Interview
Rob Slack
Rob Slack, owner of Surreal Arts Factory has had an interest in art from a young age, always creating with his first published drawing in his Kindergarden school calendar. Studying art history, painting, photography and music through secondary School of the Arts, and graphic design in college, he was very interested in oil painting, surrealism style in particular. Creating many oil paintings through his teens and twenties, exhibiting in a number of cafes and live painting on beaches in Vancouver, selling a few works through this process. His work has always delved into psychological and spiritual realms, often celebrating nature and the divine feminine, always fascinated by deeper meaning, hidden imagery and truth. Inspiration from many worldly travels can be seen in his work, while raising a family life took over, rarely did brushes emerge.
During this period, Rob’s creativity was in his swimming pool construction company, design renderings and building many unique waterscapes of concrete and stone, natural rock waterfalls being the most creative expression in these projects. In recent years with renewed enthusiasm to brushes and vibrant oil paints have come back alive, incorporating 3D elements into paintings with use of cement and metal. Designing and facilitating a number of community murals for festivals/events and performed live painting at more than a dozen events in the past couple years. His website gallery offers original works, prints and merch for sale worldwide. Rob is planning an elaborate gallery experience of his new works to open this spring. With the success and enthusiasm of participants attending community painting events, he is now launching a series of workshops and classes with the intent of opening up peoples creativity and talents in a smaller more intimate directed fashion.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I had an interest in art and building things from a young age, with my first published drawing in the school calendar in kindergarten. In school I gravitated to art, music, photography and creative writing, attending a high-school of the arts. I took a fond interest in surrealism and other styles that manifested around the time of the cameras invention, when the role of artist was challenged by the new technology. I was fascinated by the creativity that took hold and began my journey as a painter, learning to challenge myself both in the creation of compelling imagery and the offering of the internal emotion and psychology that breathes life into this type of work.”
What inspires you?
“I often take time to stop and observe nature, people, situations see things that are often unobserved. The slowing down of the mind and relieving of tasks, to become in an observational mode is where my creativity finds substance. Having experienced many excitements, hardships and challenges has made me capable of connecting dots and seeing through surface and into the depths, which I have much ability to channel into descriptive imagery. Sharing the creative process and helping others to express themselves gives me joy and drives me to delve deeper into my own creativity and stride forward with purpose and drive. A deep understanding of psychology, patterns and how we fit into the world around us is something I strive to share in my works.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Spiritual growth and an understanding of our inner workings, why we are how we are and how we can improve our relationship with the world around us as well as with ourself is a theme that resonates with me. I like to look towards personal growth which requires release of much of the material aspects of our world we are taught to embrace and cherish. There are no limits to what we can achieve when we can look past preconceived concepts that have been fed to us, looking past the surface to release ourselves from the burdens, expectations, addictions and concepts that hold us prisoner. My art is less about beauty and more about concepts and storytelling.”
How would you describe your work?
“Surreal, spiritual and flowing in bright colors and textures. I like to add 3-D elements both through use of thick paint application and adding cements, metal and other elements to increase the complexity of my work.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Salvador Dali, Piccaso, MC Escher, as well as Van Gogh and Klimt are all big influences.”
What is your creative process like?
“My concepts for my paintings usually come from deep contemplation of feelings or concepts which are important to me, which I will ruminate and meditate on. Often the imagery to illustrate certain concepts or ideas will pop into my head as a finished piece, most detail becoming very clear instantaneously. Rough sketches will help to plot the ideas and more bulk usually transpires through the process of transferring the mental constructs to canvas. Music and motion help to bring life and animation to my work.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe the artist is here to challenge notions and expose truth that is hidden. At this point in time the artist must reinvent their artform to overshadow the works that are being created by AI, like when the camera was invented we must take this as a challenge to create new ways of expression that cannot be copied or mimicked by these machines and the lazy folk who feed their creativity to them. The true artist will emerge above with this as a challenge rather than an impedance.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I am planning an immersive exhibition of my works this year. Most of my exhibition of work in the recent past has been at live events where I display pieces and either create paintings live or with others facilitating community painting projects. I have a current exhibit through February with Art Boxy showing a number of paintings digitally at the Quebec City ‘Galerie Le Chien D'or.’”
Website: www.surrealartsfactory.com
Instagram: @surrealartsfactory
