Andrew McIlroy: Artist

Andrew McIlroy  

Andrew McIlroy’s latest exhibition Against the Tide will open on the 18th February at Axia Modern Art in Armadale. He took the time to answer our ArtsHub Career Profile. Check out his answers below.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I grew up in a generation whose parents expected you to have a trade behind you and to get a “good job” when you left school. I always expected to be a teacher but during a short stint at teachers college I realised this would not be a future to challenge me and so I went on to Melbourne University to fill in time while I figured out just what I wanted to be.

When did you know you would be creative?
As a child I loved to draw. I spent hours at the dining table copying pictures from books I bought with my paper-round money. It was very much later, in 2000, that I found myself frustrated with corporate life and rediscovered my childhood appetite for drawing and painting. That creative appetite never really went away, but I wanted to embrace it and make a career.

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?
My paintings form a bridge between the style and the proven techniques of the European masters, in particular the French Romantic artists utilizing colour and movement, and contemporary Australian art. I focus on shared experiences and familiar imagery. My current exhibition at Axia Modern Art in Melbourne is the culmination the last ten years of my work. These works recall childhood memories and the sensations of plunging from the Portsea pier into the chilly and deep waters. I capture the emotions, the fears and exhilaration of that moment, the darkness and flickers of light, and the struggle to reach the surface before running out of breath.

What's your background - are there studies that prepare you for this?
After completing more mainstream studies at Melbourne and Monash Universities, I undertook painting at Swinburne in Melbourne and later classes at the Julian Ashton Art School in the Rocks in Sydney. I have a ravenous appetite for learning and absorbed myself in art history with visits to Paris, Amsterdam and Rome at every opportunity to view the great works first-hand.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?
I go to the studio every day. I have a studio in an old textile mill in Melbourne’s Richmond and I keep a small studio space in Balmain in Sydney. I have this comfy, old, moth-eaten chair I bought for $10 from the Salvo’s Abbottsford charity store. Each morning with my extra-hot coffee from a nearby milk-bar I sit in this chair and stare at the previous day’s work. I like to sit in that space, among the works-in-progress, and compose the day’s painting ahead of me. As I paint, much is intuitive.

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?
I arrive at the studio at about 9.00am and paint through till after noon. My studio has some old factory style windows in the pitch of the roof which filter in the afternoon light. I find the afternoon glare often difficult and tend not to paint in the afternoon, which I spend drawing, reading and thinking of more things to paint. I paint on large canvases, often over 2 metres, so I find I need to break up my day as my legs can give way, climbing up and down, moving backwards and forwards. Around 4.00 pm I start to paint again and until I decide to abandon the day, usually around 9.00pm. Working longer can at times be inefficient, if too tired.

What's the one thing - piece of equipment, toy, security-blanket – that you can't work without?
I love the simple fan brush for its versatility and the effect it can create when painting wet-on-wet. Not as a blending tool so much, but more for the soft touch it allows. Some of the bold and gestural stokes land more softly and sweepingly on the canvas with this brush. It’s a beautiful effect and lends itself to painting water, which features strongly in my work.

What gets you fired up?
At times more than anything, as a painting comes together. The blocking in, and layering can be hard work and it takes a while for the composition to breathe life. I am fired up and excited when the painting is nearing its end, particularly when adding highlights.

Who in the industry most inspires you?
My hero-painters are Rick Amor and Geoff Dyer. I am inspired by those Australian painters that respect the traditions of painting through their work. I enjoy most artists that have the courage to back themselves and make a career of their art. It’s not an easy thing to do.

What in the industry do you despair about?
I sometimes despair about that that is passed off as art without an eye to the longevity of the work. Technique is so important. Some present-day artists seem to be more interested to rushing out work produced with poor materials, in a haphazard way. I hope my art outlives me and not the other way around.

What is the best thing about your job?
I am making something with my hands. When it’s done, I can see it, touch it.

What’s the worst?
The solitude, where too much can be difficult.

Are you a fan of new media? Is blog beautiful?
I am somewhat old-fashioned although reluctantly embracing new media. I think with all this information and opinion in the mix, we can get a bit lost. I know at times it is difficult to find informed opinion amongst the noise.

What are the top three skills you need in this industry?
Technique, technique, technique – the rest will follow with dedication.

What advice would you give a young artist looking to break into the field?
Persevere and commit for the long haul. There are no short-cuts. It will be difficult but the rewards are worth it.

When do you know you’ve made it?
When good things are written about you in your obituary.

Against the Tide opens on 18 February at Axia Modern Art in Armadale and runs until 28 February 2010.