Interview

Oct 21

Ric Conn

Ric started in art when he was 5 years old, when he discovered shadows and modeling. He threw down the coloring book onto the floor, and he told his mother that he was going to be an artist when he grew up and here he is! Ric started drawing freehand on paper that his father had brought home from work and he drew everything in the kitchen, he used his arm as a model so that he could draw people.

What inspires you?

“I am inspired by the way I feel about my life and social concerns mostly.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“The themes I pursue are women’s empowerment and equality, social problems, mental health and psychological issues. I will increase awareness on these issues.”

How would you describe your work?

“I work both in abstract and figurative. My work is expressionistic, I have no interest in realism, my paintings are psychological in concept working in series.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Artists like Picasso, Munch, the German expressionists, Matisse, Toulouse Lautrec and Pollock inspire me.”

What is your creative process like?

“With my figurative work, I start with an idea, then I build a composition to relate the story of the painting. I paint the figures in color other than skin tones, also when I paint women I do not include the sexual aspects of them, I don’t put in the breasts or any other distinguishing features, nor do I usually put in faces. I want the viewer to look at the painting, study the story and not look at people. I was talking to a psychologist once and he told me that men look at the girls in the painting, with the male gaze, and women compare themselves to the girls. My abstract work is intuitive abstract, meaning I start painting then ideas come from the abstract composition I created.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“Picasso said that art is not to adorn walls, it is a weapon. I believe wholeheartedly in that and use that mantra in all of my own work. I believe all artists should adhere to it. My work is to address and if necessary attack perpetrators as in my equality series. I am working toward making people aware of the social problems and psychological issues.”