An Inside Look At Tom Bagshaw’s Fecund

1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, is the original still for sale? 

Tom Bagshaw:  This piece was created in August 2013 and as pretty much everything I do, it was digitally painted with Painter, Photoshop and Artrage. The original was created for the annual ’13th Hour’ group show at Last Rites gallery in New York City last year. The 13th Hour shows are held a few days before Halloween and show works are  designed to bring forth beauty from darkness, from gothic elegance to finely crafted grotesque. I created a piece which I hoped would really embrace the theme with my own style. Unfortunately it didn’t sell at the show but is still available from the gallery, give them a shout if you’re interested!

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1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Tom Bagshaw: This was one of those few and far between pieces where the image arrives in your head pretty much fully formed (it doesn’t happen to me often!), the idea of a strawberry skinned girl, licking her hand where she was bruised or cut, a very cannibalistic image really, but with a more suggestive edge. I came really close to naming her Christine after the Siouxsie & the Banshees song but that wasn’t actually the idea behind the piece so stayed away from it. Because I had such a clear image in mind, when it came to shooting some reference images, I think it took all of 5 mins with the lovely model who must’ve thought it was the fastest job ever!

1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Tom Bagshaw: The seeds on her skin seemed to take forever to do but i think in total its was probably about 4 days or so?

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1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Tom Bagshaw:  It’s certainly the only girl I will be painting that’s covered in seeds!

1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Tom Bagshaw:  She needs help.

1xRun: Describe this piece in one gut reaction word.
Tom Bagshaw:  Lust. (Don’t ask why.)1xRUN-Tom-Bagshaw-Fecund-13x16-bloghero1xRun: Last time we talked you were wrapping up your portrait project that you started using photos fans submitted, how has that been coming along?
Tom Bagshaw:  Because I’ve been working away on show pieces and commissions I’ve not been able to get around to doing much more on the portrait series, however, I’m now back onto it, if all goes to plan it should be completed in a few months time!

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1xRun: You took part in two group shows recently give us a little background on how those went and what pieces you had in each?
Tom Bagshaw:  The last couple of shows I’ve done were both in January this year, a piece called ‘Neve’ (above) for the ever wonderful Supersonic Electronic Invitational at Spoke Art gallery in San Francisco and ‘Ishtar’ (below) for the ‘Tarot Under Oath’ project- a show and upcoming book where artists interpret the major arcana from the tarot deck. The project was put together by Aunia Kahn and Russell J. Moon and the show was held at Last Rites gallery. I chose the Empress card and wanted to show a rise to power through adversity but generally people seem to take the bloody nose as either illness or drug induced for some reason. I’m very happy to say that both pieces sold straight away.

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1xRun: Your social media streams features a mix of some of your “client” work as well as your fine art, how do you mix the two and what overlap if any do you see while you as you manage the two?
Tom Bagshaw: I’m one of those people who tend to work on one thing only, I find it very hard to juggle multiple jobs so I generally run everything by a pretty linear schedule, only taking on jobs or shows where time will allow.

1xRun: How long have you lived in the United Kingdom and how would you say your location has influenced your work?
Tom Bagshaw: I was born and raised here in the southwest UK but I think the only way its really influenced my work has been through some of our folklore, which unfortunately isn’t as rich as some other places!

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1xRun: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like us to highlight?
Tom Bagshaw: I’ve got a piece coming up in the ‘POP-eyeconic’ show at Corey Helford in Los Angeles in March.

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1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Tom Bagshaw: WebsiteFacebook + Twitter + Instagram @tombagshaw

-1xRUN