{"id":22048,"date":"2017-09-14T13:21:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-14T13:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artzealous.com\/?p=22048"},"modified":"2017-09-14T13:21:45","modified_gmt":"2017-09-14T13:21:45","slug":"5-minutes-with-long-beach-based-artist-alex-gardner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artzealous.com\/5-minutes-with-long-beach-based-artist-alex-gardner\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Minutes With Long Beach-Based Artist Alex Gardner"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hole<\/a>\u00a0recently announced\u00a0RomCom<\/em>, a solo exhibition of 15 new acrylic on linen paintings by\u00a0Alex Gardner<\/a>\u00a0that will run from September 7\u00a0through October 15, 2017. The works on view consist of abstracted figures posed in pastel environments, composed using subtle gradients and tonal shifts. Together they represent a silent but dramatic romantic comedy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We caught up with Gardner to discuss his use of pastels, creative process, and his candid morning routine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: Morning routine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drink water -> Eat -> Make coffee -> Drink half of it in my backyard soaking in the delectable rays of the Southern California sun -> Drink the other half while looking at the two emails I got,\u00a0feel anxious and not respond -> Poop -> Shower<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: What do you like to read?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don’t read a lot to be honest.\u00a0 It’s embarrassing.\u00a0 I’ve been playing catch up with all the European and American classics in fiction for the last ten years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ:\u00a0Have you ever wanted to do anything other than become an artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a trick question.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Self Portrait<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AZ: Could you tell us a little about your background and growing up in LA? Has it informed your artistic practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No doubt growing up in the LA area has informed my practice.\u00a0 It’s all an extension of myself and we’re all just a result of our upbringing and genealogy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: What is your creative process like? Do you know what you\u2019re going to create before you start working?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visually speaking, I always have an idea of the composition and the direction of light when I begin.\u00a0 I figure out the colors as I’m working.\u00a0 I don’t make comprehensive studies, so these things change a lot as I’m working.\u00a0 As for the subject matter, everything is gathered outside of the studio when I’m taking time away from working and am out and about.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: Is there something that draws you to pastels environments?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a painting, you’re really limited with what you have to express an idea.\u00a0 With representational work, it’s obviously easier to get ideas across, but color is such a major tool in expressing the intangible things like emotion, feeling and mood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Auditions in the frozen food section<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AZ: The body parts are not anatomically correct, but we are particularly drawn to the hands in your paintings. Is there a specific body part that is more difficult for you to visualize than others?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hardest thing for me to sort out is the clothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: Your titles are somewhat removed, like \u201cthe ceiling fan was useless,\u201d \u201cno kissing on the pilgrimage,\u201d or \u201cforgot my wallet.\u201d Yet the works are so emotive. How do you see the relationship between the titling\u00a0and the work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The titles are basically inside jokes with myself.\u00a0 They’re meant to reflect the subject matter in the work though.\u00a0 Just in a very roundabout, whimsical and somewhat cryptic way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: Favorite art space in NYC?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I really can’t say because I haven’t had the chance to visit 97% of them but The Hole is cool, and I hear there’s a rather fun show there until the\u00a015th of October.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Forgot my wallet<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AZ: Words to live by?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You’re gonna die either way so fuck it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AZ: Best way to stay in touch?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My instagram handle is @artposer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

all images \/\/ courtesy of the artist<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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