JAMES CHUTER
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1. When did you start doing street art?
I painted my first piece November 2015 on Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia.
2. Why/ How did you start doing street art?
I'd always loved to draw but lost my inspiration after I finished university (studying film). I was busy with wor and also discovered music making, specifically electronic / house music. Whenever I had free time I would choose to do this instead of art. I realized art wasn't fun for me. I used to draw complicated ink drawings, and being a perfectionist would stop if I felt I'd made a mistake so never finished anything. I decided painting big in public would be a way to overcome this. I would be forced to finish and have a time limit. I also thought it might make art fun again. So I applied to paint the beach wall having never done a mural and loved it! The feedback was really strong and I started getting asked to do more!
3. How long does it take to complete one project?
On average 2 days. But usually, 1-4 days depending on the size/colours / detail/surface and hours I can access the site.
4. Where do you get inspiration for your artwork?
I always loved doodling randomly and inventing characters. Then when I was about 12 years old an art teacher introduced me to Keith Haring and that had a big influence on my style. Now I get influenced by all the incredible street artists I've discovered since getting into it myself.
5. What does street art mean to you?
For me, it's a great way to advertise what I do, in order to get more art commissions and hopefully make a living from art. Each piece is like a giant billboard in a major city! It's also a way of reclaiming the streets from advertising and brightening up otherwise uninspiring environments. For many it's political but for me, it's fun and supposed be enjoyed!
6. What had the most impact on your style?
As I mentioned earlier, Keith Haring, illustration, characters design, comics, and concept art.
7. What is one of your best work?
Normally my most recent, which is my colorful Camden piece from a couple months ago. This was my largest wall to date, and the most colorful. It's also the most I've used spray paint which is something I'm trying to get better at. My first handful of walls were all done with paint pens
8. What do you wish to accomplish with your artworks? What do your artworks symbolize?
As an artist, I want to improve with every piece and try not to repeat myself. I hope as I improve with spraypaint they will become more detailed, with shading and depth. I am also interested in Buddhist and psychedelic symbolism, harmony and balance.
9. How would you define your style? How is it different from others?
My style is illustrative, pop art and bold, playful and hopefully balanced while also appearing random. I think my bold black outlines, and balanced but detailed compositions separate me from other artists.
10. What do you think street art will be like in the future?
It is increasingly popular, and I think local areas are starting to appreciate how it can improve an area of popularity and desirability. In London, there are many tourists who pay to come for street art tours. Run down areas are also improved and transformed when street art takes over, making places more desirable to live. It's increasingly moving into galleries and I think more immediate and relevant than a lot of the art you'd normally find in galleries.
Do you consider graffiti to be art? How would you argue back to people who don’t consider it as art?
I think graffiti is art when it is done with effort, care for technique and respect for the place it is created. Although others will disagree I don't find 'tagging' or vandalism to be art for the most part, and would never paint without permission (also because I'd hate to be told to stop halfway through a piece!) I think it is becoming more accepted as art, however I'm sure there are many people who would disagree.