CARRY PORTRAITS
Tartan and trinkets, with artist Anna Marrone
We can learn a lot about someone from the material objects they rely on. With Anna Marrone, we get the sense that tactility is everything.
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We can learn a lot about someone from the material objects they rely on. For artist Stephen Baker, his tools hint at a craft thatโs both simple and complex, analogue and digital.
Keeping things simple doesnโt come easy. You have to plan, refine, have a crack, then plan a little more. Artist Stephen Baker is the perfect example of someone who creates work that looks effortless, yet who works really hard to make it happen. He strips back the clutter in every area, from his workspace, to his processes, to his paintings. But, it wasnโt always that way...
โI used to be one of those people who had a studio with every little inspirational thing in there,โ says Stephen looking around his workspace. โYou know, little trinkets and figurines and stuff. But then I realised itโs just a bunch of bullshit. Now I feel like I know what Iโm doing more. It took years to get here, but now all I need is a functional space, not too cluttered, so I can walk in and I can just sit down and get to work.โ
โIโm a sucker for heading to the pub on a nice day to have a beer, with sketchbooks out โฆ Iโll have a whole show basically mapped out before I start painting on canvas.โ
That simplified approach to his studio also translates across into Stephenโs art. But instead of that being a long, slow process, however, it was a lightbulb moment that made Stephen realise clean lines could be his thing.
โI was doing lots of laborious line work and drawings, and it would take ages,โ he says. โThen I got asked to do the mural at the Fitzroy Pool (a popular hangout in Melbourneโs inner north); I had to simplify everything so it wouldnโt take too long. People walking past as I was painting it were really digging it. Young people and kids, and even the older generation were really vibing the colors and simplicity. I thought, โthis is awesome, I love this. Iโm going to try to put this into practiceโ. That was a turning point that opened the door to more mobility.โ
Mobility is definitely a theme for Stephen. Rather than being restricted to the studio, all he needs to get work done are some Moleskine notebooks, pens, pencils and a sharpener.
โIโm a sucker for heading to the pub on a nice day to have a beer, with sketchbooks out,โ he says. โIโll do weeks of sketching, and then itโll be all about scanning and coloring. Then, Iโll have a whole show basically mapped out before I start painting on canvas. Itโs quite a โgraphic designโ style process.โ
For Stephen, the key is simplicity. In life, in art, in process and in the things that he carries with him. That, and a midday beer now and again to keep the creativity frothing.
โIโm really simple, so a pen, my pencils, sharpener, eraser, a notepad and some music โ thatโs all I need to go to the park or pub and just sketch.โ
โFor pencils, I use a Staedtler. I mean theyโre German, and anything German is pretty good.โ
โWith the pencil case I always go for red, and I know Iโll be carrying it in my bag so I want to be able to see it. Iโm trying to get more colorful in what I wear these days, โcos Iโm usually all black... itโs a Melbourne thing.โ
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