Artist: Govinder
Title: Vlad (canvas)
Size: 20" x 23 3/4"
Edition Size: Artist Hand Signed and Numbered Limited Edition to 195
Medium: Silkscreen (canvas)
About the Artist: HISTORY & BACKGROUND

My art training began in Bradford in the North of England, where I studied Graphic Design from 1980-1983. After that I then went on to study for a Higher Diploma in Graphic Design, specialising in illustration, at Lincoln Art College.

Once I completed all my formal training I decided to move to London, approaching all of the major city publishers with my portfolio. It was there that I worked on illustrations for children’s books, and after 6 months moved to Cambridge where I continued working as a freelance illustrator.

Upon moving back to my home town of Saltaire in West Yorkshire, I took up the position of designer for a greetings card company, which involved all aspects of product design and development. Following that I became a photographic art director, directing fashion shoots all over the world. I did this for the next year or so until 1993, when I decided to swap my hectic photographic job and lifestyle, for a quieter life back in Saltaire. I spent the next five years here, working freelance on card designs with major publishing companies.

It wasn’t until 1999 that I decided to enter the fine art market and approached Washington Green with my portfolio. Since joining them they have published over 40 of my designs and are currently developing some of my art into sculpture.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

I wake up around 7.30am and listen to the news on TV, which soon changes to Pokemon when my eight-year-old daughter, Eden, enters the room. My wife Sarah is already up and offers me a cup of coffee and a kiss before she leaves for work. Eden and I get up around 8am, and between now and the school run I try to organise my thoughts for today’s work.

I’m in the studio at 9.30am, where I put on a CD. I can’t paint without my music; it channels my thoughts into the work I’m doing. I need something loud and menacing today - ‘New Model Army’ does the trick! I’m working on a huge family of red cats. It’s a painting I planned months ago and even though the cats are defined, it’s still a very abstract painting. The cats all have evil eyes. They represent evil people, hordes of them. I call this painting ‘Legion’.

At 3.25pm I stop work to pick up Eden from school. After fixing her a bite to eat I finish off painting for the day, followed by a few chores around the house. When Sarah returns from work we both relax for a while with a large gin and tonic. Working the way I do can be an isolating experience and requires self-discipline. I can go for days without speaking to anyone other than my wife and daughter, which doesn’t really bother me. I actually enjoy it. I especially enjoy the reaction when Sarah returns from work and sees a finished painting, where earlier that day all she saw was a blank canvas. My wife and daughter are the first point of contact for my paintings. They are truly my greatest inspiration, and also my very honest critics.

At around 11pm I go into my studio, put on some music and look at the paintings still drying on the walls. This is my thinking time. It’s good to see them with ‘fresh eyes’ and in a different light. Sometimes I just look at them for hours. I always get something out of it, whether it’s a new painting or just a good night’s sleep!