9 8 11 10 for to earned a qualification in, and that was difficult to attain. But I haven’t studied art since high school nearly 30 years ago. And as it started off as a hobby, despite putting in countless hours of work, it hasn’t felt like work. So I almost feel like I haven’t earned it. I’m gradually becoming more comfortable with the idea, and I must confess, I’d much rather introduce myself as an artist than an accountant. The more I find myself connecting to others through my art, the more I feel I’ve earned the right to call myself an artist. Although I’m not entirely there yet! Your work is a remix of pop culture, folklore, music and the everyday. Do these subjects collide organically in real-time as you're sketching? Or are you consciously building a specific mythology through all of your art? I’d say it’s a bit of both. Quite often something will come together organically, and then I’ll contrive a follow up, or multiple follow ups. A really good example of this is my movie themed tarot cards. These came about because of a Drawingskool prompt “Jester!” As I often like to take a circuitous route to approaching a prompt, I was brainstorming things associated with Jesters. I liked the idea of doing a print of Charlie Chaplin as he’s pretty iconic. And being from the era of black and white cinema I thought he’d work great as a lino print. I also liked the idea of doing a print of The Fool tarot card, and then it occurred to me to put them together. Subsequent cards in the series have been a mix of me specifically trying to fit a film I like to a card, a flash of inspiration, or often another response to a prompt. My second tarot card Death which has a Jaws theme, was a response to “Card Shark!” I’ve also had recurring themes simply because I’ve found the experience entertaining or have liked the result of print and wanted to build on that. I occasionally find ways to incorporate my maker’s stamp into the composition of a piece which is a deliberate attempt to put a bit of me into the art — my stamp representing me, interacting with the subject. Which I think is a bit of mythology I have deliberately tried to build on. What does your first solo show, Introducing Christophski, represent for you on a personal level? I honestly can’t believe I’ve had the opportunity to do a solo show. It’s been quite overwhelming. I’ve talked a bit about my imposter syndrome and I think it’s clear that I never set out to become an “artist.” So the fact I’ve had work exhibited at a gallery, let alone a solo show, is something I’m still getting to grips with. It’s a boost every time someone leaves a positive comment on an Instagram post or sends me a message of support and it’s still an incredible feeling when someone wants to buy a print. I’m extremely grateful for all the support I’ve had from friends and followers on Instagram. So being asked to do a solo show felt like winning a marathon having not entered the race. And Heart of The Tribe Gallery has been great to work with, offering support and advice and generally giving me the confidence to feel like I belong there. So it’s certainly given me a sense of validation to some degree. But as a creative, the best part of it all is knowing that my work connects with people and gives them a bit of joy. When people walk into the exhibtion, what do you hope stirs in them and what do you hope they take away? I reflected on this while I was preparing for the exhibition, and I’ve got a short, simple answer: I really hope more than anything else, it makes people smile. You can bring one of your pieces to life. Which one do you choose and what do they do? That’s a fun question! I’d probably say Raven and the Wisp, which depicts a flying raven carrying an old-fashioned storm lantern containing a smoky, ghostly character. This was an image 8. SAMURAI 9. GHOST CROWD 10. SHARK 11. FLINT'S FIRE STARTER 12. THE SUN 13. ROOFTOPS 14. BIG YELLOW TAXI 15. THE COUNT 16. RAVEN AND THE WISP 17. K-2SO 18. FIRST LINOCUT PRINT
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