Bobby Clark
WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?
A small Scottish town called Greenock on the West Coast. I grew up in a small house at the top of a huge hill, surrounded by farms.
WHERE IS HOME NOW? WHERE HAS HOME BEEN?
Home is Thornbury, Melbourne. I am dreaming of moving again, I’m always looking for a new place to call home.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
I am currently in the very early research stage of exploring traditional painting techniques. I really want to adapt my style and challenge myself with an increase in scale. I am also currently lecturing at Whitehouse School of Design and working on the interior for a second living skin clinic with Little Company, who I freelance for as an artistic director.
WHAT DOES ART DO FOR YOU?
It calms me, gives me purpose and passion. It also scares the shit out of me. It’s the one thing I am really terrified of failing at.
WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LOOK LIKE? DO YOU HAVE ANY HABITS?
I like to think I have routine, but I am actually pretty terrible at committing to a routine long term. I am always starting something new and never finishing it. My daily routine is pretty simple, rise, eat, work. I like to be busy throughout the day. I am a morning person so I am most productive at this time. Night times are for resting. In the evenings I will usually work out, work a little more, eat then switch off. I love relaxing at night. If it’s dark my brain is off. Steve and I have a weekly ritual. Sunday is our day together, no work! We usually go a big walk or go see a new movie or visit a gallery together; I'm pretty strict on this one.
WHAT HAS LOVE MADE YOU CAPABLE OF DOING?
Everything.
CITE THREE FEMALE ARTISTS YOU ADMIRE.
Sophie Calle, Elise R Peterson and Tracey Emin.
A BOOK?
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
CITE SOME SONGS THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYLIST?
Cry to Me by Solomon Burke
At Seventeen by Janis Ian
Plastic by Moses Sumney
Women of the Ghetto by Marlena Shaw
HOW DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING THE ART WORLD? DO YOU THINK IT’S BECOME A USEFUL TOOL FOR ARTISTS?
I think it is opening the art world up globally; it's not longer an exclusive club. Now you can see a window into the artist’s studio anywhere around the world. I don't know if I would be doing what I am without social media, I am connected to so many people from different countries I maybe wouldn't have been before Instagram, it's a pretty amazing tool, but it does have its setbacks. I see a lot of plagiarism on a daily basis, not just in my work (which is quite a lot) but of the greats. Every day I see rip offs of Matisse and Picasso claiming originality.
DEFINE WHAT HAPPINESS IS TO YOU.
Happiness to me is creativity and self worth. Respecting myself and having strong morals and an incredible partner makes me happy. I also think kindness is very important in finding happiness; you receive what you put out there in the world. Being successful or recognised in your work is a pretty incredible feeling.
WHAT KIND OF THINGS WOULD EXIST IN YOUR IDEAL UTOPIA?
An incredible home we have built with our hands, each with our own private studios with raw plaster walls, Steve’s sculptures throughout the house with paintings all over the walls, our own library with books covering the floors. Our babies and Scout running around with large open windows framed with views of tropical palms… I could go on and on.
WE COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE YOU GRADUATED UNIVERSITY WITH FIRST CLASS HONOURS, CONGRATULATIONS. BUT HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU FEEL THIS GRADE WAS TO YOUR PRACTICE AND SUCCESS AFTER UNIVERSITY?
Thank you! I am all or nothing, so if I’m into something, which I was with my degree project, I’m in it 110%. I was very emotionally involved with what I was doing so it felt pretty nice to get that recognised with my final mark. To be honest you’re the first person who has every asked about my final mark. No one really talks about it in the creative industry; it’s more what you can do.
WHEN YOU MOVED FROM SCOTLAND TO AUSTRALIA DO YOU FEEL YOU WORK EVOLVED WITH THIS CHANGE?
When we first moved here our priorities changed, we wanted to slow down and get our heads down, work hard and figure out a way to stay long term (a struggle we still have today). I found it really hard to get a job when we first moved here so I slogged it out doing whatever I could (I was a tradie for a bit!) and worked on my photography in my spare time, that was my creative outlet. We moved from the burbs to Thornbury and I started working for Pop & Scott as a painter and photographer and that’s when I started painting again. I stripped it right back to the basis of technique and that’s how the shape compositions formed.
WHAT TOOL IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR PRACTICE?
Beautiful paper and an inspiring colour palette. I love choosing my papers, I always go for a rough surface and of course a sharp pencil!
WHAT CREATIVE MEDIUM WOULD YOU LOVE TO PURSUE BUT HAVEN’T YET?
I would like to experiment with 3D form, my head has been drifting off the paper into physical forms, there’s been something burning in the back of my mind I would like to create. Being married to a sculptor definitely helps. His work is so incredibly beautiful, I get inspired every time I pop up to his studio.
