BY RORY COYNE
Chicago artist Rory Coyne and I discuss my studio routine, some of my favorite artists and what advice I’d give to emerging artists. Read below or view original post.
I MAKE PAINTINGS, -LARGE PAINTINGS, PAINTINGS WITH NUDITY, SPECIFICALLY PENISES, ABOUT ISSUES REGARDING REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER, RACE AND POWER.
RORY: Give us a little bio : where are you from, representation, type of work etc.?
PATRICK: I was born in New Haven, CT in 1981. I was raised in West Haven, CT but moved back and forth between there and Hartsville, SC until graduate school. My paintings explore the tension between power and vulnerability. Perhaps more than any other form of image-making, figurative painting is often read as a mirror of the time in which it is made; the canvas might be uniquely valued as a type of sociohistorical document. In this vein, my work is situated in the discourse of contemporary art that questions and present visual alternatives to historical masculine traditions, constructions of identity, gender politics and race.
RORY: How did you get to where your were and how did you achieve that? ie: schooling, jobs, commissions, timing?
PATRICK: Unwavering support and patience from my parents in every endeavor I pursued was invaluable in setting me on my current road. I did martial arts when I was younger (which was the mode in the 80s) and that taught me the discipline and dedication that I pull from today. I pursued many eclectic interests since then that have informed my personality and drives, such as concert choir, baseball, football, and of course, art. I earned my BA in Studio Art (Drawing) and Psychology from South Carolina’s Coker College and my MFA in Painting from the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
RORY: How long did it take to become a professional artist?
PATRICK: I’d say 22 years. It took me that long to understand what an artist is and what things are expected to be a “professional” one. Even though I’m technically a master now (in terms of degree), I’m still learning new things everyday about being a professional artist.
RORY: Do you make a living off your art?
PATRICK: Yes, though I’m not solely a commercial artist. In addition to sales of art works and commissions, I also gain income from my gigs as a professor, critic, lecturer, and juror, all of which are deeply connected to my art practice.
RORY: Describe your studio routine.
PATRICK: My current routine involves me first anticipating the paint fumes before I enter my studio space, then changing into my studio shoes (like Mr. Rogers used to) and putting on Spotify. Nothing happens in the studio without music. In the studio I listen to literally every type of music. I worked at Sam Goody for years in college and that experience opened me up to many different musicians. I usually spend time looking at the works in progress while I check my email and social media. After finding the right artist or band to kick off the day, I break up paint and mix up what I need for the day. Painting is a given, but sometimes when the day is going well there’s dancing involved. Lunch is in there somewhere, then more painting, emailing, social media and looking. Lastly, I clean up. I’m one of those who try to keep a clean studio so I have more permission to make a mess when I’m working. During studio visits people sometimes comment on my palette being immaculate (usually in a grid formation). I assure them that it’s only like that when I’m not actually painting. I like to 6-hour stints, 5 days a week, although it’s not always painting. Building canvases, writing, updating my website, looking, networking, reading, etc. – all of that happens in that time frame. After 6pm I’m usually found in front of the TV. If it’s not primetime TV then I’m listening to an audio book. They help me disengage and turn my brain off.
RORY: What are the major projects you are working on right now, and or coming up?
PATRICK: I’m finishing up a project entitled Significant Other, which is the conceptual sequel to my 2008 series Imperfect Colossi. In Significant Other I work to reposition and re-present ways in which gender, race and the nude have been represented historically. Working with body language, narrative, lighting, scale and gesture as metaphors, I want to reinvent and remix ideal beauty and heroic nudity. That project will reach completion in late May, and selections will be on display in a solo exhibition at Greymatter Gallery in Milwaukee from July 26 – August 31.
RORY: What’s your favorite place to see art?
PATRICK: Being an east coast kid I love to trek/hunt through Chelsea with friends, gallery hopping to find good work. I enjoy the physicality of the walk, and the frustration and reward to sifting through a lot of work and finding those emerging and established gems.
RORY: What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
PATRICK: My Macbook Pro. I work from photos and the screen quality and editing options are great. It’s also an indispensable music dispenser. Again, nothing happens in the studio without music. Although, I just purchased an iPad and it’s starting to pull its weight.
RORY: Where are you finding ideas for your work these days?
PATRICK: My ideas have always started with my personal experiences, questions, struggles, interests, and then through photographing, reading, writing, drawing and painting, I understand what aspects in the work are reflected on a public scale. Maybe it’s my background in psychology, but I’m deeply interested in understanding why I behave, how those behaviors affect outward in space and time, and vice versa. I get super excited by an image or idea that I come across, then I move towards it trusting that intuition. I do try to balance that with critical reflection to help me understand that impulse and better use the conscious skills and knowledge I’ve gained. I once heard an interview with Quincy Jones in which he spoke about his time recording Thriller with Michael Jackson, and he said that when they came across a beat or arrangement that made Michael want to get up and dance, they had to trust that feeling and hope that if they shared something that they were very excited about, others would get at least a little excited as well. I keep that story with me as advice.
RORY: Do you collect anything?
PATRICK: I’m a big purger, so collecting things outside of books is hard. I do try to collect art when I can. It’s imperative to support fellow artists and collecting is one way of doing that.
RORY: What work of art do you wish you owned?
PATRICK: Perhaps a sound suit by Nick Cave. Any one of them, they’re all pretty awesome.
RORY: Who are some of your favorite dead, and living artists?
PATRICK: Some visual artists who come immediately to mind are Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Luis Caballero, Caravaggio, Renee Cox, Marlene Dumas, Lucien Freud, Leon Golub, Barkley L. Hendricks, Käthe Kollwitz, Jacob Lawrence, Sally Mann, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andreas Serrano, Tony Scherman, Nari Ward and Carrie Mae Weems. Some non-visual artists who I equally favor and are influential are Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Ani Difranco, Gil Scott-Heron, Bruce Lee, Fleetwood Mac and Jim Morrison.
RORY: What are one or two factors that make it more difficult for you to flourish?
PATRICK: I make paintings, – large paintings, paintings with nudity, specifically penises, about issues regarding representations of gender, race and power. These interests have limited my access to certain venues, but have also opened up other doors. With dedication, time, and the confidence that individuals and institutions have placed into my past projects, I’ve built my practice to a place with a steady exhibition schedule, reviews and invitations to many exciting spaces.
RORY: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
PATRICK: I’m a huge movie buff. My father and I watched all types of movies when I was young and I worked in various video stores for 6 years during my college years. Independent, big box office, foreign, I’ll watch almost anything at least once.
RORY: Where can we find you? ie: Facebook, Twitter
PATRICK: You can find me socializing on Facebook at patrickearlhammieartist, and on twitter @patrickehammie.
RORY: What is your advise to emerging artists?
PATRICK: Don’t stop working (aggressively) and be ambitious – ambitious in terms of ideas and in scope; with a hint of recklessness. Learn what it means to be a good citizen, first in the university/school and ultimately in the various Art worlds. Giving back isn’t something you only begin doing once you’ve reached a “certain age.” Involving yourself in curatorial projects, internships, studio assistantships, collaborations, workshops and panel discussions are some of the ways in which to engage with your community, build bridges between yourself and other like-minded people in and outside of your field, and reinvest in the worlds in which you participate.