Process can play an integral part to any creative person and their work. However people aim to communicate differently through their visual practice –whether this be through photography or painting–, and how they get to the end result differs from practice to practice. I wanted to gain more of an understanding of how this differs between emerging artists and more established creatives, and share with you their work and ways of thinking and how they deem process part of the practice.
The Photographer: Dan Mariner
Dan Mariner’s work provides the viewer with a calming colour palette that echoes his approach to the medium. He has a true understanding for shooting his subject matter and creating something unique in freezing a moment in time. We wanted to understand more about his process as a visual thinker.
This is a answer
How does photography allow you to document the world around you?
The photographic process enables me to express my thoughts and concerns on the world in a way that I am unable to through the written process. I find that telling a story through a visual narrative, I can respond to my surroundings in a more intimate and structured way.
What does the process of photography mean to you?
The process of photography is about creating an image or set of images that invokes an emotion or response in the viewer. The beauty of photography is its ability to provoke the thought process while informing at the same time. The very act of freezing time is a unique feat in itself, creating a unique window into the world that no other medium can achieve so evocatively.
How would you describe the difference between digital and analogue photography and how does this play a part in your practice?
For me, you can always tell the difference between an analog and digital image. There is a certain quality that an analog image possesses, subtle tones coupled with a depth and range of colour so often mimicked by lazy digital processes. When used with a sharp lens the resolution and quality of an analog image is hard to beat. A digital file can sometimes be overly realistic and harsh, often ruined by heavy handed processing by over zealous operators unfamiliar with the photographic process.
I was trained in the analog process and feel it is important to stay true to the craft in today's superfluous digital age, I pride myself on possessing the technical ability to make slow imagery using a medium or large format film camera. In my opinion, a digital image so often lacks the finesse and subtlety that makes the medium of photography so special in the first place. Having, said that, one would be foolish to shun the advances in digital imaging technology. The digital process is fantastic when shooting time critical commissions, where shooting on film is just not practical.
I was trained in the analog process and feel it is important to stay true to the craft in today's superfluous digital age, I pride myself on possessing the technical ability to make slow imagery using a medium or large format film camera. In my opinion, a digital image so often lacks the finesse and subtlety that makes the medium of photography so special in the first place. Having, said that, one would be foolish to shun the advances in digital imaging technology. The digital process is fantastic when shooting time critical commissions, where shooting on film is just not practical.
The Filmmaker: Christian Villarba
Christian’s work allows the viewer to be unsettled as he tackles issues and motifs that are often overlooked in the film industry. As someone who is not afraid to push the boundaries and explore people’s interaction with film, his work provides an exciting engagement from the viewer that makes them question motive.
What does the word process mean to you in your practice?
Over the years, I've come to understand process as not just technique or method, it's also much more about challenging yourself and finding boundaries you can sort of bend or play with. The process is essentially the story you tell in the future about the certain projects you've worked on and how it was achieved and to me, the process has to be challenging, exciting and somewhat complex at the same time.
Who Influences your work?
In regards to process, not many individuals do – and I say this in a positive manner. I'm a firm believer in staying true to how you'd like to achieve things, whether that be through simple or complex ways – process should be unique, and it sure is different for everyone! I do however, am influenced by the works of documentary/world cinema filmmakers like Errol Morris, Pedro Almodovar, Quentin Tarantino (well, his earlier works) and Abdellatif Kechiche. Many people deemed their processes alien to the norm when they started out, but individuals like them understood their own processes, and did it well with resilience and thick-skin.
What has process taught you about the way you work?
If process has taught me anything at all, it's that you will always have critics looking through everything you put out there. Over the years, process has also become much more related to guts and instinct, and doing it the way I feel/felt most comfortable with is what I found to be the most important lesson.
The Illustrator: Helena Goddard
Helena’s sensitive approach to mark making and colour palette provide the viewer with beautiful, intricate pieces of work. As an emerging illustrator she is still experimenting with medium and colours, but this is already a strong point to her work and paired with interesting compositions create visually engaging narratives.
How important is drawing to your practice/process? What does the act of drawing mean to you as an artist?
I think drawing is really important in developing a drawing or artwork as it allows you to establish how you want the final outcome to look like. It's also necessary in developing new ideas as well as getting you closer to finding your own style. I think the more you draw, the more you discover what you like to draw and how you like to draw it.
What influences your work?
Definitely nature as well as the female form, rich cultures, oriental art, the things I've experienced while traveling and of course my favourite artists and illustrators.
Do you see process as a means to an end or very much part of your work?
I think it depends on the circumstance, a lot of the time an idea just comes into my mind and I can just produce it straight away without much process involved, however when it comes to projects and things like that, a process is definitely required in developing ideas and working out composition etc.
The Painter: Simon Averill
Simon’s process and sense of repetition within his work is something that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to. The use of contrasting motifs in his work allows the viewer to question the artist’s motive and intent for meaning. His work has a calmness about it, through the use of a non-threatening colour palette and familiar shapes like the circle, the viewer can associate with something which is universal.
What does painting bring to your process that other mediums don't?
Painting is a direct process, the cumulative effect of thousands of decisions and responses are played out in real time. Painting also offers the potential of working in the territory between spontaneity and control.
Describe your process in 5 words.
Controlled, spontaneous, layered, repetitive, changing.
What does process have to do with the overall creation of your work? Is it a means to an end or does it play a part to your overall body of work?
The process is essential. Before starting a painting I will have a plan in mind, however the process of painting will often lead me into uncharted territory. I spend much of my time trying to impose my will upon the paint, but I try and be attuned to recognise the moments when it's important to allow paint to do what paint does. My method is fairly unorthodox in as much as I will try and remove the makers mark. I also use a range of tools that are more often found in a kitchen than in an artist's studio.