1xRUN Thru Interview
San Francisco by Jim Darling
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece.
Jim Darling: This was one of two pieces done as a commission. The client was from Japan but lived in San Francisco. San Francisco was fun and tricky to paint. I tried my best to get the major things in one image.
1xRun: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Jim Darling: The windows are a continuation of work from a two person show with my wife Tina five years ago. About a year ago I decided to revisit them.
1xRUN: What materials did you create this piece?
Jim Darling: The windows are layered woodwork with acrylic and aerosol paintings within them.
1xRun: When was the piece created?
Jim Darling: Around six months ago.
1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Jim Darling: I enjoyed adding orange to go with the ballpark view.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Jim Darling: The show that Tina and I had together was called “Over Under”. I concentrated on things in the air while she focused on things underwater. I was making pieces with characters sitting in rows as temporary roommates. While working on those I thought about the window seat, how special it is and how it can be taken for granted. The expansive view can really put things into perspective and be very humbling. The materials I use are what I happened to be working with already.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Jim Darling: About a month.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Jim Darling: As for the windows as a series, it is a view in which the passenger can simply look around or chose to move in and out of details and lines from one area to another. It is of course of San Francisco, and hopefully I have made it look as rad as the city is.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Jim Darling: Because they are from SF? Because they love SF? Because they love flying, traveling, going to Giants’ games, crossing the Golden Gate and or it reminds them of their time spent in prison on an island.
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Jim Darling: Golden.
1xRun: Tell us a bit about why you chose San Francisco or the Bay Area as the first specific city in this series?
Jim Darling: It was the first city specific window that I’ve made sense I decided to revisit the concept and I really like the way it came out. I plan on creating many more.
1xRun: Any artists (new or old) that have been inspiring you as of late?
Jim Darling: Kind of older stuff, DJ Shadow and Evan Hecox.
1xRun: Bring us up to speed on what you’ve been doing since your last release, how have you been keeping busy?
Jim Darling: I’ve been busy. I work full time with the design / art direction thing and have been in production mode. At home the family is good and crazy all the time. I have a few windows in the works and am obsessed with a new piece I have been working on. It is a 48” x 72” abstract painting which has no deadlines or agenda. It feels great to work on it and is often all I can think about. I have already been working on it for a few months.
1xRun: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Jim Darling: Cave Gallery will be bringing a bunch of my windows to Scope during Art Basel Miami. Other than that there is not too much, which is actually exciting.
1xRun: Where can we find you?
Jim Darling: Website – Instagram @jimdarling
-1xRUN