Soy Panday

STATS:

  • LOCATION: Paris, France
  • TENURE: I have been drawing as far as I can remember, but it’s only within the last couple of years that i have started giving myself more time to do it.
  • PROJECTS: For the past few years, I’ve been so busy skating and traveling that i would just draw very occasionally, never showing it to anyone. Now I’ve had a couple illustrations published in a magazine, along articles I wrote, and I plan to do that a lot more. Also, for the longest time, I’ve had ideas for a little clothing company, but have never had the time to do it properly. Sometime in the future maybe.
  • WEBSITES:
    http://www.myspace.com/soypanday

1. What is your mission statement as an artist?
Hum. Hard question. Most of the time I try to create something that is visually pleasing, at least to my own taste I guess; and then, depending on my mood, there will be a deeper meaning, or a certain feeling I want to convey. There must be a reason why iImostly draw portraits, and I suspect it to be the same reason that leads me to talk and listen a lot. I also have a fascination for symbolism, and I try to use a bit of it in my drawings.

2. Being an artist can be a discouraging journey. Describe a moment, where you said it’s all worth it?
To put so much of yourself into creating something, and then have people criticize it can indeed be quite discouraging. Personally, I’ve only started to take drawing more seriously a little less than 2 years ago, and only started showing what I do for maybe a year, so it hasn’t been such a long journey yet. But to answer your question, I draw because it is satisfying to think up something and make it become real. More than worth it, it is for me a necessity. Then if people find it interesting, it’s only rather encouraging.

3. What are the top 3 places, you believe art belongs?
It belongs everywhere. Art is how people choose to express themselves, their emotions, to show their vision of things and their opinion, whether it’s with words, music notes, photos, drawings or paintings, whether it’s to be found in a museum or on a wall. It’s an expression of your individuality, of what inspires you to do something, which in turn can hopefully inspire someone else. It has to be accessible to
everyone and anyone.

4. If you weren’t working in the arts, what would you do or be?
Well, that’s the thing. I don’t really think I could be doing something that has no connection to art, or to creativity. I have a Master’s degree in Business and Management, but quickly realized I couldn’t see myself working a regular 9 to 5 job that would allow me no time to express my creativity. Which is why I chose a less profitable but more satisfying path for now. I am currently a professional skateboarder, traveling as much as possible, trying to have a different look at architecture around the world and finding an alternative way to use objects that have been thought and conceived to answer specific needs… And then with the rest of my time, I write articles whenever i get a chance and spend the rest of the time
drawing and illustrating said articles.

5. What is the Key to becoming a better artist?
Well, to me, being an artist means to try and express your emotions through a medium or another. To have a creative outlet already makes you an artist of sort. So I guess, just like with anything, the only way to become a better artist is to practice your art. Depending on what you want to convey, beauty or meaning or both, you need to spend more time doing it. Inspiration breeds inspiration, and creativity
breeds creativity. You start doing something out of passion, then take interest in what other people are doing, and it’s this mix of emotions, sounds, forms and colours that develop your sense of taste
and broaden your reflexion.

6. Where do you see yourself in the next decade?
To be honest, I can hardly even project myself in the next 10 minutes, hahaha… Hopefully doing more of what I enjoy doing now. I guess i’d like to illustrate articles more, or draw album covers. It’s hard to say, 10 years ago I thought by now I might be working in a bank, and iIm pretty far from that. Maybe in 10 years iIll be doing something completely different.

Artist’s Work

VIEW WORK: click each image for animated enlargement ▼

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