Self-taught Irish artist, Peter Doyle’s trajectory over the last few years has been unavoidable. His dream-like figurative portraits of those around him emphasize his distinctive point of view.
We’re admirers here at So Young and with an LA solo show on the horizon it felt like a good time to catch up with Peter and delve into his painting process, talented friends and inspiration.
What inspires you to start a piece of work?
I draw inspiration from a lot of things. My work being mostly figurative I am inspired by the people around me. I tend to work from photographs now as it gives me more time to look at the subjects and a better idea of how I want the work to be laid out on the canvas
What’s your routine like? How do you begin your painting process?
I tend to work at odd times in the day really, There’s no set routine of a 9-5 although I do like to work in the morning then take a break around lunch time and go for a walk, grab a coffee. Maybe have a poke around for some ideas or look through pictures of what I’ve been working on that week/morning. I have my studio in my house so I find that suits me well when I have one of those quiet days and the guilt sets in. I can jump back to it at anytime!
Do you remember when you were first exposed to Art, in a way that resonated with you?
I’m sure I was brought to the national gallery in Dublin by my folks. But nothing really had a lasting impression until I was older. I was into that old New York style graffiti, I watched a documentary called “style wars” that changed how I thought about the graffiti/fine art co-existing. When I got to be in my early twenties or so I was looking at painting and its practises a lot deeper. I wanted to start making work on canvas so I had met a pal in a pub in Dublin who had a storage space. Cleared it out and starting making work on canvas.
Are there any questions you’re trying to answer in your work?
Well, I like to make my work have a feel of movement. The work itself is very much about the present moment and the people I capture within that. I find I do plaint scenes mostly of people in a not so fully formed room or context, but it is totally up to the viewer to see what they feel from the work. There’s no one answer that comes to mind for me anyway, I just enjoy painting them this way.
How much of your personal experiences are in your paintings?
As the works do involve myself and from the pictures I am taking while out and about I would say a lot of it is personal experience. And how I see things in that time.
Whose work do you admire and why?
I’m pretty lucky in this regard as I have friends doing some great things. To mention a few I would have to say I love the work that Fontaines D.C. Eimear lynch, Ewen Spencer, Simone Rocha, Mattea Perrotta, Domino Whisker and George Rouy are making. That list can go on and on. I have a lot of admiration for anyone doing what they love to do. And in those people I named above that really shows.
Would you say there is one theme, however vague, that runs through all of your work?
My work consists mostly of people in various surroundings. I’m pushing it back more and more at the moment to just be focused on the subjects at hand. There is a theme of togetherness throughout.
Your work has been used across several music campaigns but does music influence your work at all?
I do listen to music a lot while I’m working. I also have a monthly show on NTS I have been doing for some years now. So when I’m not painting I’m finding music for that. Last winter in Dublin I painted a lot of jazz club scenes. Piecing together old photographs and personal pictures. That was some of my favourite work. So yes. It does influence work from time to time.
What are you currently working on? And what can we expect to see from you in the near future?
I will be starting work on a solo show in Los Angeles.
And a few more bits scattered around.
Peter Doyle Interview in So Young Issue Fifty-Two
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