Interview With Maser

I had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with one of Ireland’s leading contemporary artists ahead of my debut solo show opening on November 7th. Maser is globally renowned for his stimulating compositions and expert use of colour. Our practices share many parallels with both of us utilising a background in graffiti to create our work. Hope you enjoy learning a bit more about me and my practice.

What’s your name, practice and where are you based?
My name is John O’ Flynn and I am a Painter based in Dublin.

What inspires your artwork, and how do your personal experiences shape your creations?
Luckily I am a very inspired person, so there are many, many things that inspire my work. Most commonly I am inspired by the natural landscape, natural light and our ineffable connection with these things. 

Can you describe your creative process? How do you go from an idea to a finished piece?
Usually I will get ideas when I am out walking, running, on the bus or in transit of any kind really. I will take some notes on my phone and then turn this into a small scale watercolour painting or similar. After that it either goes on a canvas or on a wall. 

How has your style evolved over time, and what have been some key influences on its development?
My style has progressed from more traditional,  watercolour landscapes into a realm where I am marrying this with my background in graffiti. I don’t know that there was any major external influences on this development, it just seemed like a bit of a no brainer to marry these two interests. Contemporary watercolour artists like Chien Chung-Wei and graffiti writers like Horfee and Revok have been very influential from a stylistic perspective over the years. 

Are there any specific themes or messages you aim to convey in your work?
I strive for my work to exude optimism. I like my work to express the beautiful parts of me and not the sad and anxious components, although that is not always how it goes. I would also say I strive for my work to have a strong sense of conflict and defiance. For example, the conflict between a Connemara sunset being painted in a gritty graffiti style is appealing to me. 

How does your daily routine or lifestyle influence your artistic practice?
Like I’ve said, I am at my most inspired when in transit. I like to get my body moving in the form of gym/running/sports 5 days a week. An active lifestyle plays a critical part in my artistic practice and I prioritise this over anything else. 

What struggles have you faced in your artistic career, and how have you managed to overcome them?
Starting out I struggled with confidence in myself and my work. I still do now, but thankfully to a lesser extent. What has helped me get better in this area is truly finding my mission and knowing that I owe it to myself to complete it. The mission is simply to be a successful artist. With a goal like that, facing fears relating to putting myself and my work “out there” is absolutely non-negotiable. 

Can you describe your work ethic and how you stay motivated to continue producing art?
I think I generally have strong work ethic, which has worked both for me and against me in the past. Over time I’ve learned that if I’m stuck on which direction to take a painting or am not sure what to paint, employing the counter intuitive tools of inaction and reflection can be the most productive thing to do.
Outside of painting I also dabble in Product Design (my old profession) and music, so I try to keep 3 or 4 totally different projects on the go at a time. This means that when I get into a jam on one it’s easy for me to take a break and reflect on the issue while moving onto a different project and staying productive. This is my trick for keeping that stupid “you’re not doing enough” voice in my head at bay.  

How do you balance your time between creating, managing business aspects of your art, and personal life?
I haven’t developed a system for this yet to be honest. I go to the gym at 6pm most evenings and outside of that it’s a bit of a free for all. I try to get to the studio 4-5 days a week and do the business development side of things in the evening, but it doesn’t always work out like that.