Lincoln Howard
I was born in Vancouver B.C. Canada, on February 23, 1970.
I’m a self-taught intuitive artist. I created my style and process through trial and error. I have a couple unique techniques that I like to use in my paintings. I usually incorporate a grid pattern in my art. The grid represents the matrix of our lives. The many twists turns and the millions of decisions we make that shape our lives. I also have a paste I like to use that gives my art more depth and texture. I began painting in 2018 after my wife and I took a painting class at our local recreation center. I caught the painting bug and haven’t stopped painting since. I was immediately drawn to abstract expressionism and the artists and imagery from that movement. My goal is to push the boundaries of abstraction, to create interesting and unique images. I like to incorporate objects into my paintings, like glass, mirrors or found objects. With the paste I create a sculptural textural surface. I refer to my work as a sculptural or textural painting. A few of my art heroes include Francis Bacon, Jackson Pollock, and Jean Michelle Basquiat. I get my inspiration and imagery from my imagination like a daydream. I will have an idea of composition when I start, but then the painting sometimes goes in a different direction as it evolves. I let the paint and my imagination guide me through the process. At the end of the painting, I sometimes wonder how did I do that?
Please tell us more about your background and how you began creating art?
Well, to tell you the truth, I haven’t been practising art for very long. My wife asked me to take an acrylic painting class with her in 2018.I caught the painting bug and haven’t stopped painting since. I haven’t been actively practising art for most of my life, but I think I always looked at things artistically or like an artist. I’m an out-of-the-box kind of thinker. I always appreciated art went to galleries, and enjoyed art in school, but as an adult never really made any art. After taking the art classes in 2018, I was immediately drawn to abstraction and went headfirst into abstract expressionist history and imagery. The floodgates of creativity opened.
What does your art aim to say to the viewers?
It’s not about what my art has to say to viewers. It’s more about what I want my art to convey to the viewers. My art, for the most part, is nonrepresentational, so it’s more about a feeling or an emotional reaction that I want my art to convey to the viewers. When I do a political piece then, it would be more about saying something more direct or making a statement. My more abstract works are more about feeling and emotion. My art comes from a feeling and emotional place. I don’t know exactly where it comes from, but it just does; it just comes to me.
Do you have an essential philosophy that guides you in your creative expression?
My philosophy has always been to create interesting images that push boundaries. I’m always looking to push the boundaries of abstraction through techniques or different materials. I like to include glow-in-the-dark paint, mirrors, glass, glitter, found objects etc. The different objects I use create more texture and add to the feeling, history and story of the painting. I find that’s more interesting to me and hopefully also to the viewers.
What art marketing activity do you put into practice regularly that works most successfully for you?
The most important marketing tools I’ve found so far have been my iPhone and Instagram. Every art opportunity I’ve had so far has been from Instagram. For me, it’s been the way I’ve been able to get my work out into the world and, for the most part, been a great tool for me. I’ve connected with people from all over the world. I don’t know of any other way I would have been able to do that, especially in such a short time span. My work has been shown in Spain, New York, London, and Italy, all because I’ve showcased my work on Instagram.
Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What is your daily routine when working?
I create, for the most part, multi-layer abstracts. Paint, tape, paste, more paint than glitter found objects etc. My process of composition is an image will come into my mind, and Ill start to create a 3D image. I will add and subtract things from it changing the colours and composition of the image. When I’m happy with the blueprint in my mind I will then set out to try and replicate it. So, when I start, I will have a good idea about the composition of the painting. Colours will sometimes change during the painting application, depending on my feeling or what I think would look better at the time. Sometimes when I’m done the painting, I wonder how the hell did I do that? It just sort of happens Kind of trance like at times.
How much planning goes into each artwork?
The planning of a piece depends on the complexity of each artwork. Some paintings come to me, and I paint them in a day or two. I have other paintings in my mind that I have been working on and planning to do for over a year. The planning like I said depends on the complexity and materials needed the more complex the more planning that goes into it. There are some paintings I want to make that take materials and techniques I haven’t even learned how to use yet. Those paintings will have to wait till I figure out the materials and techniques it takes to make them.
What’s the essential element in your art?
There are two elements that are essential to my artwork. The grid pattern and a paste that I’ve created. Those two things are the backbone of most of my paintings. The grid I don’t know where it came from or how I started doing it but it just sort of happened. The grid sits on the bottom or base layer of most of my paintings. The grid represents the human experience the millions of twists turns and decisions we make that shape our lives. The paste I use sits on top of the grid and gives the painting a sculptural textural 3D feeling to the work. I sometimes refer to my painting style as sculptural or textural painting.
In your opinion, what role does the artist have in society?
The role of the artist I feel is that of commentator, disruptor and someone willing to push through norms and boundaries. All the best artists I feel are the ones that combine one or all of these elements into their art. So many great artists have done this trampled norms and pushed through boundaries while making a statement or commentary. Those are the types of artists I look up to the outside the box thinkers brave enough to try new things and change the way we look at art.
Are there any projects you are currently working on and able to speak about?
My current project will be a series of paintings titled “The Pain” This series is a personal one and deals with you guessed it pain. Pain in all forms physical emotional, mental, relationship etc.. I think it will be a series of four paintings. I’m using going to use some materials I have never used before. I think some people will find it a little jarring. I think it’s a little dark and emotional at least that’s how I feel about it. Like I said I’m using some materials I’ve never used before so it will be interesting to see how people react to these paintings.
