Meet David Lloyd: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Lloyd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I guess for myself, the simplest answer is that I don’t even ask the question at all. Many creative people are encouraged at a young age to have a “fall back” career. Parents will say to their college bound kid “sure major in art but do a minor in economics so you have a backup” or “study painting but learn graphic design too”. I’ve always believed that strategy to be wrong. Always having, at the back of your mind, the thought that you could give up and go back to a safe career has the potential to undermine commitment and sow seeds of doubt. Maybe in some ways it’s been easier for me because I’m not technologically-inclined or proficient at office work so I’ve never identified another profession that I’d be as good or better at than being an artist. I decided early on that art was what I was going to do and I’ve invariably found ways to keep my practice going, pivoting when necessary, taking a few steps back occasionally and moving forward when there’s opportunity. An artist’s career always ebbs and flows. I’ve had high times where my work was being exhibited in the best galleries and every painting was purchased by collectors to other times when I’ve had to move to a smaller, less expensive studio to get through a slow patch. What I’ve learned over 40 years is that being an artist is more than just a career, it’s an obsessive vocation- a take-no prisoners, must-do at any cost, no going back calling. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The one characteristic that has defined my artwork through the years has been non-conformity. I’ve never really thought of myself as a painter, even though I’ve largely made paintings for most of my career. My process isn’t a traditional one- I don’t start off with a rectangular canvas and apply paint as a design layer. In a way I’ve worked more like a sculptor, with materials inspiring and informing what the artwork becomes rather than being just the means to accomplish it. I’ll discover a new material, whether it’s an art supply or not, and find myself intrigued with how I might use it in a painting. Hardware stores have been as important to me as art supply stores through the years. Working in mixed media attracted me from the start and remains integral to my art. It could be that my ADD provokes relentless exploration- I’m not sure- but I still get excited when I come across some new substance or product to dig into. And I’ve been stubbornly resistant to the idea of pure painting. The result has been a body of work that often defies categorization except for the distinct lean toward abstraction. I’ve made shaped paintings, dimensional paintings, ones with figuration and text, others with foam, fabric, resin, digital-produced media, ceramic and even dog hair. I’ve explored large scale sculpture and made a drawing per day for a full year. Most recently I’ve been very engaged in making ceramic vessels. Honesty I’d have to attribute the longevity and success of my career to the fact that I’ve never allowed myself to become bored with artmaking. While it’s not necessarily the best path from the point of view of art sales, my creative inquisitiveness and inclination to invent keeps me interested and eager to get to the studio every day and I can’t imagine a day when that will stop being true.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re visiting Los Angeles the ocean is a must-see. I’d take visitors on a drive up the PCH and stop in Malibu for lunch. Since LA has some world-class museums, trips to The Broad. MOCA and LACMA would be on the agenda. For dinner we’d go to Crossroads Kitchen which has some of the best vegan food in town (my kind of food). If they wanted to see a celebrity or two, I’d take them up to the Brentwood Country Mart- a little known secret star-sighting spot. In my experience out-of-towners always get a kick out of the boardwalk in Venice Beach. For some strolling about and shopping we’d head to Silverlake or Highland Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My first shout out goes to my wife, Debra Vigna, without whose unwavering love and support for the past 30 years, I couldn’t have continued working as an artist. My wife, who comes from an art background herself, has uniquely understood my love and compulsion toward artmaking and has never tried to push me to do anything else despite the ups and downs that are typical of an artistic career. I’m forever grateful for the moral support and astute feedback she’s given me all these years. I’d also like to give a shoutout my studio mates- Yoomi Kim, Trevor Albert and Dena Novak. We have work spaces in the same building and gather almost daily in one or the other’s studio. Having the consistent support of this community of artist friends has been invaluable, especially when I’ve felt discouraged or stuck in my work. Sharing ideas, encouragement and the occasional gripe session with them has definitely kept me going over the last few years.

Website: www.thehouseoflloyd.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david__lloyd/