IN CONVERSATION WITH ... CRAIG GUTHRIE

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of your art, Craig. Over the time that I have known you, the subject matter of your work has changed, your exquisite attention to detail has not. What has drawn you to hyper-realism as your mode of artistic expression?

Well, first of all ... Thank you very much Lynn. I think anyone that sends their art out into the world feels a little vulnerable, and I’ve always appreciated your feedback and encouragement.

I’ve always been curious as to why I paint in the style I do, and I’m not entirely sure why. I would have to say that I half chose the style and the style half chose me.

About ten years ago when I start painting my own work, I decided to paint in the style of realism to challenge myself, but also to show people that I could paint. I knew that approaching galleries as a name they had never heard of meant that the work needed to speak for itself. Realism is interesting in that way because the viewer knows what you are trying to accomplish and the “success” of the piece may be more apparent, but it also means there is nowhere to hide.

So, I began painting in the style of realism and discovered that there was so much abstraction, discovery, and room for self expression within the style. It’s not just about reproduction, you can bring your voice to it.

Through all my work I’ve tried to find a challenging moment of light, or an unlikely relationship of colours. Through challenging myself to find these details in my work it has opened up my eyes to the world around me. It has become how I see things, and how I discover what I want to share.

Craig Guthrie with his work - "rocks, water, lichen, moss, and what was left unsaid"

Artists are often asked to donate their work in support of worthy organizations within their communities. Your generosity of spirit is vast. What inspires you to do this?

The short answer is: It’s what I can give.

And because you know me, you know there is also a longer answer.

A lot of my art is about nature, the environment and relationships in the world around us. And if there is one thing studying those relationships has taught me, it is that we are all connected. Strong communities grow when we take care of each other. So when the pandemic hit in 2020 I was amazed at how we acted together so quickly. We all stayed home and stayed safe. It also became obvious that there were Londoners that could not be safe because they did not have homes to go to.

I certainly did not know how to help, but I knew there were organizations in London that did. There is an incredible fund raiser in London called UPwithART that raises money for the Unity Project and Museum London. These organizations provide services for Londoners experiencing homelessness, and also children’s art programs.

I could not personally give much money, but I could give my art to UPwithART.

Also, I am a Resident Artist at TAP Centre for Creativity right in the heart of downtown London. During my residency at TAP an affordable studio space has been provided to me. This opportunity has been invaluable to me and my work. Giving back to downtown London is critical to my practice.

Did you have a mentor as you were developing your craft? Have you been a mentor to other artists? How important is it to support others as they work to deepen their artistic talents?

I suppose I would be considered “self taught”, but aren’t we all?

The reality is I have learned something from every painter I’ve met.

My day-job has been working as a Scenic Artist in theatre. The job usually involves working on very large projects with a team of artists. I have been lucky to work alongside, and look over the shoulders of many incredible painters. Everyone paints differently, I think sometimes creating your own style is about how you assemble the thousands of lessons you’ve learned from others.

Being an artist really is about creating your own path with the tools you’ve borrowed.

Everyone I know, everything I have, where I live, what I do each day is all possible because of art. I never underestimate the power of it.

Painting is often about being in a room alone for hours. I don’t know if I’m the only one, but this is not the ideal environment for me to build confidence. So, I do feel we need to break through this isolation and support each other. Art is the fabric of our communities, it’s what we leave behind and we really should be encouraging each other to make art. No one can make someone else’s art, so it isn’t a competition. Let’s support each other. Likes are free, hand them out, fuel each other. I’m always happy to share knowledge that I’ve learned, like those that shared it with me.

The pieces you have created for the PRIDE Art Show on July 14th at Jonathon Bancroft Snell's Gallery are vibrant, whimsical, and seem to jump right off the canvas. Were they as fun to create as they appear? Where did the inspiration come from? Will there be more?

Haha! Yes! They were a lot of fun, and I suppose ultimately that was the point.

I haven’t been a part of the Pride Art Show before, but it seems to me that Pride is once again becoming very important.

It’s my responsibility to say that I am a gay London artist. Visibility matters, young gay Londoners need to see themselves represented in their community.

So yes, these paintings are supposed to be a bit cheeky, a lot queer, and bridge the style of realism into pop art. The colours are meant to shake me (and hopefully others) out of these last few years. I do hope to continue this body of work.

What don't people know about you that you wish they did? What quiet things are you doing in the background that you feel strongly about?

I think most people don’t know that I’m actually very shy, and yet my favourite thing is getting to know people. I prefer one-on-one time over a room full of people.

As for my work, I think most people don’t realize that I start every single piece with absolutely no idea how to paint it. Painting is like a puzzle. Discovering “how”to paint something is actually what painting is. The rest is knowing when to stop.