Our debut edition with artist JJ Manford, Threshold Painting, is exemplary of his work depicting domestic spaces. He always inserts an Easter egg—either an animal or a design object—into these pieces (hello, kitty). Manford's stylistic approach seamlessly nods to Fauvism, Modernism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, resulting in mesmerizing work that glows. Threshold Painting's rich, pulsating hues are typical of his riotous palette. We sat down with Manford and asked him a few questions about his work.
1. Do your images come from life? How do you choose your sources?
My images are an amalgamation of life and found material, and I keep a sort of database of images that captivate me for various reasons and pull from them periodically. Often times they are specific architects or designers and sometimes they are stock images that I transform into eerie, psychedelic spaces via the process.
2. Could you tell us a bit about your medium of choice and how you got started with it?
My paintings are made with oil stick and pastel over a ground of vinyl-based paint, either on burlap over canvas or linen. It was a gradual process of exploration and trial and error but I finally arrived at a synthesis of materials that allows for a non-static Impressionistic optical mixture.
3. What are some of your favorite paintings depicting interiors?
I love the French Neo-Impressionists. Some of my favorites are Vuillard, Bonnard, Valloton, Munch, Van Gogh, James Ensor, and David Hockney.
