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Interview in Art of England Magazine, June 2011Johnny Morant has been making a name for himself with paintings inspired by the city around him. His progressive interpretation of traditional themes suggests this is an artist worth keeping an eye on. David Packard delves into the mind of this up and coming figurative painter to find what drives him.. Since leaving art school in 2005 you have been exhibiting widely in group exhibitions and you are currently embarking on your second solo exhibition here in London. Lets look back to what first motivated you to pick up a brush. Does the same impulsion still drive you today?I always remember feeling a need to create. Throughout my education this manifested in various forms of art and design but always returned to drawing and painting. I dont feel I am really achieving anything unless I have something physical to show for it. It has something to do with being able to constantly evaluate what I am creating. This initial motivation is sustained by a passion for my subject matter. Im a visual person and I can get excited over the subtlest fall of light or symmetry found in a reflection. Its not something I can really pin down but I find myself noticing things while others walk on I think we all see the world differently.Do you set out with the aim of achieving specific goals in a certain time frame? Do you enjoy this process or see it as an obstacle to overcome?Like most painters Im concerned with the progression of my visual language -developing the skills to describe my vision in a form that can be interpreted by others -basically a way of showing how I see. I have deadlines to meet and exhibitions to prepare for but I let my paintings develop at their own pace. There are good days and bad days, painting will never become easy, in fact its the struggle that I depend on. I think an important part of my process is the constant correction and reworking that brings me closer to the vision I had in mind at the outset. I inevitably fall short of this vision but what I learn from each mistake leads me closer to achieving it next time this is what keeps me painting.How deliberate is the development of your style.I dont really like the word style. It implies too much consideration of how your work will be received. If I express what inspires me and apply paint with my own experience, the outcome can only be my own. I believe a concern for style can limit experimentation. What I paint today may be different to what I paint tomorrow and that keeps it exciting.Where do you find your inspiration and how do you progress from an initial idea?I think initially I respond to my surroundings. Youll see much of my work describes a moment when light, colour and action all fall into place. There are elements that I often return to such as direct sunlight, foreshortened shadows and the abstraction found in reflections. My smaller works are often an instant response to these situations. I find it useful to gather small oil sketches, drawings and photographs while exploring a chosen subject. If this preliminary work is promising then I may apply it to a larger scale. At this point my approach becomes more considered and other concerns arise such as narrative, tonal balance and juxtaposition of colours. One success can lead to a string of related work as I try to pin point what it is that made a painting work. How has your work developed over the two years since your last solo exhibition here in London?I think my palette has matured along with my handling of subtle tones. During the early stages of a painting my brush marks are more expressive. I like to exploit these first moments when only positive mistakes can be made. As a work progresses and my marks require more control, I try to avoid being too precious in my application of paint. I am still excited by the same subjects but I feel more capable of expressing what it is that really grabs me.What plans do you have for the future?I want to travel, I think it is important to present myself with fresh challenges. I am currently planning a trip to the Far East, starting with Hong Kong, I want to immerse myself in new environments to see where my painting can take me.
COPYRIGHT JOHNNY MORANT 2010
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