William Reinsch is a young artist who is perhaps one of the most exciting new talents at work in the UK today. An astounding ability with figurative work, work which conveys as much about Reinsch as an artist as it does about the subjects he paints. Working from his studio in Essex, Reinsch is what the art world classes as an “outsider”, an artist with huge talent and yet not the product of formal art school training; perhaps in this instance, such training may have been counter-productive.
Self-taught or art school?
Self-taught.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Francisco Goya’s Saturn devouring his son.
How would you describe your style?
Surreal figurative work that deals with often darker subject matters. As for technique I am constantly changing and tend to paint in a technique that would heighten that specific image. Overall I am aiming for complete fluidity but I doubt that’s ever going to be achievable.
Is narrative important within your work?
Yes very much so. My series ‘naked island’ is all about this narrative element. I want to create a lived-in place with its own links and mysteries the viewer can decipher themselves. This series is my version of ‘silent hill’ and ‘twin peaks’.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
Van Gogh as I believe he has perfected the use of emotion in his technique. My favourite living painter, however, is Justin Mortimer who has somehow created some of the most powerful images of the 21st century so far (especially now with his almost prophetic visions warning us of COVID-19).
What or who inspires your art?
Stanley Kubrick influences my work quite heavily. Perhaps that’s why I have a tendency to want to shock you emotionally. As well as a long list of other painters I would say a bit of everything influences me. I’m constantly looking for a spark and it can appear from anywhere.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is in Essex and it’s very messy.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Yes, I always need music to work to. I have hundreds of playlists and listen to the same songs repeated which eventually gets me into that meditative state where I paint best.
What are you working on currently?
Currently, I’m working on a surreal piece which is part of my ‘dream study’ series where I play around with my more mad surreal ideas.
Where can we buy your art?
You can buy my work at https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/william-reinsch/ or visit their actual gallery in Cumbria.
