15 Questions About Art :: William Crump
William Crump is a New York based artist who works in drawing, painting and collage. His work is a romantic version of a distinctly American question: how to cross the desert between our heroes and ourselves. His seeks to remake our past dreams into a more forgiving view of our present circumstances, while offering a glimpse of another world just beyond our reach.
William’s work will be featured this Spring in the exhibitions “La Surprise”, at The Palais De Tokyo Museum in Paris and in Nature, Once Removed: Flora and Fauna in Contemporary Drawing, Lehman College Art Gallery.
He currently lives and works in the East Village with his wife and two year old daughter.
***
What is your earliest art-related memory?
Mostly I remember looking at books. We used to have this book called The Story of Painting, which was basically an art history lesson for me. I would look at that book for hours. I’d also draw from these Ed Emberley drawing books as a kid, where you would draw the animals from making shapes. I just bought them (reprinted) for my daughter.
Hopefully she will decide to be a Doctor or an Olympian or something, not an artist. She’ll know how to draw though, just in case.
Who has had the greatest influence on your work?
There are too many to mention just one, however, I’ll list a few. My uncle, Water Crump, who is an artist working in Boston, My former professor, Leslie Lerner, who made me realize how important it was to get out of where you are and go where art is important. Like a lot of artists my taste changes all the time.
There are two paintings that have had an tremendous impact on me. The first was George Bellows’ “The Fisherman’s Family”, and the second was Paul Gauguin’s “The White Horse”. Something in these two paintings struck a chord with me. They each convey an idea of a world that is just slightly out of reach.
What are the main tools of your craft?
Before my daughter was born I stopped using anything toxic and went back to drawing with graphite because I have home studio. It took me some time to feel comfortable again, but I’ve managed to stick it out. I include a fair amount of colored pencil, gouache, water color, and graphite powder in my work too. Since I work from home I don’t see myself using oil anytime soon.
Is a formal education important?
Yes. It is.
What is the biggest misconception about art?
Just about everything is a misconception about art or the art world. If you buy into one way of doing things then you won’t invent anything new. You’ll just be along for the ride. Art is constantly changing. A new decade is starting and the artists who make their mark in the first few years will be the artists of note during that decade. Like it or not things are meant to be shredded, torn down and rebuilt. Sometime people don’t like it, but it always changes.
Which is more important in art - concept or execution?
It depends on the artist and what the message is. Neither one is more important to me, it’s how well they work together.
What theme or aesthetic are you most drawn too?
Most of the time it’s the theme that I care about. There are always aesthetics that will shape my influences, however it’s the themes I explore that push me to try new things. I’m interested in the ideas of solitude, redemption, offering a glimpse of another world just beyond our reach.
What is your favorite piece of art in your home?
I have a new piece by a friend of mine, Vince Contarino. It’s smaller piece we traded for, but just seeing his progression over the years, I feel really fortunate to have it. He is doing some amazing work right now.
If you could collaborate with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
That’s a tough one. I’m pretty good at the critique thing and working next to other artists. I’m not that interested in working with other artists on a piece or pieces. I do however like showing in two-person shows. Seeing artists paired together in a well thought out show is always interesting to me.
Which emerging artist do you think more people should know about?
One artist that I truly admire is Michelle Lopez. She shows at Simon Preston Gallery here in NY. Her work is really inspiring. A few years ago she really stepped back and approached her work and her career in a whole new way. It’s rare to see that done the right way.
I’ve mentioned Vince Contarino, who I really feel is going to blow up, as well as artists I’ve met here like Kris Chatterson, Michelle Hailey, Orit Ben-Shitrit and Robbie McDonald. If I keep naming names it would be unfair to a lot of friends who are great artists, and who deserve to have a big bright light shinning on them.
What has been your greatest achievement to date?
If I’m ever truly satisfied with anything then I’m in trouble. I don’t want that to sound cynical, just honest. I was thrilled to be reviewed in the L.A. Times for my show at LittleBird. All the good things that have come over the last year or so were a result of Jen Bekman taking a chance on me and releasing two prints of my work through 20x200. That being said I still feel like a lifetime of hard work will be the achievement that I find satisfaction in.
What has been your biggest roadblock?
I dunno, maybe my ego, giving in to insecurities, people shit-talking. Name one. There are always going to be roadblocks, you just can’t let that stuff give you doubts about who you are and what it means to make your work. Keep working.
How do you define success?
Getting invited to the party would be a good start. I’ll let you know when I get there. When I reach the point where I’m comfortable with success and my work I hope I’ll have the good sense to scrap what I’m doing and start all over. I firmly believe that artists should never get too comfortable with success.
What will be the name of your autobiography?
I can’t write to save my life, so I’ll leave it to someone else. It better be fucking awesome though.
What is the best piece of (art-related) advice you’ve ever been given?
Spend time in your studio everyday. Even if you don’t make something, just go in and think about your work.
***
15 Questions about Art is an ongoing series in which we ask our collective favorite artists, writers, musicians, sleepy dreamers and object makers from across the creative spectrum to give us a glimpse into how they perceive art through a standard set of questions.
Please click here for the archives and check back next week for a fresh perspective.
