The Freedom of Art
Local artist Tim Durham explains why Harborough is such an inspirational place to paint, and how he found his true self on canvas.
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What first got you interested in art?
I started drawing in 1981, starting out on dot-matrix paper that my mum bought back from work. I did reams and reams of doodles, recording everything including feelings, films and moments in our lives. Being dyslexic, art was never a barrier. I could express myself without fear of making a mistake. I was free. Has art always been your passion or profession? I was an art and photography teacher for 20 years. I retrained as a freelance digital illustrator and did that for five years, until AI killed the market. I’ve been painting full-time since June and it’s nice to paint for myself – and it’s lovely to get back to making real things! What motivates you to begin painting a certain area or scene? I love rooflines. Looking up, you have history, pomposity and style laid bare. Nobody remodels the roofline, so it’s like looking behind the make-up. I love the Caffé Nero building in town – the sheer splendour stuck between a 1960s Tesco and a 1980s bank. Or the New Orleans balcony at the top of the high street. Next time you walk past Zizzi’s restaurant, take a look at the number of chimneys it has; somebody had a fetish for them I think! That’s why I love Harborough, every building is different. Where is your favourite place to paint? I paint in the street, ‘En plein air’ and it’s a treat. It’s great to paint around the people and the place. There is a vibe that you pick up after a few hours sitting in a location. That’s what I try to capture on canvas. The best light, the best colours and the feeling of the space and my reaction to it. Someone described my art as: ‘chocolate box, if Tony’s Chocoloney did Chocolate Boxes!’ I’ll take that. Which artists do you admire? I love the Impressionists and expressionists. August Macke’s simplification and Van Gogh’s fluidity of movement. Oh, and anything that uses colour well to simplify an image. Creating a strong sense of cool and heat. You can see that in my work. I am obsessed with the way colour reacts to light. Sometimes I sit for hours waiting for the light to change. Modern artists I love are: Rob Pointon, his warping of dimensions while maintaining realism is very impressive. Locally, I love Mikki Longley’s work and Maxine Dodd. Their work is so different to mine. Mikki shares my love of colour and Harborough buildings, but takes it to a place, so precise that it fascinates me. Maxine is so quick, capturing movement in seconds. Where would be your dream place to paint? I spent a year in South Carolina when I was 18/19. I spent a lot of time alone, watching things, getting my head together. At some point, I’d like to return and capture that feeling, resolve some of those things. Also, the light in the swamp in South Carolina is weird, hazy and iridescent. It does weird things to neon signs and indoor spaces. Where can people view/buy your work? It depends on how you like to buy art! I’m very approachable, and I’m happy to meet people when I’m out, or they can come over to the studio and see my work and what I’m painting. I’m open to commissions, I really specialise in cityscapes, landscapes and portraits. I have a website artfather.co.uk where I put my paintings and prints that are for sale or people can DM me on Facebook and Instagram @tjdurham_artist. |
Issue 28
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