Ty Nathan Clark

Tell us a little about yourself, where did your passion for art begin and how did it become your work?

My passion for art started really young, around 4 years old. I was always drawing and creating little creatures. My mom took some of my drawings that I created on napkins at the dinner table and turned them into a quilt that one the Grand Jury award at the California State Fair. From that point on I wanted to be an artist someday. I think my art is still becoming “my work”, as an artist I am always learning from my influences and practising their techniques, constantly studying them and imitating the styles, strokes, marks and helping it evolve into “my work”.

I am curious if you have a daily working routine? Do you have any morning rituals or habits that contribute towards a productive day within the studio?

I think the most important aspect in life that I instituted is routine and discipline in my practice. I usually wake up between 7-7.30am every day, make a french press coffee, then sit and read for thirty minutes to an hour. After reading I usually study art, artists I follow, art history, the art market trends, read up on new curators and gallery buzz around Texas to the rest of the world. Then I head to the studio to make.

How would describe your work to someone?

My work definitely falls within the ab/ex genre of art. Even though that period is over, that is the style, look and feel of my work. It falls in the range of my hero’s, from Cy Twombly, Antoni Tapies, Hellen Frankenthaller, Joan Mitchell, Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Janis Kounellis, Theaster Gates, Conway Pierson and a long host of others. Each body of work revolves through a specific expression of our personal journeys and the tension that exists in those memories. By using a variety of layers, medium, marks, texture and deconstruction I am able to share a story through visual poetry in the same way one’s life is lived, through memories and experiences, from youth to adulthood, at times using text to provide clues to content and interpretation.

What projects/works are currently in progress in your studio?

I just began a new body of work 2 weeks ago titled “I am a mess, but I am OK. Thanks.” the work is a sarcastic play on the frustrations of an artist trying to navigate the art world emotionally. I imagine the entire body of work will be somewhere between 12-14 pieces. I think it is going to be a really fun series. I hope.

Tell us about your style. Are you considering the concept of the painting before its creation or is it improvisation?

It is a combination of both. I am constantly journaling in a multitude of notebooks all consisting of different thoughts, ideas, poetry, essays, sketches, stories, memories, etc. Through my writing and notes I then develop bodies of work that encompasses a specific thought or series of thoughts. After spending a lot of time and study working out the thoughts I take them to canvas where the improvisation begins. While I am working on a specific body of work I am also doing small scale studies, working out the relationship of mediums, marks, colors etc.

What are the plans for the remainder of this year?

I am continuing to seek out galleries for group and solo exhibitions. I will be spending an enormous amount of time in my studio creating and growing as an artist. My first film as a producer is currently on the Film Festival circuit and we have multiple festivals left that our film will be screening at across the US. I am also currently applying to residencies around the world on a regular basis (this never stops). I finished my first novel at the end of 2019 and will hopefully find a home for it somewhere this year as well. Also, more sculpture. My uncle Conway Pierson was a world renowned sculptor who influenced me greatly. I sculpted for the first time in 20+ years for my last show and I can not wait to make more!

What do you feel are the pros and cons of Instagram, and do you consider Instagram important for artists working today?

For me, Instagram has been a pretty large “pro”. One of my solo exhibitions in 2019 was because of Instagram, I have been able to connect with brilliant artists from around the world, whom I now consider friends and I have been able to grow a following of young artists who I constantly engage with. I use the platform to connect, discuss and share my work and process with a lot of people. The “cons” would be time, I try not to spend too much time on the platform so that it does not eat away at the minutes in a day, it can turn into a time suck way to easily.

Can you highlight some of your influences and discuss how your influences have made an impact on you and your practice?

Influence, I believe is the greatest growth factor for any artist. We all create like someone else, it is inescapable. If you search hard enough you will find an artist who paints or creates like you and the similarities will be a glowing resemblance. We all have artists who we connect with deeply. I study them all, their history, their story, their work down to the last detail. I also go see their work in person and I study/practice their techniques, this is how you grow. I have studies and stood in front of a large number of Twombly pieces, Frankenthaller pieces, Rauschenberg pieces, Anslem Kiefer’s, my hero’s works and I try to figure out in the studio how they made their pieces, how they made their marks, strokes, textures. We have to constantly be “in school” as artists in order to grow. My influences impact me daily.

To the collector that is interested, where do we tell him to go right now to buy your work?

If a collector is interested in work they can contact me directly at tynathanclark@gmail.com or via DM on Instagram. I love to discuss my work and talk art with anyone, so reach out!

Your thoughts that you would like to share with our readers.

My favorite quote that hangs on my studio wall.