As we approach the opening of his solo exhibition, North Landing, in October, artist Andrew Farmer talks to Mag North‘s editor, Colin Petch about his work, his inspiration and why he loves to paint en plein air.
There is something immediately likeable about this accomplished painter, as we talk in his studio, anonymously situated at the bottom of the garden at the family’s South Yorkshire home.
Anxious to convey the philosophy behind his practice, the artist, who still appears genuinely baffled by the ever-growing appetite for his painting, explains: “I’m all about anti-commercialism. If something’s selling – I get suspicious.”
“At the moment, there’s a real thing about plein-airism. I don’t care what anyone else is doing. It’s not tunnel vision – I am aware of what’s going on, but I don’t let things kind of sway me – and if I know that the in-thing is green as a colour, I don’t go and make loads of green paintings. I just stay on my own track and watch everything else pass me by.”
