Daniel
Clayton
1. Welcome Daniel to The Influx Gallery family. Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from?
I live in Hampshire and have a little studio I need to the freedom to create ad express myself some times thats easier done on cavsa.
2. Were your family supportive of you deciding to become an artist?
Yes they were very supportive I come from a very artistic family my mother was a florist and my dad was a boat builder my sister studied art at Winchester School of Art and I went on to do my degree
3. Was there anything specific that you can remember that made you want to become an artist?
I went to after school art classes as a kid and played around with clay and betic, my sister was studying her A-level art at the time and I would flip though the art books and old magazines i loved the the colours and was quite fascinated by the lives of these artists
4. Did your schooling or work affect your creative development in any way?
No I had limited knowledge of art, so that introduced me to lots of new artists and ways of making
5. When did you first discover the ability to paint?
I've always to paint and when i sold my first painting While I was sill at Art School I wanted to make more sfuf i've always managed to find a studio where I can work
6. How do mixed media elements inform your award winning paintings?
The mixed media or different elements all make the collage they all have a place.
7. Could you give us a little teaser as to the process that helps you create such fabulous artworks?
I like colour and texture a piece forms by itself not necessarily from a set idea, I usually like to work big but i've been a bit limited for space in my little studio but but its worked ok as Ive made a lot of collages which I will eventually paint.
8. Where do you get your inspiration and influences from?
i love music and the energy and rhythm of it and I want to create
9. Do you have any tips for any inspiring painter picking up the brush for the first time?
my best advice would be if possible don't through any away, there's often been times when I've wished I still had old sketch books even colouring book from when I was a kid, keen going and listen to yourself and not what people are telling what to paint go from what you're feeling and what you want to make
10. Could you tell us a little bit about how you started your art journey, by painting musical icons?
I stared was very into Pop Art and started making abstract portraits I remember the first painting I ever sold was a portrait of Blondie.
11. We love your style of large scale abstract painting. How long does it take you to finish a piece?
depends sometimes its very urgent to get my ideas down and I can finish a collage in a day or two other they more tricky I start quickly and then ideras run out and I have to leave i it and stare something fresh and It could bce ane weeks or months before I go back and complete it.