Trisickle Magazine

Joe Simpson – painter or magician?

When I first came across Joe Simpson’s art work, I simply screeched ‘THAT’S A PHOTOGRAPH, SURELY’. After my laptop replied ‘It’s a painting. And don’t call me Shirley’, I investigated further into his work. Joe’s beautiful and detailed paintings really are something to be desired. He paints stunning portraits of famous musicians, as well as cityscapes, always encompassing a figure and telling a distant story. I recently went to the launch party to his exhibition in Soho and met Joe, for the second time. As always, he was modest and warm, welcoming my friend and I with wine and a free poster. Amidst his hectic schedule (he has just wrapped up his exhibition) Joe managed to find a bit of time to have a chat with me about why Brandon Flowers isn’t returning my calls.

So, you’re an artist! Isn’t that lovely? Is it? Are you actually enjoying it? Because isn’t it like IMPOSSIBLE to sell any work in this market? No one seems to want to buy art anymore…or so I find. What are your views on this? I’m sorry. This is an awful question. Let’s start with you. introduce yourself. Where are you from? Joe THE MAGICIAN. That’s your new name btw.

Being an artist is kind of lovely, I do feel lucky.  There are of course ups and downs – sometimes when it isn’t going right – whether it’s a painting that isn’t working, or work isn’t selling or you’re getting rejection letters – it can be hard to keep your chin up, especially because it’s so distinctly personal.  You’re putting your work out there and when you feel like you’re failing you’ve only yourself to turn to.  BUT, when it goes well, when you create something you’re proud of, or achieve something you were aiming for – that’s a great feeling and probably the thing you’re always chasing.

But, where were we?  An introduction?  I’m Joe Simpson, I was born in Lancaster and moved all over the place, but probably safest to say I grew up in Cheshire.  I went to Leeds University to study Fine Art (International) and I’ve been painting ever since.

I think people are buying art, but only if it’s super cheap or super expensive.  I think your average person can’t stretch for such a luxury item at the moment.  It’s tough – but I don’t think being an ‘artist’ was ever supposed to be easy.

You’ve worked with a lot of famous people like OMG MEGA HOT Brandon Flowers for example. How do you manage to do that?! He never replies to my packages filled with underwear and drawings of us making out.

It was purely an exercise in googling people’s management and writing persuasive emails.  When I started asking people of notoriety I hopefully had enough work and experience behind me that I could show examples of what I’d done before and that I could be taken a little bit seriously.  I think being asked to be painted is also an unusual enough request that it might stand out and make people more likely to accept my request.

Who’s the coolest person you painted? Like did they live up to what you expected? Has anyone given you any free stuff or hot gossip? TELL ME.

Everyone who I painted was cool enough to agree to my project – so I instantly liked them.  I was asking people who I was a fan of too, so I was excited to meet everyone.  I know this sounds like an annoyingly democratic answer – but it’s true.  I did get a lot of free gig tickets doing this project, that was a major perk.  Sometimes meeting people in exciting circumstances was the best – such as backstage at M.E.N arena with Maxi Jazz or flying to Las Vegas to meet Brandon Flowers.  When I went to Newton Faulkner’s house I was surprised to meet his heavily pregnant girlfriend who I used to sit next to at college – we used to be friends when we were 17 but had lost contact, that was very surreal and lovely.

So you’re exhibition was in Soho. How did that go? I came to the launch. IT WAS MEGA AWESOME. I saw Newton Faulkner but giggled and ran away. Who else turned up that you’ve painted? (i.e. have you given Brandon Flowers my number yet?).

It’s been exhausting but amazing.  It’s wicked to finally see all the paintings hung together in a great space, especially because a few months earlier I was really losing confidence that I could actually get the show on.  It was really hard to find a suitable space to show my work that wouldn’t bankrupt me.  I eventually found an old library that was run down enough that I could afford it and get in and turn the space into a pop-up gallery, check out the video of my friends and I doing just that – http://vimeo.com/30825194

The exhibition seems to be producing some great opportunities and exposure though, including the possibility of showing the paintings again next year in a famous and iconic London venue (that’s all I’ll say right now!).

PS – I’m sure Brandon will be in touch with you soon.

Who are you dying to paint next? I know who I’m dying for YOU to paint. Bill fucking Murray. IMAGINE THAT?! I’d die.

I really wanted to include Sufjan Stevens in the series because I’m a massive fan of his music – but I couldn’t make it happen.  I’d also like to paint Natalie Portman in the hope she falls in love with me.  I met Lana Del Ray’s stylist the other night (he wandered into my private view, but was lovely) – I’m hoping he can set me up painting her, she would be a great subject.

I would also LOVE to paint Bill Murray, can you set that up?  If he’s not going to do Ghostbusters 3, I can’t see him being up for my projects.

What’s next for Joe THE MAGICIAN? You can talk about how much you love me here if you want, it’s all filler.

A full magical tour?  I’ve got an exhibition planned called ‘Everything Is Electrified’, it’s going to be on in January 2012 and be totally different work to the ‘Musician Portraits’.  Then I’ve got some commissions to crack on with while I make a plan about another project and/or retirement.  Then I hope to spend my life cruising around London drinking cold beers with Peatree Bojangles (Oh you! – PB).

Find Joe’s work here: www.joe-simpson.co.uk and follow him on Twitter here: @joesimpsonart.

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