CAREER PROFILE: Nathan James

Nathan James 2008  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a kid I wanted to be a lot of different things when I grew up. It tended to change depending on the film I’d seen most recently. But more than anything else I think I wanted to be Michael Jordan...or Batman.

What did you become?

A painter.

What's your artistic background/training - how did you end up here?

The best arts education I received was from a small art college in my hometown in Canada. The full-time programme at the Dundas Valley School of Art was run by a British artist name John Wilkinson. Though comically curmudgeonly, he was by far the best painting instructor I’ve had. I still hear him in the back of my mind sometimes while I’m painting. I also went to the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto where I learned a lot about the use of masking tape.

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?

Photobased paintings of trendy youths intermixed with pop elements: cartoons, graphics, text and slashes/splashes of bright, obnoxious colours.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?

Check and answer emails. I’m usually too tired to do it at the end of the day.

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?

I wake up at 06.30, eat, answer emails, wash, get to the studio by 08.30, paint until around 19.00, head home, eat, sleep, repeat.

What's the one thing/piece of equipment, song, book, security blanket – that you can’t be creative without?

I used to have a little plastic Alvin (of The Chipmunks) that sat on the end of my easel but he disappeared a long time ago. I guess I’m not very superstitious.

Who or what in the arts world most inspires you?

I’m a big John Currin fan. His recent show at Sadie Coles was incredible. Jeff Koons’ last show at Gagosian was amazing as well. It made me wish I could afford an army of assistants. A trip to the Tate storage in Southwark can be very inspiring, too.

What's the toughest challenge you've dealt with on the job?

I would say the most consistent challenges I have to deal with are the deadlines. It takes me a long time to finish a painting and I often over-commit myself.

What's the best piece of advice you were ever given for your career?

Use a bigger brush.

What are the top three skills you need in your particular role?

In order: imagination, time-management, and self-promotion. Or maybe I have it backwards.

What's the best thing about your job? The worst?

Having to paint all day everyday is definitely best thing about what I do. But being on my own, all day, everyday, with nothing but Radio 4 for company, can also be worst thing. It affects my social skills and sometimes make me feel a bit like Kapser Hauser.

And if you had to sum up your working life in a word or phrase, what would it be?

Hermitic.

What’s next for you?

Hopefully more of the same but with more money.

Mash-ups: Post-pop Fragments and Detournements will be held at the Design and Artists Copyright Society’s Kowalsky Gallery from 16th July until 19th September.

Nathan James' website: www.ndjames.com