An Artist Interview With George Fenton
It was challenging to get clear answers from Mr. Fenton, because his wife Barb really enjoyed answering for him. 81 year old George and 79 year old Barbara have been married for 61 years, and are still as vibrant as ever. George started out working and painting on the floor of an friend's warehouse, and later worked out of the garage of the couple's second home before he finally had his own studio and sign shop for 17 years in Newark, Ohio.
When I asked how he would market himself as an artist, Barb but in and said "has been," George then emphasized that he does still practice, he sketches almost daily, and still paints when he can. "But don't call me a painter," George said, "because then I always get people who ask me to come over and paint their walls and fences and such." When asked about how he supported his artwork financially, Barb leaned forward with a giggle and said "Me." And George agreed that it was because of Barb's steady job that allowed him to pursue art. To this she added, "he would never have gone to school if it weren't for me." To which he just grunted. George said that his biggest problem in getting his artwork done, was getting it started in the first place. He added that it's good to have someone around to give you a little push.
To the question, "What type of person buys your art?" George responded' "Someone who is interested in real life, not perspective." He also added that he most definitely didn't like to do things to suit other people, this question led into a story about how he had once painted a portrait of his nephew, a realistic portrait. George said that he simply painted what he saw, and when he gifted it to the boys mother, she said that she didn't want it, because George had painted her son to look like a demon. Barb and George laughed again. Barb piped in and said that "George isn't the least bit interested in abstract." To this they laughed and then George added, "they can take abstract and stick it where the sun don't shine."
When asked to define an aesthetic experience, George said “That just means looking at something.” The aesthetic experiences that relate to George’s work are those of the everyday. George says that his work interests those who are interested in real life, not idealistic stuff. George said that his greatest reward as an artist was seeing enjoyment in people's faces when they saw his work. George also added that when he was a boy, his dad used to hide George's drawings in his dresser drawer and show them off to his buddies when they came over to play cards. A strange form of endearment, but endearment nonetheless. To artists who are just starting out, George gave this bit of advice, " Don't quit. When you're working, get up and walk away and look it again later. If you just keep messing with things you'll just ruin it; what you think looks awful today, might look perfect in the morning."
When I asked how he would market himself as an artist, Barb but in and said "has been," George then emphasized that he does still practice, he sketches almost daily, and still paints when he can. "But don't call me a painter," George said, "because then I always get people who ask me to come over and paint their walls and fences and such." When asked about how he supported his artwork financially, Barb leaned forward with a giggle and said "Me." And George agreed that it was because of Barb's steady job that allowed him to pursue art. To this she added, "he would never have gone to school if it weren't for me." To which he just grunted. George said that his biggest problem in getting his artwork done, was getting it started in the first place. He added that it's good to have someone around to give you a little push.
To the question, "What type of person buys your art?" George responded' "Someone who is interested in real life, not perspective." He also added that he most definitely didn't like to do things to suit other people, this question led into a story about how he had once painted a portrait of his nephew, a realistic portrait. George said that he simply painted what he saw, and when he gifted it to the boys mother, she said that she didn't want it, because George had painted her son to look like a demon. Barb and George laughed again. Barb piped in and said that "George isn't the least bit interested in abstract." To this they laughed and then George added, "they can take abstract and stick it where the sun don't shine."
When asked to define an aesthetic experience, George said “That just means looking at something.” The aesthetic experiences that relate to George’s work are those of the everyday. George says that his work interests those who are interested in real life, not idealistic stuff. George said that his greatest reward as an artist was seeing enjoyment in people's faces when they saw his work. George also added that when he was a boy, his dad used to hide George's drawings in his dresser drawer and show them off to his buddies when they came over to play cards. A strange form of endearment, but endearment nonetheless. To artists who are just starting out, George gave this bit of advice, " Don't quit. When you're working, get up and walk away and look it again later. If you just keep messing with things you'll just ruin it; what you think looks awful today, might look perfect in the morning."