Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryce Darrow.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I come from a family of artists and musicians, at the age of 2 I began drawing and painting. The older I got the more I started drawing people and things. Superheroes and video game characters were among some of my favorite subjects and I would sometimes make my own comics. I learned a lot from the book “How to Draw The Marvel Way” which had gesture, ink and perspective exercises within it. My parents were very supportive and nurtured my creativity. I would mostly draw with a pencil on computer paper at the little coffee table inside my home in Mt. Baldy, Ca. Growing up in the mountains surrounded by nature was a blessing that most kids don’t get to experience these days. Fishing, rock jumping, and skateboarding were some of my favorite pastimes. I think being an only child surrounded by nature really molded me into being an observational person. I was always looking down at the bugs, rocks and twigs. I would often try to piece together clues of what had happened before I arrived at the location which really spurred my imagination. I think that observational ability I learned at a young age has really helped me with my artistic pursuits. When I was older, I developed an interest in ink and crosshatching. This stemmed from my interest in Japan and Manga. The versatility of one medium fascinated me. I later went on to study art at Citrus College when I was 18 years old. Although I showed an interest in art, I was not fully passionate about painting and drawing. I later went on to drop out of community college to pursue a career in music for approximately six years. I played guitar and keyboard in a band called Turquoise Noise. The lifelong friendships and connections I made through music made the journey more than worthwhile, but I fell out of love with the lifestyle. The demands of being in a band were not something I wanted to sacrifice my time for anymore. So after my run with LA and the musician life, I dove headfirst into my artwork. I’m proud to say that since about 2016 I’ve been drawing just about every day and haven’t looked back. I think to truly be a great artist you have to fall in love with the process. Somebody told me once that art is 90% digging ditches and I agree with this sentiment. So it was important for me to learn to love digging holes, practice is everything. I am currently studying drawing and painting at LCAD in my junior year.
Please tell us about your art.
My artwork is primarily inspired by shape and mark-making. The artwork that inspires me usually focuses around one of those aspects. I mostly make drawings and paintings of people, a subject I have always been fascinated by. I value simplicity over complexity and beauty over the narrative. I would hope that this comes through in my artwork. I am a big believer in artistic development through experimentation and emotion. I love experimenting with new mediums and materials; I find that when I’m uncomfortable that usually means growth and knowledge are on the horizon. It also helps to make me a well-rounded artist. When I am making art, I feel a sense of accomplishment as well as purpose. That’s why it is important to me that I draw every day. For this reason, I am a huge proponent of the sketchbook. I carry one with me wherever I go rain or shine. A sketchbook is a place where I get to be myself, and that’s what I enjoy most about it.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I think the power of an image has much more impact than it has in past generations. The internet has made artwork available at our fingertips which has its own set of merits and faults. Defining roles for artists has to be done on a case by case basis. I think artists are directly affected by the environments they work in. My work is by no means overtly political but to say that it doesn’t affect my work would be incorrect. I would say that these things indirectly affect my artwork.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The best places to see my artwork are on Instagram (@brycedarrowart) and on my website at www.brycedarrow.com. I am open for commission work and have artwork available for sale.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brycedarrow.com
- Email: brycedarrow1989@gmail.com
- Instagram: @brycedarrowart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brycedarrowart
- Twitter: @brycedarrowart
Image Credit:
The photograph of me was taken by Brandon Villalovos
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