Adrian Coleman
"Embankment" (2016), watercolor and gouache on paper, 36" x 56"
How did you get into debt?
I went to graduate school to get my master's degree.
"Necropolis" (2015), watercolor and gouache on paper, 36" x 56"
How does your economic reality effect your art?
I can't take many risks that involve a pay-cut. Artist residencies are almost impossible because I can't take time off from work. Paid vacation time is pretty limited in this country. I sometimes think that if I put aside my day-job and focused for a year only on painting, I could have a tremendous break-through, either artistically in my work or professionally in garnering attention. Unfortunately, I afford that. Not just yet. That said, my art sustains me - it keeps me out of the bars and distracts from the gnawing financial reality. My debt also forces me to
"Snakes and Ladders" (2016), watercolor and gouache on paper, 27 1/2" x 39 1/2"
Would your work look different if you weren't in debt?:
If I weren't in debt, maybe I could afford a studio with a window. With the exception of the weekends, I do all of my painting in the very early morning or at night, so I didn't feel like I was sacrificing so much by opting for the cheaper work space. But if I wasn't in debt, maybe I could have a more flexible day-job that paid less, and then I could paint by day in my extravagantly well-lit studio.
"Brooklyn Grocery (2011), watercolor and gouache on paper, 18" x 24"
www.colemanadrian.com