Activate studio artist, Oliver Crowther interviews Jack Goldsmith about his new paintings and the process behind the works:
Olly: How would you describe your paintings to someone who couldn’t see them?
Jack: Blurry, texture, brilliant skulls.
O: Could you describe your process? How do these paintings come about?
J: I just use my head. They’re like skull-wallpaper.
O: What is it about skulls that attracts you, that motivates you to paint them?
J: Skulls are really fascinating to me. They are inside you but also it’s to do with loving the ones you miss, like family, you know what I mean? Like my grandfather and my great grandfather.
O: Many people who see your paintings remark that they remind them of the Mexican festival, the Day of the Dead. Do you recognise that connection yourself?
J: Yes. I was researching about skulls online and I came across Day of the Dead. Mexico is my favourite country. I’m trying to study Spanish. It’s far more fascinating than French.
O: These paintings have a very bold use of colour. How do you decide on which colour to use?
J: I choose colour just by what looks good together.
O: Do these paintings have names or titles?
J: I’d like them to have names but they don’t at the moment.
O: Have you thought about showing them somewhere so other people can see them?
J: It would be good to get attention. Maybe they’ll become famous one day.