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Spraygraphic Interview with Terry Furry
By Spraygraphic | December 10, 2007
Spraygraphic Interview with Terry Furry
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
TF: I was born in St. Louis Mo. and raised in Northern California. I left home right out of High School to attend Calif. College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA) in Oakland , CA. I moved to Chicago for 6 years, attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I finally received a BFA after too many years of school.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
TF: I live in Oakland, California by Lake Merritt and work in my studio, Swarm Studios Gallery.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
TF: I mostly work in Oil on canvas.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
TF: I have friends pose as if they are having “personal time” for view. I usually take many photos, draw from those and begin working on my canvases.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
TF: It is very unusual for me to be blocked, however I am currently just coming out of that experience. For the past few months I was focused on my new work for my exhibit. Once the show was up, I felt lost and undirected for awhile. This is a common occurrence for artists I believe. I consciously made myself come to my studio, even if it was to think. Eventually, simply being in my studio made me need to resume my art.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
TF: web cams 
SG: Can you tell us a little about your “New Work?”
TF: My current body of work is a departure from my previous portraiture. I am painting in a larger format than in the past, the painting often appearing topographical when viewed up close and figuratively realistic as viewed from a distance. Although continuing to paint in a figurative manner, my current work has an abstract sensibility. My focus at this time is on closely cropped details of the body, depicting a sensuous, erotic nature of man.
SG: How has your subjects change over time?
TF: Last year I was painting commission portraits one after another. This year i promised myself not to take any more commissions for awhile so I can work on work for myself. The subjects have changed from people who you might want to know to paintings where the viewer is an intruder on a private and intimate moment.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
TF: I just took down a show at the Esteban Sabar gallery in Oakland, curated by Carl Wolf titled FULL FRONTAL.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
TF: I am currently in a group show at Swarm Gallery in Oakland titled LITTLE WORKS.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
TF: More like a dream life. How wonderful would it be to be able to support yourself entirely by your artwork?
SG: What is your favorite color?
TF: Dirty green
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
TF: Jenny Saville. That woman can paint! It’s incredible how she paints flesh to look more like flesh than it really is. Her paintings are beautifully grotesque.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
TF: I am currently re reading the journals of Keith Harring.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
TF: I did a self portrait years ago which showed at the Crocker Kingsley Museum in Sacramento. I sold it to buy a car to move to the bay area. As far as i know it still belongs to the original buyer.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
TF: My studio.
SG: Any final words of advice?
TF: No advice… just always follow your heart.
Topics: Artist Interviews |
February 25th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Ryan Designer…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….