Born in Fife. Scotland, John Short studied at the Edinburgh School of Art and recived an MA from the Royal College Of Art in London. Short began his career producing drawings for titles such as Vogue, Harpers & Queen, The Irish Times, The Sunday Independent, and The Guardian,, and was a senior lecturer in drawing and image - making in the School of Art and Design at TU Dublin. He is largely inspired by interactive groups and their behaviour; be they people, birds or animals. Rooted in observational drawings and sketchbook studies collected at sites near his home in Dalkey and throughout Ireland, his energetic compositions retain a feeling of spontaneity and immediacy. Sea swimmers, anglers, animals and fellow travellers are captured within carefully considered and oftem unconventional perspectives. Short's first solo exhibition, Horizons at the Solomon Gallery, dublin, presents a new body of vibrant watercolours and ceramics following a collaboration with Wicklow-based potter Geoffrey Healy, in which the artist has introduced his popular Forty Foot Bathers to a range of unique, hand-painted stonewear pieces. The exhibition runs until May 24th at the Solomon Gallery, Dublin.
How my artistic journey began
I'm not entirely sure of the actual beginnings but a paint by numbers set and comics certainly kicked off something. Where I grew up in Fife there were lots of paper mills around and as a boy on visit to one, I was givena big pack of cartridge drawing paper which i had kept under my bed. Fast forward eight years, study with inspiring lecturers and students in art college certainly made a meaningful contribution.
Where the title for my current show came from
I'm always experimenting in creating new ways of ooking at formats for viewing pictures. I've spent some time on research trips to China and they look at pictures quite differently. I have applied my long narrow images in much the same scroll like way based the long horizon. They are playful, unpredictable narritives with lots to see.
What I want the audience to feel when viewing my work
Happiness and a sense of connection.
Artists who have influenced me
My art school lecturers: Harry More Gordan for his watercolurs and Quentin Blake for his drawings. Also there are many artists for all sorts of different reasons but British artist Joan Eardley's paintings of Glasgow tenement children continue to be a strong influence.
My favourtite piece of music when i need inspiration
The soundtrack to Kubrick's movie, Barry Lyndon.
I have a collection of
Art exhibition catalogues and a fine and valued collection of old art school friends
An artist whose work i would collect if i could
Joan Eardley
A place that means a lot to me
I'm sentimental about my hometown, Leslie, Fife where I grew up, but in Ireland, Derrynane beach in Kerry takes a bit of a beating.
A place i'd like to visit
There may be a big project coming up in Egypt this year, so that's exciting.
In another life i would be
Not entirely unrelated to visualising, but a geologist. To have an abliity to look and read the landscape.
The best piece of advice I ever received
Primary teacher, Gladys Mitchell in report card: "Not matching his capabilities. Inclined to trifle but is improving. must keep it up." Still true today.
