Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bradley Owen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Bradley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started making art, as most do, when I was a child; however, even at this young age, though I did not know it at the time, there was a stark difference in the passion that a friend of mine and I possessed for creating. This childhood friend and I would draw our favorite sports-stars while we were babysat, and I remember that I always thought his drawings were better than mine. This friendly competition, whether it was between us both or just in my head, sparked within me an urge to create which has grown into the current love I have for painting. This obsession with painting did not start until rather recently though, during my second year at Laguna College of Art and Design. During this time I took my first classes in oil painting, and upon my entry, I could tell that I was far behind where others were in the class. This realization hurt a pre-developed ego I had within myself which was the result of the perceived skill I had with drawing. Though disheartened, I spent that semester painting as much as I could, getting in as many repetitions as possible, whether it was for the class or just for myself. Even though I had dedicated myself to painting, I was still nervous to ask questions to my professor or to those around me, possibly in the fear of seeming amateur, even though I was in fact, amateur.

This fear of admitting that I knew next to nothing about painting was a direct hindrance to my ability and a thief of my time. The “fear” I am speaking of can be more accurately described as ego, and releasing this ego from my work along with being open to honest criticism, I was able to make fast and noticeable leaps in my ability. On a specific day in my advanced figure painting class, I had a one on one with an instructor who showed me different, more expressive ways to apply paint to create a striking image. This demonstration along with discussions I had with classmates about artists I was unaware of, cultivated within me a passion for learning the materials, the artists, and the skills needed to construct an artwork, which goes far beyond simply painting.

This “passion” could have been cultivated much sooner had I realized that my own artistic ego was nothing but an obstacle in the way of deeper knowledge. Attempting to shed this ego completely is impossible, but I believe the most efficient way to become the highest form of artist I can be is to become an ego-less sponge. A sponge meant to soak up all the information one can from the people I respect, and the ones I wish to learn from. Consistent advice I have received from every instructor and mentor I’ve had is that nothing beats repetitions and there must be a compulsive drive to create.

As someone who is in the beginning of their journey in the “art world,” I would say the compulsive drive to create is detrimental in my life, because life in its very essence is an obstacle in the way of learning more. With all the problems and difficulties “normal life” burdens us with, which we are all accustomed to, it can seem like a chore to create or learn more. It is much easier to go home and watch TV or go to a bar with friends, so this compulsive drive to create must be cultivated and maintained in a healthy way. This was one of the hardest parts for me. I had a life that I was used to and my new obsession with constantly painting didn’t really fit into that, until it did. In my mind I had no option but to make it work, whether it became difficult or in the way. Creating became my passion through putting in the hours when no-one was forcing me to do so, besides myself.

Bradley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a narrative driven, representational oil painter currently living in Laguna Beach, California while I finish up my final semester at Laguna College of Art and Design. My work combines the traditional values and techniques used by the old masters, with my own instinctual expressiveness which comes out through my use of color, texture, and intense mark-making. I attack the canvas when I paint, and the result is a relic of the ever growing process which I continue to explore throughout my work. With this process I attempt to explore the limitations of oil painting, something by which I am endlessly fascinated. Every new piece is a lesson learned, and this process of discovery stokes an endless thirst for more. When I am painting I get lost in a world that is beautiful, challenging, endless, and sometimes hostile, but I never want to leave.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Prior to pursuing a career as an artist, I served in the United States Navy for 6 years. My decision to leave once my contract ended and go to art school certainly wasn’t the best financial choice I could have made; nonetheless, it was a decision vital toward my development. I had to turn down job offers which would have provided an easier path to a comfortable life; however, I knew these jobs would have taken up too much of my time and prevented me from dedicating the time that I have to painting and getting the most out of my education.

Though, I do believe there are both intelligent, and unintelligent ways to take a big risk. My time in the Navy granted me access to the GI-Bill, which is the only reason I am able to attend art school in the first place. I used the system I was in to assure that I would have reliable benefits for the next chapter of my life. Sure, I wish I had those early years in my life to pursue oil painting at the pace I am now, but without that experience I may never have developed the mindset I now have. There is no way to know where I would be without joining the Navy or if I had stayed in, but I know where I am now, that is a place of genuine happiness with the passion I have for my life, and for the ability I have to create. So in conclusion, be bold, but be smart.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The term “non-creative” is slightly silly to me. I believe every person, to some extent, is always creative. The degree to which we all are creative varies greatly, and I believe discovering or using this creative energy always has the ability to enhance someone’s own level of consciousness. The infamous, “what do you do,” question is always asked twice by those not in an artistic field, and when I say, “I paint,” it seems as if this does not qualify as a sufficient field of “doing.” I think what people sometimes struggle to understand is that creating is the most important thing to me. This idea being contrary to some people who spend a majority of their mental energy on their job, or the need to acquire money. Having the ability to place the need for money at a close second in one’s own mental hierarchy is a major part of negating undue worry, and creating a heathy environment for one’s mental energy. Funneling this energy into something beyond the mundane tasks of life, whether it be monumental like parenting, or seemingly simple like beekeeping and painting, can play a major part in turning the minor annoyances of life into white noise in the background of your purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bradleyowenart.com
• Instagram: @bradleyowenart
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/fANR9fY_eE4
• Other: YouTube link is for my oil painted animation, I wasn’t able to put a video in the portfolio section.