ArtIsUnity Interviews – Brittany Hayden
I do define myself as a figurative painter. I wouldn’t say it’s important to me to be one, but the figure is a subject I really enjoy painting and plan to paint more of in the future. I’ve tried abstraction and I just don’t get the same satisfaction out of making abstract work as I do making figurative work, although, I very much appreciate abstract art and I do find myself inspired by a lot of abstract painters.
It seems like in your earlier work you use a lot of symbolic imagery and use characters that exist in a narrative context. Is this true? If so, can you talk about the symbolism and different repeating characters in your work?
Yes, I used a lot of symbolism in my earlier work because I was focused on creating a dreamlike narrative driven by childhood nonsense. For example, a lamb with hands and a hat is a recurring character in my earlier paintings; it was created in a playful and spontaneous state of mind, channeling my inner child.
Your more recent work seems to be much more straightforward figurative painting. The style also seems more modern and direct. Do you feel this is accurate?
Yes I do. I like the simplicity of a more traditional subject matter. I feel that it gives the viewer more time to focus on the way something is being painted than what’s being painted.
How has your process changed in making the work? Is that important to you artistically and conceptually?
My process has changed a bit in 2020. I’ve learned the importance of painter’s tape thus giving me the opportunity to have crisper lines. I also used to use strictly oil paints, and then I learned how to use oil pastels and a little acrylic never hurt anyone.
Much of your work deals with intimacy, sensuality and sexuality. Can you talk about these themes in your work? How much of your art is about yourself? How much is about others and the world around you?
What queer doesn’t love talking about their sexuality haha? Most of my paintings either involve myself, queer people that I know in real life, or people I’ve dreamt up and created on the canvas. Queer humans are very vibrant people in their clothing and their personalities so I try to use a wide range of color to express the boldness and excitement of the LGBTQ+ community
Do you work in other mediums besides painting? Is drawing important to you and your process? Do you do studies?
Drawing is very important to me and I make studies for all of my paintings unless I’m copying a photograph. I often feel like I can’t get started on painting until I have at least 50% of the idea fleshed out. It gives me more confidence when approaching a new painting and it also saves a lot of time when I’m ready to put down a layer of paint. I often wonder what would happen if I skipped the study step and went straight to the canvas… an experiment to try in the future I suppose.
Who are some of your influences?
Tons! I often think about Robin F. Williams’s color palette especially in her 2017 exhibition, and her painting “Rescue Party” is one that I think about on a daily basis. Andrew Salgado is another painter I have recently started to look up to, I love his use of color and the flatness of his figures. After seeing the works from just the two artists that I’ve listed they have both changed the way that I look at my work. Their paintings changed my color palette and the way that I render a form.
Do you listen or watch things while you’re working?
Sometimes I’ll have music playing or a podcast if I feel like my brain is too busy thinking about other things outside of my studio, but a lot of the time it’s silent and I don’t even notice.
Do you work at regularly scheduled time?
Not at all haha.
Many thanks to Brittany Hayden: view Brittany’s work here, and in our ArtIsUnity Gallery.