James R Ford artist interview

In advance of the 2011 the blog will be doing some interviews with some of the contributing artists to the sale.  The first is with James R Ford, an artist who has been contributing to the sale since 2004.  James contributed one of our favourite ever cards to the sale - My Yoda and Me (pictured above). 

If you would like to find out more about James you can check out his website here and follow him on twitter.  Thanks to James for contributing his time.

You've been donating to RCA Secret for some time now, why do you support the event?
 
I've been donating since 2004, after attending my first sale in 2003. I think it's a great event in terms of supporting the RCA students and exhibiting amongst a plethora of artists at different stages of their career.

RCA secret has certainly captured the imagination of the public, why do you think that is?
 
I think it's the gamble and the self assurance if you get it right! It's also a good way to pick up an original work by an artist they might not be able to afford in normal circumstances.

Do you have a favourite card that you have donated in the past?
 

Hmmmm that's a tough one. One of my first donated cards was quite sculptural - it was a hand-stitched, plush crab stitched directly onto the card. I also like my "I am not a fridge" card.

Do you find out what happens to your cards after the sale?  Do buyers make contact with you?  Would you like them to?
 
A couple of times I have had an email from the buyer saying they were really happy with their choice and that it had made the wait in the queue worth while. I think it's great if they make contact - knowing where my cards have ended up.

Have you ever bought anything from the sale yourself?

I bought something from the first sale I went to in 2003. It was a roughly drawn bird, colour pencil on lined paper. It was done by an eighty year old Scottish lady but I can't remember her name right now!

Do you think you will get a chance to see the exhibition this year?

Not this year unfortunately!

Tell us a little bit about your work and what influences you?

My work is constantly evolving - I tend to jump from idea to idea. My projects, however, always have an investigative nature, an interest in process and involve a good dose of irony or humour.

So, you emigrated to NZ a few years ago, how's life over there and what is the art scene like?

The art scene is actually really good. I wouldn't have stayed otherwise! Sometimes it's a bit NZ-centric but in general it's fresh and exciting. I thought everything would be very slow and backward over here but that's a false stereotype.