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Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Jim Stoten
By Spraygraphic | May 12, 2008
Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Jim Stoten
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
JS: My name is Jim. I am 27, tall, blue eyes, lots of hair, beard.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
JS: I live in Finsbury Park with my girlfriend. I work in a small sectioned off area in our living room. Its where I keep all my books, toys, tapes, cds, drawings and materials.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
I work with felt tip pens, biros, fineliners and paper.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
JS: I usually sit down with a vague idea of something that I am excited about getting down on paper. I make some coffee, put some music on or a film or a box set of some kind of BBC comedy series, and then I just do it. Occasionally, I stop for more coffee.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
JS: I hate blocks. I find them incredibly frustrating. I mope around for a couple of days in a mood, waiting for some unsuspecting soul to ask me whats wrong. I vent to that poor person about creative blocks and the pain and suffering that they cause. It takes me a couple of days to properly relax and feel the benefit, then I can go again. Usually, within all of that I am drawing in my sketchbook from time to time.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
JS: My goals.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about your Sketchbook (found on your website) How many pages is it? How long did it take to do?
JS: I have a few different sketchbooks on the go at the moment. I have one devoted to character development, one devoted to collage work, one devoted to my growing collection of tin foils from easter eggs and chocolate Santas that have faces printed on them, and one devoted to just general drawing for on buses and trains.
SG: Is there one page that is really memorable to you? If so, why?
JS: I have a sketchbook that is particularly memorable. I took it to New York last summer. I took it everywhere and drew everywhere in it. It was my companion. I am going to go again this summer and take a new one.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about your book.
JS: It started as a time filler when I didn’t have any work. It was very difficult to justify to myself, because I knew it would never make me any money and at that time all I needed was money, but somehow I persisted with it. It took me nearly 2 years. It was also a master-class in narrative and contextualising my work. I had been told by a lot of people around that time that my work didn’t really make much sense, and that I needed to create a world for it all to sit in. It was also the first time I had worked to a story of any kind. It was basically an exercise in self discipline in every sense because I just wanted to give it up and do something else pretty much the whole way through, but it just got to the point where I had spent so much time on it that I just needed to finish it.
SG: Can you please tell us about your relationship with the band Gomez. How many covers have you done for them?
JS: I did 4 covers for them 1 album, and 3 singles. Unfortunately, I am not in contact with them. The last time I saw them was backstage at a gig they played in Brighton. I got drunk and a little bit stoned and invited myself to one of their weddings. I was an idiot and I think I scared them off. I had just graduated and it was my first job. It went to my head a bit I think. I am alright now though.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
JS: Gomez records, lots of magazines, the guardian, t shirts, posters, postcards, exhibitions, lots of different places.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
JS: At the moment, I am working on a series of a2 lithographic prints to sell on my website (which is being revamped). Its very exciting and very scary. I am also working on a series of fanzines called ‘not this world’ which are about things that do not exist in this world. The first issue is about transport. Modes of transport that do not exist in this world. It should all be up for sale and live in about a month…hopefully.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
JS: "hi jim. We want to pay you a large amount of money every year for you to draw really big amazing drawings for us."
SG: What is your favorite color?
JS: Breen…(this is not a typo)
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
JS: Henry Darger because he spent his whole entire life on one project which he worked on constantly without leaving his room.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
JS: I tried to read Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking but after the ninth time of him telling me that I never enjoyed smoking and how smoking doesn’t relax me and how I am strange wanting to continue smoking, I just wanted to punch him the face, full power. I have never read such a smug and arrogant transcript. I quit smoking 8 weeks ago almost to prove to Allen carr that I do not need to be ’saved’ by him.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
JS: Yup, I do them all the time. I draw me and my friends and family usually when I draw big crowds of people or versions of me and my friends and family.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
JS: With my girlfriend and my friends. Doesn’t matter where.
SG: Any final words of advice?
JS: Work hard and be patient. It could be speeding towards you round the next corner.
Additional Links:
Heart Agency
ART: 1. Collage, 2. Cream, 3. Not this world cover, 4. untitled, 5. sketch book 72
Topics: Artist Interviews, International-Art, Pencil Drawings |
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