— We wrapped up our second year of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine in February (Issue No. 24), with cover and feature by “AWAKE” artist Phil Clark — easily one of the most exciting artists in our group. His complex compositions (often assembled from hundreds of layers) are an inspiration to see. It’s exciting to finally be able to interview Phil here on Quill and Camera …
Q. What got you started in digital photo artistry?
About seven years ago I started drawing and painting. I would go on the internet to find subjects and tutorials. I eventually discovered a cool thing called art applications! Which of course lead me right to Photoshop, and from there I was forever hooked. Then, about three years ago, I got my first camera and I knew this is what I was meant to do.
Q. What inspires your work?
Simply put, great art inspires me more than anything else. I see an incredible amount of amazing art within the AWAKE Facebook group. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there seems to be more and more great creations showing up every single day. You can’t help but be inspired by what’s going on there! Also, I’m certainly inspired by the great traditional artists — Renoir, Monet, Rembrandt ,and Vermeer. And of course also by top digital artists like Rusty McDonald, Karim Fakhoury, and Cheryl Tarrant. All these inspire me greatly.
Something else that brings me inspiration in my work is life itself really. I mean, come on, it’s a miracle we are even here in this unexplainable universe, sitting here talking about making art! Just that sparks my imagination in so many ways.
Q. What does living an artistic life mean to you?
For me, an artistic life comes down to doing what I love to do. I’ve been living that life for the last seven years. But I didn’t know it fully until I enrolled in Photoshop Artistry and then in AWAKE. Life has become an amazing journey for me, instead of just an existence spent searching for some kind of elusive fulfillment. My artistic life now is about exploring my creative side with excitement and wonder. Experiencing the unconditional joy of living in the moment. And finding beauty there.
Q. Your images are so powerful, and obviously require a LOT of hours to pull off. How do you generally approach your work?
I have a very methodical approach toward building my compositions. And once I have a piece basically established, and I’m satisfied with the tone and feel of it, things seem to shift into slow motion. At that point I get out of the way and let my Muse step in. (And she refuses to be rushed!)
I’m asked occasionally how long it takes to finish a piece. But I consider that irrelevant. Someone else creating the same piece might take half the time; someone else might take twice as long. That doesn’t matter. What matters is being there and getting the work done. And we all have our own flow.
I’ve established a process I use to begin most pieces. (The obvious exception is when I’m trying something new and different on purpose, to experiment in some new way.) But basically it involves lowering the saturation, creating a certain tone, and establishing a light source. With that established, I can then take the composition in many directions … experimenting with the endless resources at my fingertips as I explore new ways of evolving my art and style.
Q. Your work is already so polished and distinct. What do you wish to do next?
I want to improve the skills I have and continue to learn new techniques … then strive to master those. With every piece I finish, I say to myself, it could have been better … There are other styles I see (for example in the AWAKE group, all the time) and I want to learn to master some of those eventually as well. I know the candy is there whenever I feel ready to indulge.
Q. Any advice or tips for other artists eager to improve?
First and foremost, if you’re not enrolled in AWAKE already, it’s imperative that you do so at the first opportunity! It only opens twice a year. You’ve gotta get in. Beyond that, I know this sounds awful, but you’ve got to do your homework! Study the stuff. Then you can go outside and play and have the time of your life! Seriously, study the course training and find a technique and style that excites you, and then throw yourself into seeing how far you can take it. Mastering this stuff may take awhile, but don’t give up. You’ll know when you find it, and when you do, your art will soar!