Artist Interview: Ben Nathan
Posted by admin | 5th October 2012
Winner of International Jewish Artist of the Year Award 2012 (IJAYA) and good friend of Ben Uri, Ben Nathan, tells us where he draws his inspiration from and why he's looking forward to hosting The Drawing Series next week.
"Everyone has got thousands of images in their heads, everyone paints thousands of potential paintings in their heads and thousands of potential drawings. Some people make no real drawings from that, other people are sketching all the time. It’s happening to me at the moment and I see lots of images in my mind. I’m certain when I’ve found an image worth painting, I know that it’s the one."
On his winning IJAYA entry…
The painting which was selected for the competition was called The Water Tower. This was painted in a very different way to my previous work, yet still typical in terms of its subject matter of the sort of work that I do. The Water Tower was altered from its actual form, but the geometry is somewhat similar, with a concrete structure which is very much functional.
Winning IJAYA has been absolutely great in terms of the connections I have made with Ben Uri!
His inspirations, thoughts and ideas…
All of my work starts off with drawings. My paintings are made directly from a variety of sources – drawings, photographs, memories, collages… However, drawing is a fundamental way of how I go about finding my subject. That means I go out cycling or walking around London, visiting places which I find interesting and find myself drawn to. I came across the Water Tower whilst I was cycling in St Albans. That’s a typical example of how I find my next artwork.
Everyone has got thousands of images in their heads, everyone paints thousands of potential paintings in their heads and thousands of potential drawings. Some people make no real drawings from that, other people are sketching all the time. It’s happening to me at the moment and I see lots of images in my mind. I’m certain when I’ve found an image worth painting, I know that it’s the one.
The Drawing Series at Ben Uri and why I was chosen to teach it…
I went to the Prince's DrawingSchool where my work focused on drawing from observation. This experience means I strongly believe in the passing on of knowledge and ideas through teaching drawing.
The Ben Uri Gallery is great, as the courses are becoming vaster in their subject matter which gives me as an artist the opportunity to experiment with interesting techniques and media.
The drawings in the collections by Auerbach and Kossoff are some of the most inspirational works of art for my drawing practice.
The challenges of teaching The Drawing Series…
The last Drawing Series was more to do with figures. You may see a figure once or twice in some of my paintings, but generally I’m better at drawing structures, maybe not necessarily better, but I just find more inspiration in them.
These Drawing Series classes - they’re very short sessions. They have to be very rapid, because it’s only two hours and I try to inspire people with the materials that they’re using and with as many ideas for each drawing. It is wonderful to see the ongoing exhibition, and subsequently, create pieces that relate to the art on show at the Gallery.
The Drawing Series will be held on 11 & 18 October, 7-9pm. Come and let your drawing pencils be guided by Ben Nathan towards Chaim Soutine – the man who inspired Frank Auerbach and Francis Bacon! Please visit our Online Shop to place your booking!
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