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INVESTIGATING THE INTEGRAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS OF MANKIND IN BEAUTIFUL OIL WORKS, NICK ALM


‘Champagne Breakfast’ - oil, 2015

 

You create such regal looking paintings; the size, colour palette, technique. Do they take a long time to create? Talk us through your approach. 

The time varies a lot. It can take a day and it can take years. I often start with a thumbnail sketch. Then I´ll take in models to develop the gestures further. When I finally got a grip of the composition the painting begin, either from photos or from life. I don´t have a single approach but enjoys to experiment. A whole figure might be painted wet into wet, but I also scrape, sand and glaze.


‘Bacchanal’ - oil, 2013

 

The romanticised feel of your oil works is mesmerising! What influences would would you say have helped you to develop your practise in this style?

Zorn, Sargent, Rembrandt, Antonio Mancini, Nerdrum etc.


‘Supporter’ - oil, 2016

 

You studied quite a lot across Europe, where was your favourite place and which one had the biggest impact on the way you work?

My first year in Gothenburg at the FAA had the biggest technical impact, but Florence took the price as a city.

 

The Hudson River Fellowship is a big deal, you were awarded it in 2010, how did it impact your work?

Not much. It had a bigger impact on my life.


‘Dolls’ - oil, 2014

 

Your works focus on the inherent-ness of humanity - the integral and internal factors which affect mankind - what is it about this that drew you in?

I´m a human being. This makes me want to investigate and understand our nature.

 

Which piece is your favourite and what does it mean to you?

I do like the ”Paolo & Francesca” and the bacchanal themes, but my favourite piece hasn't´t been painted yet.


‘Paolo & Francesca’ - oil, 2013

 

You’ve exhibited across Europe and the USA, what’s next for Nick Alm, where should we be looking to see your works popping up?

I´ll probably continue to focus on Sweden and USA.


‘The Performance’ - oil, 2015
 

TO SEE MORE OF NICKS PAINTINGS www.nickalm.co

INTERVIEW by HANNAH SMITH ( Art Jobs )