my fiance to have our first baby around her family.

q)How would you describe your work?

a)My paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. It is important to me that the paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy, while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from my personal world as well as from classical and contemporary culture, I focus continuously on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. I ignore the portrait or landscape or whatever it may be turning into as often as I try to see it. I do not want the parts to be overly submissive to the whole. I want a blue smear of paint through a face to be as much of an "object" in the painting as the eyes. I like it when a chunk of head disappearing into a corner of abstract landscape serves as strongly to help the viewer feel paint texture as to be reminded of a skull. My figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape. By responding more deeply to the subtle cues being offered by the emerging image, as collaboration between my self and the canvas, I can more fully integrate figure and abstraction with consciousness and unconsciousness.

q) Did somebody encourage you to become an artist?

a)My Mum always encouraged me and wanted me to keep going to art school. I rebelled and went to business school and then into sales for a couple years. Hated it and ran back to art school at age 27.

q) What is your favorite medium?

a)Oils!!

q) Can you describe your process, from the seed of an idea to a complete work?

a)I never have one way of working. Used to start with the brush all the time, now I still do often, but also figure out some of the drawing in pencil first often. Sometimes begin with a colour I am into, other times with constructing a face, always changing...

q) Generally speaking, where do your ideas come from?

a)My life around me. I generally paint the friends and family in my life....

q) How long does it take to complete a piece?

a)Sometimes within a few days, other times months and even years of reworking.

q) Who are your favorite artists.and who are some artists you are currently looking/listening to?

a)My sister, Gillian Farnsworth, Jens Hedin, Bill Scharf, Etienne Zack, Daniel Richter, Neo Rausch, Francis Bacon, Gustav Klimt, The Beatles, Sad Ocean Space Bear, Delta Marsh,

q) Are you represented by a gallery? Do you have any upcoming exhibits?

a)I am repped by Muse Gallery in Toronto, Canada where I have a solo show Sept. 28 - Oct. 18, 2007. I also have paintings showing at Canvas Gallery in Toronto and Chenier Fine Arts in Thunder Bay.

q) Do you have any 'studio rituals'? As in, do you listen to certain types of music while working? What helps to get you in the mood for working?

a)I am always meaning to listen to music My paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. It is important to me that the paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy, while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from my personal world as well as from classical and contemporary culture, I focus continuously on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. I ignore the portrait or landscape or whatever it may be turning into as often as I try to see it. I do not want the parts to be overly submissive to the whole. I want a blue smear of paint through a face to be as much of an "object" in the painting as the eyes. I like it when a chunk of head disappearing into a corner of abstract landscape serves as strongly to help the viewer feel paint texture as to be reminded of a skull. My figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape. By responding more deeply to the subtle cues being offered by the emerging image, as collaboration between my self and the canvas, I can more fully integrate figure and abstraction with consciousness and unconsciousness.

q) What is your favorite a) taste, b) sound, c) sight, d) smell, and e) tactile sensation?

a)I like the taste of good cheese, the sound of it too! I love the sight and sounds of my fiance and beautiful new baby girl. I love the smell of the fresh air in North Ontario, and the feel of my palette knife in my fist.

q) Do you have goals that you are trying to reach as an artist, what is your 'drive'? What would you like to accomplish in your 'profession’?

a)I want to find the mix of figurative and abstraction and elements in my painting that expresses my soul and fully satisfies my aesthetic code. And I want them all to sell for some fine prices at galleries so I never have to worry about rent ever again.

q) When have you started using the internet and what role does this form of communication play for you, personally, for your art, and for your business?

a)Two or three years ago my friend mut up a website for me and I put up my work on myspace. makes it a lot easier with the computer to keep people up to date on what's going on with my work and to send images...

q) What do you obsess over?

a)Painting, colour, living, life.

q) Do you have prefered working hours? Do you pay attention to the time of the day or maybe specific lighting?

a)Mostly day time, but it can go through phases. I like day light corrected bulbs. My studio is still a cramped basement quarters, but hoping to change that sooooon.

q) Do you do commissioned works?

a)Sometimes I do take on commissioned work. Usually people want me to do my own thing but with their heads in it. Have done a few of these.

q) Any tips for emerging artists?

a)Keep believing in yourself! Follow your heart, don't give up.

q)…Your contacts

a)For artists to build a contact list, some things I think are good to keep in mind are to copy down email addresses from galleries you like (look in mags and online), at shows collect cards and people's contact info, get visitors at your own shows to write down their contact info, look in newspapers for art critics' emails....

www.gfarnsworth.net/