Interview with Dave Thomas
I am a self-taught artist based in the Bedfordshire countryside and have been creating artwork for the last 10 years. My passion flows from the sense of escapism and tranquility that surrounds me when creating each piece of artwork.
To date, I have completed many one-off pieces, collections, and commissions. The crowning glory for me is when someone is emotionally moved by my artwork.
I feel honoured to have exhibited my artwork internationally and connected with many artists and curators along the way, which is extremely fulfilling and rewarding.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
Staying fluid with an open mind really helps to reduce my own boundaries and stay flexible in both my life and artwork. I love to research and explore many styles of art from figurative, abstract, contemporary, and traditional. This is intrinsic both in my mindset and range of artwork.
How do you go about beginning a new piece? Do you have an idea already in mind, or do you start working with materials or sketches to find the departure point?
I always start the year out with a plan, and like all good plans, everything changes! I genuinely welcome this as I often find that when I am working on a collection, many more ideas form in my head. So, in most cases, my artwork is built up from a concept to a sketch, then onto a painting. However, there have been times where I have literally put paint to canvas from an idea in my head and let it go where it needs to. “Together Forever” and “The Colonel” are prime examples of this.
When do you think your most prolific time of day or week is?
For me, mindset is the key driver for this. Once you accept that being an artist is not a 9-5 vocation, it’s more a way of life. When I was working in a career role, my most prolific time was always the morning. My head was more alert and attention to detail came a lot easier at the beginning of the day. Now as an artist, I use this “head” energy for social media and website activity. The afternoons and evenings are more prolific for me as this is when I switch off from the electronic world and become absorbed in my artwork.
What is a barrier you as an artist overcame? Is there anything that enabled you to develop your work as an artist in your life?
I guess the biggest barrier I faced was doubting that my artwork was good enough to share with the world. Recognising and accepting that I am my own worst critic was a key step for me. The challenge was then to manage it in such a way that I could continue to challenge myself to do better, whilst appreciating the positives I have achieved with each piece of artwork. Every now and again, I create a piece which ends up in the bin. Rather than dwell on a “failure”, I reflect on what went wrong? Why it went wrong? I then use this experience as “learning”, which makes my artwork stronger.
Did you have an idea of what you wanted to create right from the beginning?
I knew I wanted to create a range of artwork predominantly in monochrome with a flash of vibrant colour, as when you strip colour out of a piece, the details reveal themselves beautifully, and the colour draws the eye into the pierce. Having spent many hours in art galleries and museums all over Europe, I love being captured by a piece which makes me want to stand back and study its meaning and emotion for a time. It is this element which I strive to build into each piece I create for people to see and feel for themselves.
What is the meaning or creative inspiration for your work? We’re curious what the narrative or story is to what you are producing?
Each piece I create has its own back story and/or meaning. However, the creative inspiration which encompasses all my work as a total, is to strive to capture “the moment”.
For example, “Together Forever” depicts a couple in a romantic embrace at the edge of a boardwalk. The boardwalk is heavily textured which depicts the rough journey they may have had leading up to this special moment. The sky is made up of broken cloud with no visible sun as the couple are the focus point in this piece. Surrounding the boardwalk could be mist over water, or cloud. The red umbrella in the centre of this large monochrome piece, provides privacy for the embracing couple, and draws the eye of viewer into the artwork.
Each piece I create, has my own meaning built into it. However, I always try to leave some elements open to interpretation for the viewer to form their own meaning.
Besides your artworks, are there any other things in life that your voice as an artist may consider vital or valuable? What makes you joyful and creative, in other words?
I don’t own a watch! Sounds a little crazy right? For me this was the catalyst to freeing my mind from the boundaries of time and expectations. The same can be said for electronic devices. They are forever trying to steal your time by flashing or beeping at you, and often succeed. We are in a digital world. A world which is growing smaller and technology faster by the day.
Once I was able to break free of the time factor and control the amount of time spent interfacing with electronic devices, I was truly able to live and breathe in the moment. To see and appreciate the things around me. For example, now when walking the dogs, I take the time to appreciate the sunrise, see and hear the wildlife, rather than rush back for a set time. This in turn creates more head space and allows creativity to grow. It also helps when I inevitably reach a creativity block with my work. I simply step away from the negative energy zone, go do something else, then come back with a clear head and a positive approach.
Are there any exhibitions or places where people can see these beautiful creations in person soon? Anything on the horizon?
2021 was a very busy year for me with international exhibitions (8 in total). At this stage, I have several target exhibitions which I will be aiming for during 2022, and these will likely be set up by the end of March. My best advice would be to keep an eye on my Instagram page for updates.
Website: https://www.phantomart.online
