CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: ISAAC ANDREWS

WORDS BY: Sahara Kalafchi, Isaac Andrews

COVER IMAGE: Sam Pemberton / @sampembs

In our latest Creator Journal Interview we spoke with Artist Isaac Andrews a young artist who we’ve been following for a while now. His work centres around his deep exploration of issues affecting communities and demographics around the world. Each pieces convey a critical and creative perspective of these topics which he captures through the use of a varied mediums. Continue reading to learn a bit more about Isaac and his work

S: GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT YOURSELF...

I’m an 18 year old artist from London. I’m currently doing my A-Levels, and have been creating art for the last three years

S: TELL US ABOUT WHEN YOU DISCOVERED YOUR PASSION FOR ART AND HOW ITS AFFECTED YOU LIFE AS A CREATIVE...

My passion for art originally came out of boredom - I started creating large charcoal drawings and shared them online, and had a great response, so thought there must be something in this. Slowly, the more I shared, the more people began to resonate with my work. And since then I’ve never stopped.

S: WHO AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCES?

My biggest influences are the movements of surrealism, Dadaism and abstract expressionism. Some Artists that have inspired my practice are Rauschenberg, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Hannah Hoch, Raoul Hassmann, Cy Twombly, Clyfford Still and Dali

IMAGES BY: SAM PEMBERTON / @sampembs

S: WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND APPROACH TO A NEW PROJECT?

It’s a very messy and organic process. I love blank canvases - this gives me a weird form of hope and excitement. If it’s a piece about a particular issue of a topic, I start from research, and then move to image curation, pulling together themes. I then explore different mediums, and work out which best conveys what I hope to convey, and then work from there.

S: IS THERE AN OVERARCHING MESSAGE TO YOUR WORK?

My pieces are all centred around their own messages. It’s a form of social commentary, and documentary art, shedding light onto issues around the world.

SOURCE: Isaac Andrews

S: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS DEFINED YOUR SUCCESS AS A YOUNG CREATIVE?

I wouldn’t say I’m successful. I’m still learning, and I’ve still got an incredibly long way to go. But one thing that has got me to the point where I’m at is definitely my love for art, and my knowledge about art. Rauschenberg famously said “you can’t make art with one foot in an art book”, but I feel this isn’t true. The study of other artists, and art movements, let you understand the creative process, and develop your own craft

S: HOW DO YOU BELIEVE QUARANTINE AND THE PANDEMIC HAVE AFFECTED YOUR CREATIVITY?

More than anything, it’s given me time, more time than I would have had at any point in my life. This let me take on larger projects, such as creating my first book. In the uncertain time that was lockdown, art had a lot more power to tell stories that needed telling. It also gave me a cathartic outlook I didn’t realise I needed.

SOURCE: Isaac Andrews

S: WHAT’S SOME ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO ANOTHER YOUNG ARTIST?

Create as much as you can, and never stop learning. That’s the best way to develop yourself as an artist. And put your work out there - be proud of it.

S: FINALLY, WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

I hope I’m still able to create work - that’s the main thing. Ideally I will be able to travel the world, creating important art that people still resonate with. But I don’t really like putting expectations on myself. I’d rather focus on the present, and work hard now so in the future I’m in a better position.

That brings us to the end of our feature story with Isaac! Make sure to check him out on Insta and The Web. You can also order his new merch and book linked below! Be the first to know about new stories by subscribing to join our email crew below.

12.30.20