When did you first become interested in art?
When I was young, we used to visit Uncle Dusty who was an oil painter of dreamy ocean scenes. So I thought if I was an artist I’d always be near the sea.
How would you describe your design style?
Sincere and satirical illustrations, drawn from real life situations.
What inspires you?
I’m influenced by headline news, ancient culture, criminal investigations and patterns in nature; combination of subjects that should keep me busy for many years to come.
What is your favourite piece in your collection?
My latest piece, “Dissolved in Beauty” because its a refreshing new start into a project about patterns in nature. Plus it sparkles when I look at it.
Is there any artistic talent in your family?
Yes there is, my Mum is a master of taste, patterns and flavour, my Dad who has passed on, was a great patient builder. And my Sister is a textile genius.
What is the journey you take to produce your work?
I use my digital camera as a journal, collecting a lot of photos. Sometimes certain images jump out for further inspection and transformation. I start sketching digitally on an iPad. Afterwards, it becomes a large scale drawing made in Photoshop. Then I like to see my designs embossed on a surface. I’m drawn to silk screen, paint and ink because it allows repetition of motif and gives fast, simple colour changes that deliver a tactile hand finish.
What made you want to be a part of Art Rookie?
I like the friendly, welcoming nature of Liz and Jodie. I can see they put their heart into supporting a creative Britain.
When you’re not creating masterpieces what do you enjoy doing?
I practice Falun Gong meditation to keep my mind calm. And spend the summer by the sea watching the sun rising and setting again. I never get bored of that.
Have you faced any struggles getting your work noticed?
Yes I find it hard with the narcissistic nature of promoting myself, so I go back, hideaway and just make something new. Now I think its time to make a concerted effort to do some shameless self-promotion.
Where would we find you hanging out in the UK?
My home city of Liverpool for the banter. Then my home away from home in London for the hustle and bustle. Both are great places for people watching.
What makes British talent different than elsewhere?
A good understanding of satire. Its still a country full of eccentric dreamers.
What are your plans for 2016?
What I’m looking at now, is the way headline news is buried under less damaging but still sensational stories. I see a smoke-screen to protect the interests of another entity. Specifically I’m making a series on the mounting evidence of organ harvesting in China. Former Police Chief Wang Lijun, disguised as an elderly lady, attempted to seek sanctuary and entered a US Embassy in Chengdu. He ratted out his boss Bo Xilai, leaking all kinds of confidential information. Bo had tracked him down using Wang’s mobile phone and surrounded the Embassy. Wang was handed over and then debriefed. The story that rose to the top in the West was Bo Xilai’s wife, Gu Kalai murdering businessman Neil Heyward. This avoids the bigger picture. That being, both Bo and Wang Lijun were believed to be key pioneers and perpetrators in organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience such as Falun Gong and Tibetans. Their faction boss was former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. I’m illustrating this from a book called The Slaughter – Mass killings, organ harvesting, and China’s secret solution to its dissident problem by Ethan Gutmann. Some stories involve a deeper investigation that doesn’t fit into a 24 hour news cycle. They get lost in the system. I want to help uncover and make sense of this story with macabre illustrations and fitting propaganda style slogans.
http://www.artrookie.co.uk/Sigross
