Platform asked you, members of the OU community, to submit your questions to British painter and honorary graduate of The Open University Jack Vettriano. We received hundreds of questions and whittled them down to these. Here are his responses:
I know nothing about art... where do I start?
(submitted by Richard Harrison)
I’m assuming that you wish to find out about art and I cannot recommend anything more highly than visiting as many art galleries as possible – especially the national collections. By introducing yourself to as much work as possible, you’ll begin to awake your senses to what attracts your eye and you’ll home in on certain techniques or effects that you will want to try yourself. Make notes, go in your lunch breaks and don’t just limit yourself to the big national galleries, visit the collections in your local area. I spent hours and hours at the Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery, which has a fantastic collection of Scottish art and was on my doorstep. Once you begin to discover what you personally like or a style that you wish to know more about, there will be books and, of course, the internet to search.
How important is the title of a painting?
(submitted by Elaine Garrett)
For a narrative painter like myself, it’s very important. You can build a painting with backgrounds, objects or even the style of clothing that your models are wearing but, for me, words are just as important. If you are aware of my work, you will know that I like to use lyrics as titles for my work. To me, nothing tells me more about what I am trying to achieve than by the title. Often I’ll hear a song, and pick up on a certain lyric which will trigger an image that I would like to paint. An example of this would be the Leonard Cohen lyric, “Dance Me to the End of Love” where I wondered, what would that look like? I’ve recently finished reading a biography of Elvis Presley, called Careless Love which I thought would make a great title for a painting. What happens when your affections become careless and you just don’t work as hard at your relationship as perhaps you should? What could that look like? So for me, the title of a painting is very important.
You paint mostly brunette or dark haired women. Why?
(submitted by Ed)
Quite simply, because I paint what personally moves me, and I’m mostly attracted to brunettes.
Was the large price-tag on your art always your intention?
(submitted by Fiona Coles)
Never my intention and I don’t think it is any artist’s intention when they start out, that they will achieve as you say, “a large price-tag”. For me, I was just thrilled that people liked my work and wanted to hang the work in their homes. I just had a strong desire to paint and the feeling I had when I discovered that my first solo exhibition had sold out, was indescribable. It was a real turning point for me and motivated me to keep going and work harder. I have been very lucky.
Is there such a thing as an original idea left?
(submitted by Lloyd)
I think and hope that there has to be. I think that there are many opportunities out there, just waiting to be discovered.
As a lad from Fife what do you REALLY think of the art world?
(submitted by Alan Carlam)
I think that the art world is a business like any other industry but for me, it’s magical as it allowed me to convert my hobby into a full-time job. I’m often drawn into the debate about the art world and I think it’s best to let others do the talking.
If a person lacks natural talent, can they be formally taught?
(submitted by Louise Howell)
I think everyone can be taught the techniques – light and shade, form and structure but I think what you cannot teach people is imagination and creativity. So that is the difference between learning to put paint on a canvas and painting a subject that sparks yours and other people’s imagination. I would like to be a great ballroom dancer and I’ve started taking lessons to learn the techniques, but it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be a world champion (although that would be fantastic!)
Who (alive or dead) would you like to dine with?
(submitted by Louise Wright)
Has to be Leonard Cohen because I’ve admired him for years and I’m a huge fan. He’s a wonderful poet and songwriter and his work moves and inspires me.
Does modern art still have the capacity to surpriseshock?
(submitted by Philip Hayden)
Yes.
If you had never sold a painting, would you still paint?
(submitted by Didi Philips)
I would like to think I would be as when I was starting out, my painting was a hobby that gave me great pleasure. My motivation was the enjoyment I achieved through painting and yes, if my work had never sold, it would be disheartening but I don’t think it would have stopped me.
If you had to paint James Bond how would you paint him? 1960s Bond or modern day?
(submitted by Stuart Gibbard)
It would have to be the 1960s Bond. His dress sense with the knitted ties and the fact that he had his cigarettes made, I remember harbouring this thought how nice it must be to order your own Turkish cigarettes and be just like James Bond. For a wee lad from Fife, he really was the bees knees. He was very suave and sophisticated.
For more information visit: www.jackvettriano.com
Picture credit: Fredi Marcarini
