Running On Fumes

Interview with Paige Ring
by Abel Ibáñez G.

Which tools did you use for the creation of this piece?
Palette knife primarily, but brushes and squeegees as well.

What was the creative process behind it, from the beginning until it was finished?
The process started with ton of layering to create a really rich and interesting surface. I wanted gritty texture up close that you wanted to reach out and touch, while maintaining a more minimal aesthetic from a distance. When you’re up close you can see marks where I’ve scratched and scraped through paint to show layers beneath.

What were your references, influences or inspirations during your creative process?
I try not to reference anything specifically, or allow too many outside sources to influence me directly. Of course I consume a lot of culture, I love movies, music, fashion, and architecture. Seeing other artists hone their craft really inspires me. Music is an inspiration in studio, I almost never paint without a great playlist.

What was the hardest thing for you and how did you solve it?
Finishing is always the hardest part for me, knowing when to stop, how to hold back from overworking.

Because the process is really why I paint, I could easily paint 100 paintings on the same canvas. I usually have about 6-10 large paintings on the go at one time to make sure I don’t do that. I’ve gotten better at letting a painting live with me in my studio for a bit. After a few days if I start to feel like I’d hang it in my own house, I call it done.

What did you enjoy the most about the process?
I paint mostly to quiet the world around me, when I create I’m trying to be fully in the moment with the materials, completely out of my head. There’s nothing better than loosing time in the studio, just focusing on what’s happening in front of me and experimenting with different techniques. I also love minimalism, and it shows up in my work a lot. Possibly for the same reason, it allows me to be really in the moment without the stress of clutter surrounding me. I truly enjoy every part of the process, from stretching the canvas to mixing the paint, but it’s the mark making that’s the most exhilarating. Drawing and scraping by through the layers. Building something completely new from just a few basic materials and tools is really amazing, and I’m so grateful I get to do it everyday.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
The collector that purchased Running On Fumes from one of the galleries that represents me, sent me a wonderful email about how it connected with them. They own an apple farm, and I just love hearing about the lives of my collectors and where the work ends up.