Art & Life with Timothy Chapman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Timothy Chapman.

Timothy, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m a second-generation Phoenician. In spite of that (or maybe because of it), my interests as a child were leading me as far away from what I saw as a drab, dry landscape. That love turned out to be the sea. As I was completing my bachelor’s degree in marine biology, I realized that I loved the discipline from more of an aesthetic appreciation than a strictly scientific one. Since I was a kid, I thought the variety and alien-ness of the creatures around us, from microorganisms to whales was astonishing and beautiful.

I had already been involved in drawing and photography for many years, and I knew that I would have to follow my passion for creating and art. I eventually received my MFA in printmaking. After suffering through three years of the sometimes brutal humidity and bitter winters of southern Illinois, I returned to Phoenix and took up painting full time, simply because I didn’t have a press.

I’m still painting, doing my best to navigate the ever-changing climate of technology, economy, and my own personal life. And in spite of the challenges, I absolutely love it.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I would love it if others could feel the same wonder as I do when I look at the infinite variety of beings that comprise our natural world. My worry is that people can see a picture of a giraffe or bear and react with a sort of automatic “yup, recognize it, got it” and just move on. Being blessed/burdened with a certain kind of imagination, I take as a jumping off place the Surrealist movement, Magical Realism, and the sheer craziness of Nature itself. Stripes on a horse! Complex antlers sprouting from an elk’s head! Who thought this stuff up?! Heck, I can do anything! My hope is that people will look at these creatures with invented patterns or behaviors will have a longer moment of appreciation of the same ones they learned about in grade school, and maybe re-ignite their interest in such animals.

Primarily, I have created work in the shadow of natural history illustrations, often with a sense of whimsey and, of course, surreality. But in the past few years, perhaps reflecting some changes in my life, my work has been expanding. I began to feel as if I had simply been drawing with paint, using mostly the “intellectual” part of the brain. I felt the need to work from a deeper gut level; I guess what I would call the “intuitive” part of the brain. I still paint plants and animals in a fairly representational way, but I’ve been incorporating more abstract elements and giving the paint itself more reign. And it’s been great!

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Ha! I’m still learning! But if someone is really driven to make art and to make a living as an artist, you may have to face some hard choices, compromises, and maybe a few losses in your life. And you must treat it as a full-time job, not just something to do in your spare time. Also, learn some good business practices (I know, I know, I’m trying!) It’s sometimes an unfortunate truth that creative types are not necessarily brilliant in certain non-creative skills, but they’re vital.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am represented locally At Wilde Meyer in old town Scottsdale, and also at KelseyMichaels Fine Art in Laguna Beach. And of course, people are always welcome to drop by my studio space at Cattletrack Arts Compound, also in Scottsdale. Its a wonderful and historic place with a group of several working artists there in a very strange and wonderful setting. I’m extremely fortunate to have been invited the be a part of it all.

And as far as support goes, purchasing my work and giving it a good home is always the wonderful!

Contact Info:

• Address: Cattletrack Arts Compound
  6105N. Cattletrack Rd.
  Scottsdale, AZ 85250
• Website: www.timothychapmanstudio.com
• Phone: (602) 882-7102
• Email: trchap@yahoo.com, timothy@timothychapmanstudio.com
• Instagram: @geneticallyunmodified
• Facebook: Timothy Chapman Fine Art

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