Local Artist Profile :
Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds is a budding young artist who’s finding inspiration in Hastings’ art world. Bold and spontaneous, he describes his work as ‘creating mood, style and colour, shape and space.’ Expect to see a lot more of this talent over the next few years – and with a name like Joshua Reynolds, you’re unlikely to forget him!
What’s your background?
I grew up in East Grinstead and moved to Hastings a couple of years ago. I learnt to paint at a primary school called Brambletye, thanks to my excellent teacher Mr Holden and was working with oils on canvas at the age of nine. I came to Hastings when I was studying art and photography in Lewes, and met some really interesting people who drove me forward from controlled responses to much more spontaneous ground.
What do you paint and what inspires you?
At the moment, portrait after portrait, among other subjects such as figurative and landscape work. At the moment I'm experimenting with Surrealism, Cubism and Pointalism, on a portraiture level. Having just come from a controlled environment at college, it’s nice to have no guidelines and to paint what and when i like. I paint mostly from memory, but I also use photos. It usually starts when I’m inspired by an expression on a persons face which could be fleeting. Then i go about re-capturing that image, taking a photo of that same expression that has inspired me. In my work, I try to illustrate the subject’s mood as well as my own, so I prefer to paint people I know as I want to get across their character on the canvas and much of this comes from knowing them as an individual. But occasionally I see someone on the train and have time to look at their face, and would love to paint them! Some faces say so much they’re asking to be painted.
What are your influences?
I’d say my work is influenced by Picasso and by Francis Bacon. Having created a critical research on Picasso when I was 12 for a scholarship, I find there is a lot
of natural inspiration and guidance. I’m also a great fan of the way Francis Bacon moves and shifts his colour dryly to create texture and movement.
Plans for the future?
I’ve just started a foundation course at Hastings College and I hope that over the next couple of years, I’ll be inspired to extend my range of work beyond paint and canvas. Once I’ve finished, I want to go to the Royal Academy of Art to get the best training I can. I want to get a scholarship so I’ve just got to keep on painting, so I’ve got a good range of work to show.
Why Hastings?
Mostly it’s down to the people here, but also the great location. When I moved here, I started to meet established local artists and make some connections, and found people in the arts in Hastings so helpful and interesting. When you know experienced artists, there’s always somewhere to go for honest advice. I’m lucky to be living in a great house on the West Hill that’s really inspirational to me, and I’m sure I wouldn’t paint as much if I was somewhere else.
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