Fragment of interview with Heather Brown:
When and where were you born? I was born in 1973 in Los Angeles, California.
When did you start painting and why? I really started painting in college, but the style I paint now is nothing like what I was painting at school. My professors would tell me, "you're not in college to paint a pretty picture". It was all about being conceptual while in school.Once I graduated, I was free to paint whatever I wanted, which was around the same time I was learning to surf at Waikiki. I would surf all day, having fun, soaking up my surroundings, and then at of the day, express it all on canvas.
Who is/ are the person(s) that inspires you most? Thomas Campbell, Andy Davis, Wolfgang Bloch, Barry McGee, Shepard Fairy, Tim Biskup, Leroy Grannis, Gary Baseman.
What country or place inspires you most? Hawaii, Southern California, Bali, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica.
How do you relate surf and painting? Surf is constantly moving and changing, there are so many moments in the water that are so beautiful that I try to store in my brainfor later paintings. Even though surf is a predominant subject in my paintings, it never gets dull for me, just as the ocean never gets dull, it's always there, but it's always looking different, some days the waves are giant mountains of moving water with so much energy to them and size, and other times, there is just mushy little one footers rolling in, or perfect head high glassy barreling waves. Mixing landscapes with seascapes has been fun for me to do also. I like the feeling of peaking through a lush tropical jungle and seeing these perfect empty sets rolling in. I try to make my paintings a place that you wish you can be.. wish you can be dropping in on that wave in my painting, or sitting on the beach with a plumeria tree shading you and being surrounded by red ginger and hibiscus.
How do you understand the search? What does it mean to you? I have a good idea of the search, but cannot say I know it entirely. If I did, I wouldn't be searching for it right? I think we are always on a search for wisdom, spirituality, the next wave, happiness.
What is your best surf spot? I guess it depends on what side of the island I am on, If I'm in town, I love surfing at Pops, Paradise, Three's, or Bowls (Ala Moana Bowls). But if I surf north shore, I really like chuns, Lani's, and Pu'ena Point.
What do you want to say through your art? I want my art to make people feel good when they look at it.
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More of this interview can be read on www.ripcurl.eu
