Interview with Candice Tripp

Can you introduce yourself for us? (Where you from etc...)

Yeah. I’m Candice from Cape Town, South Africa and I currently live in Newcastle upon Tyne.



What's your background? Art school? Self learner? Art for Dummies?

My education goes as far as high school. I’d draw during science class and refuse to paint in art. Only my English teacher liked me.



How will you describe your art for somebody who doesn't know your stuff?

I like to play with negative space. The title of a painting is often of more importance than whatever reaches the canvas. It’s sometimes dark. Mostly illustrative.



What are your favourite materials to work with?

Oil and ink. One just isn’t the same without the other.



How long does it take you to produce a piece? Do you start out with a sketchbook or do you freehand all the way?

I don’t really know. Whether I make good headway or not, there is always a 1 – 2 week period of waiting for paint to dry before I can start inking. I can sometimes hammer out the bulk of piece in a day after thinking about it for a month.
As a rule I try not to seriously sketch things before I paint; the end result is always lacking in something if I’ve got a neat little drawing to compare it with.



Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere, it just depends on my frame of mind. If I don’t come up with a title first (which is how it usually works) ideas tend to come to me in fragments.



Who influences you the most, any favourite artist(s)?

I’d like nothing more than to break into Ericailcane’s head. He’s just brilliant.



Living as an artist is sometimes difficult financially, any part time job?

Yeah, I work as a designer for a digital agency and I keep the heating low. I figure if I can almost get by on a part time salary, I’ll never truly be at the mercy of the art word. If I need to pack away my crayons and cut my losses, I will.



You've produced a lot of work. Do you have a favourite piece?

“The Escape”

What do you think of the current "Street Art" movement?

“Jesus Christ”

Best Gallery in the world? and why?

I don’t really enjoy visiting galleries. I’m more into zoos. The Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna is the best one I’ve been to yet. It’s the oldest in the world and they still have some of the original baroque cages.



Beer and Fag or Tea and Biscuit?

Just a coffee, thanks.



What are your plans in the near future? Any upcoming exhibitions?

Ongoing goals are to maintain constant fear self-doubt.
Very near future plans involve showing at the Lazarides Gallery in Newcastle next week (Nov 14- Jan 31). I might be visiting LA in the next year or two. Let’s hope all my visa worries fall neatly into place.

Candice website
Lazarides Gallery