Artist Interview – Jérôme Forsans

Name: Jérôme Forsans
Location: Orthez, France.
Website: https://www.jeromeforsans.com/

Brief artists statement:
Naturally both sensitive and curious, I experience a lot of feelings due to my private life, as well as my confrontation to the globalized world. My work is the synthesis of this sympathetic point of view in minimalist metaphorical images.

How did you become an artist? Did you always dream of a life in the art-world?
I became an artist by chance. I have always been a dreamer but without a real purpose. It’s the discovery of my medium, drawings made in a single stroke by a pewter wire, that opened me to the art-world.

How has your education helped your career?
I had a scientific education and it’s in my chemistry lab where I discovered this “use”of the pewter wire.

Do you work as an artist full-time? Describe your typical day. Do you have a routine?
I quitted my career as a scientist ten years ago. Now I work four months a year in a factory and the rest of the year I am a full-time artist. I spend every day 2-3 hours of effective work in my studio.

Which historical and contemporary artists do you refer to most often? How are you influenced by their work?
I often refer to Matisse and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Matisse for his cleverness and his art of the composition and Basquiat for the imbrication in his work of art and life.

What are the other influences on your work?
I have a real craving for news and informations and since the 9/11 attacks I personally witnessed in New York, I try to integrate our globalized world in my paintings.

What was the last exhibition you visited?
The Stein Collection in the Grand Palais, Paris. I love to see great artists in their beginnings and there were very interesting early Picasso’s.

What are your experiences of the ‘art-world’ and the business of art?
My experience of the ‘art world’ and his business is quiet virtual and based on the news through the internet.

Do you have any tips or advice you wish you had known earlier in your career?
I can’t say I have a career, I am still striving without regrets.

Do you have a quotation that you keep coming back to and that keep you going? Have you a motto that gets you through?
My only motto is inspiration.

Which historical artist do you think is over-rated? Why?
I think an historical artist can’t be over rated because time is the only judge in art.

Do you or would you use assistants to make your work?
Even if the inspiration is for me the most important thing, I like the crafting in art.

Do you use social networks? if so, how and which ones do you find most useful?
Yes, I use facebook . It allows my ‘friends’ to have a glimpse in my studio and through my post I can share what nourishes my inspiration.

Which artist should we all look up immediately? What art magazines, blogs or sites should art lovers be looking at?
Stay open and curious.

Finish this limerick: There once was an artist from…
                                             There once was an artist from home
                                             Wishing to make the world his own.