Kelsey Brookes

Kelsey Brookes began working as an artist only five or so years ago after graduating and working as a biochemist in Collarado. He moved to California where a couple of years later he left the science industry to go full time in art. His work seems to focus mainly on the imagery and mixing of religion, sex and animals. He works with Pictures on Walls and Lazarides gallery in the UK. Follow the links and find out more below:

What are you up to at the moment/ what projects have you got going on?

Mostly surfing actually. El Nino is ruining my art career. Im working on finishing up some commissions that I have put off forever, some new prints for Pictures on Walls, and starting a new series of work that will be going to LA and Berlin this year.

How does your way of life as an artist differ from your ideas of what it was like to be an artist before you became one? How does this everyday way of life differ to that of a scientist?

I honestly dont think I had any ideas of what it would be like to be a full time artist. Its really not all that much different than working as a scientist actually. The gratification is much more immediate in art, its a lot more light hearted and fun too. But its basically the same cake with a different icing.

What kind of artistic training have you had? Do you find you have to really work at a piece or does it happen pretty easily?

No formal art training. Some pieces are super easy and fast. Others are months and months of anxiety ridden labor and effort. Creativity is never effortless thought.

Your work these days seems more complicated, detailed than the stuff you were doing a few years back, how has your process of working changed over the years?

Pretty natural really. I think this comes from not having any real training, I have always just had to follow or trust my hunches and see where they take me. Lots and lots of experimenting, Falling down and getting back up type stuff.



Do you do much research for your images, the religious aspect in particular, is this something your heavily into?

I do not have a religious practice. I am however interested in religious imagery but that has been waning recently. For a long time a large percentage of my income went to books about religious art.

What was the first picture you ever sold? What's the most you've ever sold a picture for?

Too long ago to remember and not enough to brag about.

What other artists are you into at the moment?

Goya, Valazquez, Rembrant, Remington, Norman Rockwell, James Ensor, Daniel Richter.

What's your typical daily routine, if you have one?

Surf, Paint, Eat, Sleep. Not necessarily in that order. Lots of hanging out with friends, loving my girlfriend, sneaking onto the golf course by my house, taking mushrooms in the park, going to the Symphony really really high, going to the museums in Balboa park.

How is San Diego for a place to get by? Where do you like to hang out over there when not working?

I moved to San Diego for the waves and that is why I still live here now. Well the waves and my loved ones now. Its a great place to be, Mediterranean climate, good food, relaxed people, lots of bikes.....its good for now. Where do I like to hang out? In the ocean!


[Feb 2010] Back to Top