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Can you tell us about your life as an artist? Where did it all begin?

I started painting I think about 20 years ago because of my friend Ziggy Hill. 

After touring in a band for a while and between bar jobs I was hospitalised with pneumonia at 21 I decided it was a good idea to try and pursue Art as a career while I couldn’t do much else. After about 7 years of struggling, saying yes to every opportunity, and no small amount of luck, something clicked and enough people had started discovering my work. Since then I’ve exhibited all over the world! I’m extremely grateful for not having to go back to working in a bar that made me sick haha. And I still play in a band (Sly & the family drone)

What is the biggest influence of your artistic ideas and themes?

My friend Jesse Reno was a huge part of how I approach my work and the techniques I use. Especially when I was starting out. And I take a lot of inspiration from British folklore and haunted house horror movies have always held a special place in my heart as long as I’ve been creating.

There are many repeating themes and symbols in your artwork. Could you give us some insight into the subject matter of your artworks?

To put it plainly it would be life, death, magic, and cats. There’s plenty else, and a lot of crossover. But I like to keep things vague when I can - the more you tell, the less people think. I think.

You have a very strong, distinctive style. Has it always been this way or was there a significant moment that lead you to your current artistic techniques?

It’s definitely been developing and changing a lot over the years. And hopefully it’ll keep changing. There were two moments that happened very close to each other that I think were instrumental in my journey. It was my wife Amy Plante introducing me to the work of Hilma Af Klint and finally finding an oil pastel I could work with (neopastels by caran d’ache). 

What is your artistic process? How do you generate ideas and then execute them as final artworks? 

It’s a bit more refined than it used to be but the essence is still the same as it’s ever been. I like to just go straight in, not over-thinking too much at the start. Just letting whatever out. And as the painting progresses there’s always something to be found in the marks I’ve already put down. Some pieces can take years, just getting dusty while I figure out what they need. Some can be completed in a few hours. Very occasionally I’ll have a complete idea beforehand. I’m always worried if I sketch anything first it’ll ruin it so it has to be the absolute bare bones of the idea just in case I forget it/jinx it haha.

Tell us about a typical Kazland studio day. What motivates you to keep producing artwork?

I usually try to handle any admin or orders that need to go out in the morning. Eat something. And then watch the first half of a movie while I settle into painting, realise movies don’t actually help and then switch to music. It usually takes me at least an hour to be able to start painting anything worthwhile.

I’ve been reminded very recently how cathartic painting is and how if I go too long without it my mind definitely starts to crumble. So I’m extremely grateful I’m able to paint pretty much all the time.

Your recent Boom exhibition involves artworks created on recycled timbers and the inclusion of small 3D sculpture /  shrine style artwork. Do you prefer to work in 2D or 3D?

I’m not actually sure now! Whenever I hit a wall with a painting it’s so refreshing to start building something out of scraps of wood or clay or whatever I have lying around. I actually have a bookshelf full of little things I’ve made while stuck on paintings just from this year. 

What is it like where you live? 

It’s a strange place. It’s a pretty, historic market town with lots of really expensive big brand chain stores. Desperately trying to find somewhere more inspiring to move to.

You are brilliant at promoting yourself as an artist and you have a huge following of fans online. How have you created such a fantastic audience of Kazland supporters and what advice would you give emerging artists when promoting their work?

Not sure if any advice I have is still relevant haha. Social media has changed so much in the 15 years I’ve been using it. But I’m still a big believer in just posting whatever makes you happy, and fostering the community that grows around it. There are probably quicker ways haha.

What kind of music would we hear coming from your studio?

At the moment it’s a lot of Jim Croce and Phoebe Bridgers when I need to get my mind in the right place and Paramore and My Chemical Romance when I feel like I’m not progressing with anything. Oh, and I like the four tops towards the end of the day. Helps me leave in a good mood despite what sort of day I’ve had. 

What’s next for you? Are there any exciting future projects you would like to share?

I’m currently working on a new book. It’s very slow going as there’s just so much going on everywhere right now it’s harder than ever to focus. But it’s going to be a look at the last two years of my paintings matched up with thematically similar drawings, writings and photos. Hopefully anyway. These things have a habit of changing as I’m working on them haha