Philip James Chandler is a 29 year old portrait and figurative painter, currently based in North Yorkshire, England. His paintings are derived from continued fascination and research of the human body, specifically the figure and the mind that occupies. Drawing on his own experiences and those of others, he explores subjects such as aesthetic satisfaction, mental health and their abstraction. Through varied painting techniques and the way the paintings are cropped, he encourages the viewer to look at art slowly; to explore the work through unique palettes, the flowing of paint, the shape and forms that are presented, and the underlying issues challenged in each piece.
Self taught or art school?
Throughout the past fifteen years I have spent roughly four to five years studying art at college and university. Although I have spent time in education I have had no formal training for painting.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
I would have any one of Henri Mattisse’s cut outs.
How would you describe your style?
I would have to say that my work is abstract realism, at least that is what I am aiming for, a sense that something is recognisable and unrecognisable at the same time.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
Artists such as Yves Klein, Jenny Saville and Francesca Woodman because they push the boundaries of what the human body represents and how it can be used as a tool in art, whether that be dragging people through paint or using their own bodies to create distortion and shape. There are also artists such as Ken Currie and Francis Bacon who paint on large scales the horror and tragedy of everyday life. They display the alien and abstract side of life that a lot of people are aware of but turn a blind eye to.
What or who inspires you?
For me, its the human body and the mind that occupies. The body is an ever changing abstract form displaying limitless ways to be seen, represented and experienced, whether that be on a personal level or as an outsider looking in. The fact that the human body can be shown to represent life, death, happiness, horror and everything inbetween fascinates me on a daily basis.
Where’s your studio and whats it like?
My current studio space is within my home. It is a pretty straight forward set up consisting simpily of a table, chair and an easel.
Do you have studio rituals?
I have no rituals as such, just a pre painting or drawing set up, ensuring I have all my equipment ready to use at my disposal. I do however cover all my art work up upon completion so that it cannot be seen when I am in my studio space. I think this is more of hiding anything that could distract or influence me when working on a new piece.
How has the current lockdown affected your work?
The lockdown period has interestingly been a reflective time in my practice, rather than simply an opportunity to produce more work. It has given me a chance to slow down on the physically creative side of my artwork and focus on my thoughts and motivations. This has helped me create work that is truer to my ideas.
What are you working on currently?
I am currently working on a body of work called, “A Look Beyond Recognition”. The aim of this series is to encourage the viewer to recognise the abstraction of the human form, to feel that it is alien from what they already know.
Where can we buy your art?
My art work is currently not for sale at this moment in time.
What are your ambitions?
My current ambition is to exhibit my body of work, “A Look Beyond Recognition”, in a solo show. From this I would like to develop my practice and themes of work to larger scales, tackling more challenging subjects and engaging audiences furthermore.
Website link: https://philipchandlerart.wordpress.com/