Meet new IAVA’s newest member Saxon Reynolds. We asked Saxon a few questions about his art practice.
Saxon Reynolds in his studio.
What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?
Some of my earliest memories of interacting with art are with the large number of antique items, collections and old western paintings at my grandparents’ house growing up. Rooms filled, every inch of the walls, floor and even the roof in certain areas covered in the most fascinating items, I especially remember a painting of a runaway stagecoach with 4 horse’s charging away from an approaching storm through Monument Valley. Every Sunday lunch and afternoon was a wondrous exploration of these rooms and a huge dusty 6 car garage and loft constantly discovering and stumbling across old tools and machinery, books, drawings, maps, just everything… it was amazing.
Also, I have always drawn and sketched but my first successful interaction with art was in Years 1 and 2 where I would draw monsters, vehicles, and stories for other students … even making a profit at times.
The following year I won my first art competition for an assemblage sculpture created from found objects gathered from my family’s garage. After this I was truly hooked!
How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)
I am an illustrator, sculptor, and assemblage artist. I sketch and draw constantly filling journals with ideas, some come to be realised others are put on the back burner for another time. I am heavily inspired by the Cubists and abstract art with aspects of Steampunk also seen regularly in my works and I am currently working and carving a lot more with timber. Growing up through the 80s and 90s I was also influenced by the popular culture, cartoons, comics, and films from this era. My works draw from all these areas. My practice is often chaotic with numerous things happening simultaneously as I jump from one thing to another. Woodwork, metalwork, painting, collage, textiles… anything goes if it works for the sculpture getting where I need it to go. I often think of it like assembling a 3D jigsaw puzzle without any instructions or reference.
Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork? What is it that makes them your favourite?
Such a hard question to answer as it constantly changes and new artists are added all the time, but Jim Henson, Brian Froud and Graeme Base have been a huge influence during my childhood and made me want to create art. Their playfulness, heavily detailed illustrations and use of colour and characters are amazing. Once I was in high school the introduction to Brett Whiteley’s use of line has always stuck with me in both my drawing and sculptures. Of course, loving the Cubists Picasso, Braque, and Juan Gris’ abstract and Cubist works to this day resonate in my practice and style, from materials to composition and use of colour and textures. Ron Pippin’s dark assemblages also play a huge roll in allowing me to push the limits of what can be used in contemporary sculptures and are just so original and inspiring. But really it is a list that changes all the time especially depending on the works and series I create or happen to be working on at any given time.
Most recent adventure or achievement or do you have any current goals you’re working towards?
To be honest adventures have been very minimal over the last 3 years since just before Covid. Whereas I use to travel regularly overseas every other year ending with a trip to Japan in 2018. Since then, I have thrown myself into making my artworks and setting up my home studio almost to the exclusion of everything else although I am getting the travel bug buzzing around me much louder recently. What I am currently working towards is gallery representation, and a 2nd solo exhibition. My first solo show ‘Wunderkammer’ in 2021 was well received and showcased 88 works completed over almost a decade. I am currently working on the last few works of a new series which when ready will make up this new exhibition. I have also been accepted into the upcoming The Other Art Fair in Sydney this May which I am excited about being a part of and looking forward too.