“A lot of the characters I’ve painted are fantasy portraits based on real people and subconsciously I think I incorporate physical and emotional aspects of myself.” – Interview with Andre Serfontein.
Where are you from?
I was born in a small town on the west coast of South Africa called Kleinzee and my adult life in Cape Town.
Could you tell us a bit about your backgroung? Falmily, childhood, how you get interested art…
Growing up in a small town gave me absolute freedom to roam and explore my environment and get close to nature. My exposure to art was minimal but I cant remember a time that I didn’t draw, its just something that I have always enjoyed doing. Neither of my parents are artistic but they always encouraged me and would buy me different art materials to experiment with. My bedroom was like my gallery, my walls were always covered in poster and artwork that I made.
Did you study paint? If not, how you recognized your talent?
After school I studied graphic design with a strong bias towards illustration. After studying I worked for various advertising agencies but always continued painting and also took an interest in sculpting.
Do you paint self portraits?
Lately I’ve been thinking more and more about painting a self portrait again. My first self portrait was painted when I was a student and another a few years after that, so I think it might be time for another. A lot of the characters I’ve painted are fantasy portraits based on real people and subconsciously I think I incorporate physical and emotional aspects of myself.
Some of your painting are surrealist, some photogralistic and some really classic. What makes you to paint in different styles?
When I find an image that I find inspiring, I reinterpret the image by redrawing it without too much of a preconceived idea but allowing the process to lead me while keeping in mind what inspired me in the first place and as I paint I allow the painting and each mark to guide me to the next and if it starts feeling a little contrived I scratch, rub or splash paint onto the painted surface just to see what happens and what the paint reveals. I paint in whatever style best lends itself the mood of a painting.
Do you paint after model or after photo? Which one do you prefer?
I think its important to work from life and gain a better understanding of the human figure, to develop my observational skills and regularly draw and paint live models. Even if one distorts a figure the distortion has to make some anatomical sense. When I paint from life I am fascinated how direct and indirect light moulds the planes and curves on a face or body . The more you look the more you see all kinds of colour and tonal subtleties which you tend to loose in photographs. But ultimately I think I enjoy the process of changing and distorting the figures into my own versions and characters
Do you paint only people? If yes, what makes a face or body more interesting for you as nature or animals?
I prefer painting people, I suppose one forms an easier and more direct connection with another person but I like adding plants and landscapes into the paintings as background elements Over the last couple of months I have been going into nature and making small landscape painting which I’ve really enjoyed for much the same reason as drawing live models, it is also an amazing feeling to be part of the environment and to be emerged in the subject experiencing mood. light and colours first hand.
Who is your dream collaborator?
When it comes to the creative process I work better on my own and haven’t really pursued collaborations with other artists but have an open mind about it. That being said I have particularly enjoyed using Ryan Bakers’ (@inatticlight)photographs, he uses natural lighting. his models are all good looking but more regular guys very distinctive characters, features and flaws. Ryan has been very kind in helping me with additional images when I requested them. Of all the models I have seen, Justin Schlabach is definitely the one I would absolutely love to paint, apart from his physical beauty he has a serenity and calmness about him that I would love to capture. Maybe I’ll make it to New York again one day and attend one of the classes he models in.
Find more: @andreserfontein