Andrew Abbott had a show at the St. Lawrence Arts Center for the First Friday Art Walk of August. His art, which was (almost) entirely done on grocery bags, with lots of layering, and little color, attracted a large crowd. Andrew took some time to answer a few questions about his art as well. If you'd like to see more of his work, check out his site HERE.
If you had to describe your art to someone who had never seen it, how would you describe it?
That happens a lot, and I never really know what to say...one of them is a self-portrait with a pregnant stomach and I am sticking my hand into my stomach.
What made you initially start using bags as your canvas?
Well, I normally work on smaller scraps of paper, but for about six months of my life I was living in Oakland, California and had a bunch of house paint and paper grocery bags so these paintings happened. There are about 30 of them and I probably won't do any more like them.
How do you feel they have worked out for you? Pros and cons of them?
It's not the best surface to work on, you really need to layer on a lot of paint to make it nice. Also, people think that because it's painted on a grocery bag, that it's not "archival." My paintings are built to last though, lots of varnish and paint.
What does the process of creating a piece look like for you from step one?
I put layer after layer of paint and deluded paint/water mixture on my surface until an image appears. Then I throw in the detail. Sometimes I actually find an image or object I want to paint though. They go through a lot of phases. I paint over a lot of stuff.
Could you talk about your layering in your work, how and when you use it?
Oh, that s@#t's important. Layers and washes...I put them down and the whole painting changes in a moment, so I do it a lot to keep it interesting.
You have a few pieces that have parts of words (like in a Hangman game); TE_ _ and FA_ _; what is the meaning behind this?
Oh god, usually I am drunk or something when words make it onto my pieces, not that I get drunk a lot, but on the rare occasion that I do, I usually end up scribbling nonsense on top of all my paintings, only to regret most of what I write later on, prompting me to cross out or paint over certain passages that are too stupid to exist.
Do you creates stories behind your art?
Well, like I said, I usually don't plan them, they just happen,. I am not sure where they come from, but I do feel they have some significant meaning in my life. I keep it to myself though mostly, everyone will have a different perspective.
Any last words?
They are for sale, haha.