a)My name is Daniel Milton and I’m a contemporary artist from
q)When did you really get into art?
a)About ten years ago. Before that it was more something I just did. I lived in
q)How did you come to the realization that you should try your luck at art on a more serious level?
a)For a couple of years after art school I tried to work half time and work with my art the rest of the time. It didn’t work. But I knew people liked my art and I thought I’d give it a shot – I found a studio downtown in
q)How did you discover the particular style that you have?
a)My latest works where I combine big digital photo collage and acrylic paint is the result of a few years of trial and error. I take thousands of photos every year and it was very liberating to find a way to use them in my art. When I first showed these new works in 2007 I didn’t know what to expect but the show was a success and since then I’ve just kept working.
q)How would you describe your style?
a)I want my works to have a feeling of “here and now” and obviously I’m inspired by street art and contemporary expressions. I love the confusion in people’s faces when they’re looking at my art and tries to figure what’s painted and what’s a photo. There is a fine line there. Someone described my art as “zeitgeist”, which I think is a great compliment.
q)Who or what influences your art?
a)A big inspiration for me is the traces of humans in urban environments. The colours and patterns on a wall after hundreds of posters and stickers that have been torn away. Or graffiti tags on an old door. Things that other people may not notice at all is great art to me. There are also so many talented artists on the internet which I admire and get inspiration from. I won’t mention any names here but take a look at my friends at MySpace if you’re curious.
q)How often do you create a new piece?
a)It depends a lot. I usually work really hard before an art show or exhibition and don’t leave my studio for months. When the show is over I rest. Right now I’m working on small collages just to do something else for a while. It is fun to mix techniques and try different things and a good day I can create a couple of pieces that works. These small collages pay my bills right now.
q)What kind of success have you had with your art?
a)The biggest success for me is that I don’t have to worry about going to some stupid job. People pay quite a lot of money for my art and I can spend my time on the things I like the most – work in my studio and travel around the world with the woman a love. I’m not rich - but as long I can live like this I’m happy.
Lately I’ve had a lot of attention from people all around the world that has discovered my art and a few online art magazines are featuring some of my works right now. I’ve had a few solo shows the last couple of years and next year one of the best contemporary galleries in
q)What would be the ultimate goal for you and your art?
a)I want to continue to work with my art and die (many years from now) as a very rich and famous man. So I guess my ultimate goal is world domination. But I settle for rich and famous.
q)What do you see as an accomplishment in the way of art?
a)Never give up and always believe in yourself. If you’re talented enough and find yourself in the right spot at the right time great things will happen. It’s all about hard work, timing and believing.
q)What kind of message, if any, do you try to convey through your art?
a)I don’t have any “messages” but I have a lot of things on my mind when I work. I want to show my view of my world in a poetic and different way. A world that is speeding up and falling apart where nothing can be taken for granted. But the hope is always there.
It would be great if the people who look at my art two hundred years from now could get an understanding for what it was like to live in this time.
q)Sum up your art in one word.
a)Zeitgeist.
q)…your contacts…
www.swedishart.se/daniel.milton
