ADAM LISTER GALLERY - PAINT UNTIL IT HURTS

If art be the food of love, then what does that make an art gallery? An overdose of love? An orgy of love? Or how about a digital explosion of love? Want to know the answer? Then please check out the following interview I did with my mate Adam Linster. He has a gallery, don't you know.

1) What are your own origins, Adam? Plus what path did you take in life prior to getting to where you are today?   I grew up in northern Virginia, and moved to New York when I was 20 years old. I studied painting and sculpture at the School of Visual Art in Manhattan. While in school I developed a love for abstract art, and I had the honor to work with some amazing artists such as Michael Goldberg, Marilyn Minter, and Lucio Pozzi, just to name a few.

After school, I set up a studio in Brooklyn and worked as an elementary school art teacher in Manhattan. I did that for seven years and then I moved back to Virginia and started my own art gallery. This gallery was an exhibition space as well as a classroom and studio. I ran this space for 4 years, working on my art and teaching art classes. I then moved back to New York to focus full-time on my painting, and I've been doing so ever since.

2) What inspired you to become an artist?   I always loved to draw and build things, and in high school I started getting more serious about the idea of being an artist. It's the only thing I really wanted to do.

3) Can you briefly tell us about some of the project’s you’ve been apart of?   Most recently I've been working on two main projects. First is my own painting. I've been doing an on going series of geometric pixelated watercolor paintings based on iconic images. The second one is a collaboration with artist Isaac Budmen, we've been working together to make 3D printed sculptures derived from my watercolors.

4) What song would you say best represents your style of art?   The theme tune from the original Mario Bros. Nintendo video game, for fairly obvious reasons.

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   I'd have to go with Picasso. He was a genius artist, and a huge inspiration to me over the years.

6) What have you learnt about yourself through this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way?   To be a working artist it takes an unbelievable amount of self discipline. When I was younger I had this idea that as an artist you somehow just get magically discovered by a big time art gallery and then you're famous. However, many years have taught me that this is a rare happening, and to really be successful with your art it takes around the clock hustle and quite a bit of sacrifice.

7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead?   I'm lucky to have an awesome support system behind my work. I have a loving family that inspires me to keep building.

8) If you had a motto, Adam, what do you think it would it be?   Paint until it feels like your eyes are going to pop out of your head. Then keep painting a little more.

Now for any more information on Adam Lister and his brilliant art gallery, please check out his official facebook and website. Go on. Click-click. And feast your eyes on a world of wonder.