Interview
Raz Forh
Raz is a self-taught painter from Sacramento, CA with less than a year of experience.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I don’t have an art background really other than grade school. I started painting 10 months ago just playing around. When I finished my first painting, I noticed the potential I could unlock and that began my journey of painting daily.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“The goal of my work is not to ‘say’ anything honestly, the main goal of my pieces is to evoke a feeling. Whether it be joy, triumph, revenge, fear, sadness that's the main goal. I want you to feel what you may imagine the characters in my piece might be feeling. As far as social or political issues, I try to steer clear of issues in general, so I keep my opinions on society and politics out of my art.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I definitely plan my pieces in advance but if a jolt of inspiration hits me mid piece, I'll answer the call.”
“The main goal of my pieces is to evoke a feeling. Whether it be joy, triumph, revenge, fear, sadness that's the main goal. ”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“No. But I am a fan of the artist Slawn's movement at the moment. I love his approach and the art world's response to him just doing his thing. It's fun to watch.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I tend to think of something and draw it in my mind first, then I find the right size canvas that will be able to capture the scenario. From there I begin sketching and erasing, once that’s done we paint. I don’t have a lot of techniques because I'm still new to painting but I do love to work in alla prima. With acrylic it gives me the ability to blend like I'm using oil. I love that. My materials are just the regular, nothing too fancy. I just like to buy a new pack of brushes every time I get excited about a piece.”
What does your art mean to you?
“To me art is kind of like making the unseen seen. The encapsulation of emotions. In lament terms, I believe that through art the things we can't ‘touch’ but can only explain, can now be displayed. That may sound a little spaced out, but I'll just leave it to the readers interpretation.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“My favorite artwork is probably Caravaggio's Medusa or The Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel or Death and the Soldier by Hans Larwin. They're all dark pieces but the ‘encapsulation of emotions’ that I favor in art and mentioned earlier is prevalent in all three of these works. They make me feel something.”
Instagram: @razforh
