We had the pleasure of interviewing SINGULART artist, Dominic Brown, to discuss his inspiriation and process for his multi-layered and multi-technique paintings.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My name is Dominic Brown, and I was born in and currently live in The Hague, Netherlands.
How would you describe the kind of work you make?
I use the term “new mixed media paintings” since I combine traditional techniques, like drawing and painting, with more modern ones, like photography, and computer software, like Photoshop, to create my own style.
Who or what are your sources of inspiration?
My primary source of inspiration are the archaeological sites I have visited in my travels.
Much of my work stems from thousands of years old murals, hieroglyphics, mythology, and ancient civilizations. I love to explore and understand them, especially their voices and emotions from their art. These relics have no barriers of time or language that continue to live on through the times.
Are there any contemporary artists at the moment whose work you admire?
- Michael Armitage
- Brian Coutinho
- Allan Villavicencio
- Robert Nava
What’s the most rewarding material you work with, and why?
I genuinely enjoy paper and pencil; it’s what I started with 20 years ago and still forms the base of most of my works.
Talk us through your creative process, from the initial idea to the realization of the final artwork.
Without an initial idea or plan, I begin with drawing on paper until I begin to recognize shapes and work out an image based on that. From there, I create a high-resolution scan of the drawing in Photoshop, where I digitally draw on it. Once the artwork is ready, I transfer the file onto high-quality canvas as a single edition and will further add paints, markers, and other mediums to create depth and texture, making the work come to life.
Along with the original paintings, I also offer limited editions where I use incredibly high-quality printing techniques and limited prints on a tapestry.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
I have started something that could become a new series with my artwork “R2D2 is God / the creation of AI”. I made a version of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” in which the robot from Star Wars “R2D2” replaces God, meaning that AI and computers, in general, are the new religions.
