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Alex Norwood is an artist living in North carolina here is a selection of his work and interview enjoy

hi tim - here is my interview. Sorry i can’t do webcam/ video. and if you need to tweak any of this, let me know, will be fine.
alex

tim: what are your favorite materials/cameras/etc. to work with

alex: acrylic or oil paints, on canvas; 2 inch brushes or at times, a lomo camera

tim: what artists are you inspired by

alex :The other artists in our SEED gallery collective; Laura Lashley, Millicent Greason, Woodie Anderson, Dave Urena, Kendall Doub, Laurie Russell, Danny Whitmer, Laura Frazier, and Clark Whittington.

tim: boxers or briefs ?

alex: or commando, I like all three.

tim: is there anything else you would like to tell us about your background in regards to how your art has evolved?

alex : There used to be a bit of push and pull between having formal art training vs being in touch with gut feelings/ inspiration. This has to do with always being good in art classes and getting a bachelor of fine arts degree in communication arts and design and then wondering what kind of art to make. I was even scared of color, for a time, but I got over it. I started trusting myself more, and confidence grows.

tim:
this part is for you to ask yourself a question or write
anything fun nonsense anything you want as long as you want

alex : I like the smell of boxwoods.

tim: can you go into detail about your artistic process? How do you begin a piece? When do you know that a piece is finished?

alex : I get ideas all the time regarding some theme or symbols I should paint about. But when I go to paint, I usually get carried away into that non-verbal surface or place of paint and color. I like abstraction, how the brush feels smearing paint around. I run along on automatic for a bit covering the canvas with shapes of color. Then I spend equal time just looking at what I painted to determine what’s next. Knowing when to stop is a big deal, very subjective. It usually is when I’m suddenly happy with some work and the decision tensions are past.

tim: how does contemporary life impact your creative practice?

alex : not sure what to say…I think everything around me flavors the out-come of my paintings and art works. Not long ago, I wrote a book of fictionalized memoirs and that process, and finished product itself, was making art for me. And then the book was a jumping off point for lots of paintings and some installation ideas.

tim: Tell us more about the philosophy behind your art. What motivates you to create?

alex : it’s sort of an itch, eventually I scratch. But that doesn’t sound very philosophical, does it?

tim: If you could create any art installation without regard for expense or effort what would it consist of?

alex : elephants and naked men and miles of colorful fabrics

tim: why did you choose to work in the medium(s) that you use?

alex : acrylics dry faster than oils is the smart ass answer. but I’ve tried out almost every medium I can think of save welding. Making art should always be an exploration into different materials. But the favorites are photo and acrylics.

tim : What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

alex : I collect inspiration every day – I just don’t go to the studio and do anything about it very often. I’m not real disciplined.

tim: What are you working on at this time?

alex : new oil painting on paper with oil pastel drawing combinations.

tim: what is your studio like? Can you go into detail about your studio routine? Do you work in silence– listen to music

alex : I am extremely lucky to have a very large room with giant windows and all my junk. There is a big table and room on the floor. I like it in silence for hours at a time. Then dance or classical music is good.

tim: Do you have any upcoming exhibits? Where readers can view your work? OR .COMS

alex : August 08 is my solo month exhibit at SEED, our coop. I have www.alexnorwood.com but only one photo there. SEED web site is great = seedgallery.org Or the seed myspace has some work of mine; www. myspace. com/seedartists
Also in April i had a show at Canvas Monkey and they carry my art – www.canvasmonkey.com
And i have done a wiki that i like a lot - oplaplaza.pbwiki.com/

tim : What do you do for fun

alex : I love to run and bike and walk the doggies. A great evening is when Matt fixes us dinner and we watch a movie at home.

tim: favorite words ?

alex : service, silence

tim: least favorite words

alex : drunk

tim: favorite color/colors to work with

alex : aqua, turquoise, teal and greens!

tim . do you feel a loss when your work is gone sold given away
etc.

alex : no – I may be attached to work for a while, some more than others, but it passes with time. Then it’s easy to sell.

tim :
What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
alex : One summer I lived with and worked for Beatrice Wood, a potter in California - she who hung out with Marcel Duchamp and helped hang the famous Amory show! She said artists needed to be accurate - in their finances and in their time in the studio. She said you go make art even if you are not real inspired.

She also was big on carob brownies, sex talk, and had a rich spiritual life with lots of eastern influences, but that’s not advice – or is it?

tim: thank you :
alex : thank you – I am honored to be included.

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