Interview with Daniel de Aston - Artist
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 16 November 2011
Daniel de Aston, who likes to be known as the Moody Artist, is someone whose life is almost more colourful than his artwork.
A Romany and restless spirit at heart, he prefers that his art does his talking for him as he puts every feeling and emotion that is inside of him into the creation.
Being such an interesting and intriguing character now based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, and with art work in several galleries such as the Lincoln Art Works Gallery on West Parade, it was about time that LincsMag interviewed the Moody Artist, Daniel de Aston...
Apart from painting, are there any other forms of art that you do?
My art is one of many factors, I am known also for my pottery creations, which have sold in America, through Spencer Coleman fine arts in London and various other places in United Kingdom and now Germany.
When I had my studio at The Terrace on Grantham Street. Lincoln, I often sold my creations to foreign tourists so my work could be anywhere around the globe.
I also taught pottery and fine art at my studio, I chose not to charge the elderly or those on benefits, or the disabled. Why? The reason is simple, money is not and never has been my reason to help people and my time and energy and my creative instinct are there for all people not just a select few.
Carving wood, stone and glass, plaster body casts, I have done many assemblages including sculptural designs from mans desire to fill beautiful rivers like the river Colne at Slaithwaite with industrial scrap metal which I transposed into a work of art with one main message to those who dumped the metals… beauty can come from all you throw away but why not think first as nature can be easily offended.
1999, I built a railway line at north Lindsey college, each sleeper contained a graphic picture of the holocaust, bones and ashes adorned the track, clothes of the period, false teeth and gas burners, children’s toys etc, plus large display of my work on canvas with written questions WHY DO THIS, 338,000 gypsies and Romany’s were murdered in the death camps as well as many more races.
My reason for this tribute to those 338,000 is in my blood and ancestry, the distinction I received was secondary to the emotions I felt building it and yes tears flooded but that’s who I am.
I can if need be turn my hand to any material to create with; the mood inside me is important the materials are sometimes secondary, from neuter genders like stone to the living tree or even the human body.
Other than Art, what other jobs or trades have you done?
My emotions for art started at the early age of five, following my fathers and his father’s footsteps, employment in my life consists of many things and factors, fairground, circus, scrap man, horse trader, baker, seaman, deep sea fisherman, hospitality, driving, doorman, busker, tramp, car and garage work, seasonal work with crops, enforced stays in prison for using my fists, and for borrowing things that didn’t belong to me, cars, scrap, lorries etc.
Also Self employed builder, landlord, selling paintings in France and Holland deported from both countries on occasions, well we all like to travel don’t we.
Drummer in blues group, to be honest the list is endless, spent time working in dingle on the land southern Eire, my mother’s ancestry, drifter and wanderer, recluse in the forests and caves.
When did you become a professional artist?
I am not a professional artist, I have always stated, “I am who I am and do what I do because the need to communicate without words I never learnt”, early years brought up as I was, reading and writing wasn’t as important as life skills, whatever I create either in paint or another medium which comes from deep in my heart and soul, I never draw anything I rely on what I feel to produce my work.
I use the picture as my conversation or to take a person back to memories, drawing what conclusions the public want to draw is up to them, I leave messages and signs on all my work but only those with a insight of who I really am can read. Thus the age old label the moody artist,
What medium do you favour and why?
All mediums I use, nothing escapes my use, from paint to shoe polish at one time or another I have used it, even blood from a cut on myself..
Where and what gives you the inspiration for your work?
My history and my travel inspire me, nature and people inspire me, such as fantastic journey to use one example, a dustbin or a spider’s web, I have a photographic mind, I can remember every where I have been, be it field, mountain or beach I can put that on a painting or creation.
I put every feeling and emotion that is inside of me into a creation and memories whether good or bad come forth, it may take a few hours to four full days and nights until I empty it all onto what I am trying to create. Buts that’s what it is like in my head, cannot find the words to communicate just need to get the emotions out.
What do you want the observer to see in your paintings?
People can only see what they want to see in my paintings, not everyone has my mind, some really do read the messages or the communications and others sadly don’t.
I don’t get offended if they don’t, if they ask me to explain I do try but words are not my strong point.
Understanding and passion are needed to read both me and my creations, I could just use really large words that I don’t understand fully myself to justify myself but too many others wash the world with that escapism already, I ask people to get inside the picture, sit awhile with me there and with honest eyes, accept what you see.
Looking back over your career, what would you say is your most memorable moment?
In my personnel life, my children’s birth and the date of 14 February 2008,
In my working life every moment as been a memorable moment, good or bad that moment as gone, but more moments will pass and become memorable.
What future plans have you for your artwork?
Future plans, carry on my creations, teach again and hopefully remain fit and healthy, I won’t ever retire, the word itself gives one no hope and too many people sit there waiting for death because of that word. I still wish to travel and to see the places in the past I have only driven by in our caravans.
Explore the chances of selling my work in Hebden Bridge and surrounding areas, never thought I would miss the wildness of the Colne Valley, but I do. I hope this interview gives you some idea who I am and what I stand for, cushti bokti (good luck)
Lincolnshire Ways
