First Impressions
This US painter wants to go large with his artworks…
Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art?
I grew up in the city of Mesa, Arizona. The desert skies where I lived are spectacular. Massive cloud formations and a huge range of colours at sunrise and sunset. It instilled a great love of clouds and you can see that in my work
What, outside of art, has most influenced your artwork?
Probably my love of fantasy and mythology. I grew up reading the mythologies from many different cultures. My parents had a great series of books that went into Celtic, Nordic, Greek, Egyptian and Japanese myths. Those stories have stuck with me and still inform my creativity.
Does one person stand out as being helpful during your early years?
Certainly my parents. They were incredibly supportive of my desire to be an artist from a very young age. I don’t know why, but at 12 I felt strongly that this was what I wanted to do. They kept me perpetually stocked with art supplies.
What was your first paid commission, and does it stand as a representation of your talent?
I was commissioned to do an oil painting of a Japanese garden when I was 12. I somehow pulled off a pretty decent painting and I don’t think I did anything nearly as good for another four or five years. Ha! It was a big boost to my drive to be an artist, for sure. As far as the subject goes though, it was outside of my interests then, but not now. I’d love to go paint in Japan!
What’s the last painting you finished, and how do the two artworks differ?
My last painting was an allegorical figure piece of woman seeding the skies with stars. I think my 12-year-old self would love it. It speaks to me more than the landscape I started with, but both represent either a space I’d like to venture into or an idea that I find intriguing.
What are your painting rituals?
I like to create a comfortable space to paint in. A lot of conveniences are around me: my phone, my laptop, my ipad for reference. I put on a film or audiobook after eating breakfast and settle in for a long day of painting. I keep a few snacks nearby as well. Things that keep me at my easel and working, rather than let myself get distracted. I can answer emails and make calls if I need to without getting up. Maybe it’s a bit lazy, but it enables me to stay focused longer.
How is your art evolving?
When I switched from digital to traditional I was determined to do everything traditionally, but now I’m embracing my digital roots (I worked in the video game industry for about 12 years) and using Blender, Zbrush and Photoshop to my preparatory work. It’s letting me push past what’s observable in nature and do things that draw more heavily upon my imagination.
What does the future hold for you?
I see myself attempting more largescale works and increasing the ambition of my compositions. When I go to museums I’m always struck by the scale of so many of the paintings on the wall. Most are lifesized or bigger and there’s an impact that comes with scale. I also want to add sculpture and print-making to my body of work!
You can see more of Howard’s awardwinning art at www.howardlyon.com.
When I go to museums I’m always struck by the scale of so many of the paintings