A few years ago my sister’s husband introduced me to the artist Colin McMaster. I was about to study Fine Art myself. Art had been my ‘thing’ my entire school life, I was fiercely competitive (and unnecessarily so as nobody seemed to care as much as I did anyway). I was OK at sport – despite what my friends will tell you – but I regard it more as a conscious decision I made to veer away from the scratchy drama involved in trying to wriggle my way into the netball team (albeit for the least crucial role of ‘GK’) choosing instead to focus my talents on becoming an ‘artiste’. It would seem that people are keen to ascribe personal attributes to some hereditary link between you and a parent, so in the interest of keeping you satisfied, I can safely tell you that this ‘artistic flare’ I claim to possess came from my mother. A talented sculptor today, her resume has included a vast array of pursuits and the success of most can be accredited to her creative mind. From being a fashion buyer, to running a jewellery business, to transforming a vineyard from dilapidated to award wining (and much more) she has attacked each venture with an inspired outlook as well as a mass of pretty impressive brainpower and gusto!
So I arrived with reams of confidence and enthusiasm at Leeds, signed up and ready for my Fine Art degree. The studio at school was my home away from home at boarding school and a welcome safe haven from the teenage saga of good times and heartache that ensued as a result of being in a year of over 300 boys and girls. It was bliss to be so confident in my ability to do something- incredible teachers and plenty of spoon-feeding and flattery had meant that I truly believed in myself. Moments of confidence and self-assuredness should not be underrated; they are transitory and rare but when they crop up they should be relished… stored up ammo to wing at the curveballs of insecurity and doubt that too often can plague ones mind late at night.
Sadly, the Fine Art course at Leeds was not what I had expected, nor what I wanted out of an Art degree so I changed to History of Art. In hindsight the intelligent thing to have done would have been to go to a well-respected art college with a history of teaching applied arts, but at the time all I truthfully wanted from University were the experiences that I knew came with student life at Leeds. Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I am constantly making whimsical statements about what could have been or what I should have done. However, just recently someone motivated me to think ahead – he provided me with a realistic grasp of my situation, a metaphorical, much needed, slap around the face… In essence -I am young and I have plenty of time ahead of me to do everything that I want to do. He was right; it seems shamefully overdramatic to assign myself to a life of one thing if I want another at this stage in my humble existence.
Hence the dawning of this blog. So back to Colin McMaster. I met him in his studio, a small shared space in Peckham with all the ingredients you would hope to find in a budding artists den. As soon as I saw one of his vast paintings propped against a wall I was totally bowled over by his unique style. His paintings have a photograph like quality in their realism but the characters are stylized enough to take you further in. He had taken idealized portraits of people in society and exaggerated their identities. He paints social stereotypes, a blond bombshell or a ‘fashionista’. He told me that he works from an image in his mind but uses props and accessories from his wife’s business to capture the subtle realism that makes the viewer believe and empathise with each subject. The paintings are seductive, erotic, enticing and wrought with attitude and style. McMaster graduated from Central St Martin’s College in London and whilst still a student he won an award for his work as part of the Royal Ulster Academy Competition in his native Belfast. A remarkably talented and skilled artist and a personable, friendly and engaging man to sit and talk to – Colin McMaster’s paintings make me happy.
To see more of his work follow this link:
http://www.colouredrain.com/searchresults.asp?ArtistID=141
http://www.thecentralhouse.com/artist/colin_mcmaster.htm
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Great Blog Sophie – I like your style!