Quentin Walter – Photo/Video by Etta Schaller

Interview with artist Quentin Walter —

Homage to McQueen

1.  Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Quentin Walter.  I am a visual artist and Artistic Director of the 501(c)(3)nonprofit STOUTHOUSE, an artist’s community in northern Indian River County, Florida.  Currently I am obsessed with creating intimate collages (4.5 x 6.5”), using images culled from fashion magazines and Sotheby’s catalogues.

Motorcycles

2.  Why art?
There has been no alternative to being an artist!  Whatever “day job” I have ever held resulted in artistic expression.  I believe that my DNA is tagged ARTIST.

Red Cocks

3.  What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
I do not believe that I had a choice!  My career as an artist began before kindergarten when I was peddling my hand-painted paper purses in my Bethesda, Maryland, suburban neighborhood.

The Lovers

4.  What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
I love horses!  I love jazz!  I love architecture!  I love botany!  I combine these passions when I work in watercolor, collage, acrylic, costume design, etc.

Green Pastures

5.  How do you work and approach your subject?
I work spontaneously, in a stream of consciousness vibe.  For example, if I am reading a book about Nazi Germany, I will incorporate an emotional response that was triggered by a memory or impression from the book.  My work is intuitive.  Often I work on a series that may require visual research, like the Deer Series or the persona of Hedda Hopper, a walking piece of art.

Rabbit Watch

6.  What are your favorite art works(s), artist(s)?
I do not really have any favorite art work(s) or artist(s), but when people look at my work they think of Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso.  My watercolor professor told me I should look up the work of Raoul Dufy, so I did and do like a lot of his paintings. A former collector also referred to me as the Paul Gauguin of the Indian River Lagoon. Gauguin’s work inspired a series of watercolor paintings.  I admire the work of my fellow artists and have collected for more than 35 years.  These works comprise the STAF Art Collection, eclectic works of art that rival accredited museum holdings.

Eiffel Tower Fashionista

7.  What are the best responses you have had to your work?
The best responses I have had to my work refer to viewers’ comments….”I need to look at this piece again to see all that is going on.”  This reference to  the multiple layers of visual information and meaning is important to me.   People are drawn to the color of my watercolor paintings, but on closer view, wonder what is going on!  Tourist with Attitude, one of my costumes that I wore at Art Basel, Miami, featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse and an analogy to religion.  A child said “You’re a walking piece of art, aren’t you?”  That made my day! ..…along with the Getty image!

12

8.  What do you like about your work?
It depends on the individual piece and medium, but the most important and compelling feature of all of my work is the creative spark.  Focusing on collages, the excitement of having accomplished a visual union from many pieces of paper amazes me!  When images appear while painting in watercolor or acrylic, much like viewing clouds, that I then define, refine, that’s exciting!  The performance pieces…..I like interacting with the public and being a “celebrity” for a day, being continually photographed with people from around the globe, recognizing that we are all connected.

Quentin Walter

 LINKS —

 
Website:  http://quentinwalterart.com/
Video:  https://youtu.be/H5Zf-m4Nim0
RÉSUMÉ:  http://quentinwalterart.com/Resume.html
Stouthouse:   http://stouthousewhereartistscreate.org/

 COVER PHOTO — Steve Bart