DPW Spotlight Interview: Wawan Ms

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Wawan painting, "abstract#558" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Wawan's DPW Gallery:

Hi, I am painter from Ciamis, a small town on Java Island Indonesia. My interest at drawing and painting began in early childhood but started to be neglected during college. And after I got bored working behind a computer as a Mechanical Design Engineer in capital for more than ten years, the joys and passion to paint came up and surrounded my life and made me decide to quit the job, go to my home town and become a full time painter on 2009. As a self-taught painter, I like to explore and do some experiment with many kinds of media such as: acrylic oil, sand, resin, pigment and digital. I'm not confined with one subject area, preferring varies project and media. For small size works mostly I use oil to expose texture, acrylic for bigger size to expose a melt from a aqueous media and sand for delicate a pencil point. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I became interested in drawing in elementary school since seeing a friend who was good at drawing. From there, I tried drawing on some media with friends ranging from making graffiti, t-shirts or greeting cards and it lasted until college.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

After graduating from college and working in the automotive industry I stopped painting. I actually did not really leave the art world because my work is still related to the applied arts, just different media. And after several years of work, I decided to stay in the hometown and gather with family. And there I began to receive orders to paint the face with sand and Arabic calligraphy.

abstract#558
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Wawan's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I like to try various kinds of media ranging from pencils, acrylics, oil, watercolors, pastels, even with beach sand, it all depends on the effect to be achieved, as well as the technique. I do not limit myself. And as for the genre, I think, now I am more comfortable with the abstract style.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I think the one that makes me desperate is the watercolor, because sometimes it is not as expected and can not be repainted.

Lennon
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I am interested in developing natural sand paintings because there are still many possibilities that are produced. And not many people are using sand as an art medium. Also until now I hadn't challenged myself to have to make daily paintings.

Who or what inspires you most?

Most inspiration comes from the surrounding environment, landscape, skies, leaves, bushed. It's not the shape of things which I pay attention to but the colors and light. I like to observe colors. So many colors change even in the same thing, when the position of the light source changes, the wind blows. And surely there are some painters in Indonesia that affect me like Hanafi, Affandi, Srihadi Sudarsono and others.

CF#36
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination comes when you do not know when you have to stop playing with your phone. But the procrastination caused by family affairs is a blessing because you are still needed. :)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Daily painting. Forcing myself to touch the painting media every day, even if just scratching a sketch book.

BBB#38
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

In general the idea comes spontaneously through work, put oil or acrylic on an empty canvas, let the brush or pallet knife continue it. Although the results sometimes don't go as expected or fail.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

When a painting is stumbling, leave it and take a new canvas. If necessary leave the studio and go for a walk.

al#21
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I can manage my own work time so I have more time with family. And also because of my paintings I can have new friends, even outside my country.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am very happy when people are pleased with my work and keep my work as well.

Thanks, Wawan!

© 2017 Sophie Marine