Artist in Focus - An Interview with Rod McIntosh

Rooted in traditional mark making, the artwork of Rod McIntosh flows with a tranquil beauty. Combining not only the physical act of the brushwork, Rod also brings together his breathing, stance, and even mindset, to capture the essence of the present moment.

This week we get to catch up with Rod and talk to him about his craft, what inspires him to create, and what current events have meant for him.

Do you have strong memories of art from childhood that you feel have stayed with you over the years?

I have a vivid visual memory as a child of visiting a place called Tiger Balm Gardens in Singapore. It was not far from where we lived. I was born there as my father was stationed in the forces on a tour of duty. It was a park, perhaps a precursor to a ‘sculpture park’ or even a ‘theme park’. Where statues and dioramas illustrated and celebrated Chinese history, myths and warned against not following Confucian beliefs. It was a place of nightmares for a child. With scenes of gates to hell, purgatory alongside cutesie animals. But this alongside Chinese calligraphic script, signage and art my parents collected whilst there has etched itself into my visual memory

Your work draws on the essence of you as a person, with every detail down to your physical stance affecting the brushwork. What inspires you to begin this journey each time?

Making art for me is a necessary act. A part of my daily or weekly routine. It is my way of life. Through it I make sense of the world, myself and my thoughts and feelings. It is a language and the form of my articulation and expression. That saying it is through a number of rituals I employ to enable me to arrive at my studio, desk or a blank page of a journal and be prepared for activity. These rituals cultivate through the observing of the breath and connection with my body a state of being present in the moment. Mindfulness. Where in my practice of ink and brush work records the flow process and the moment of creation. I see each piece as an active meditation. A moment of calm, clarity or quiet beauty. As an alternative to a busy mind, a digital detox, or a shared space held apart from the ugly (of the world).

I want my work to be witnessed and connect with folk. To be an opportunity to press pause and be more present. It is here where our capacity for calm, peace and joy exist.

Of your collectors, who has been the most memorable?

I sold a large piece of work to a collector. That was a familiar face I had gotten to know from showing my work at Art Fairs and exhibitions. During the conversation before I was aware of her intention to buy that day or which piece. She shared she had been on my mailing list for some years and would do her best to attend a show, when she could. Whenever, previously her studies and now her job would allow. She was a follower on Instagram and really enjoyed my work. Connecting with the ‘zen’ (her words) and sense of calm. At this point is was one of those, bank this conversation and all the feels. This person really gets my work, gets me! Then. Out came the phone and she asked; “ have you this piece here?” showing me a recent post. No preamble from her, no sales pitch from me. I said yes, but it was not on stand. But I could get it form the car. So off runs the husband to fetch it. She returns shortly after she has a bit of a wander. The work and collector meet on stand and it is a win. The connection is made, she places one had on the work and one on her diaphragm and breathes. I step back, there were no need for words. And I withdrew a bit further allowing her the time to meditate with her work. As it was clear a decision had been made. 

It was arranged that I deliver the work the next morning to her flat in North London. And always excited to see where my work will live, I take it up to her flat in the lift. I am met and we go through to an open plan lounge and begin the unwrapping and talking about where to hang it and how. I always take the hardware for several options. I am led through to the bedroom where it will feature above the bed head. And there on a wall in the corridor space was a small 10 x 10cm piece of my work from I would imagine 2005.

It is when she sees me registering it, that I am told. She bought it from me, when she was visiting friends in Brighton at the Art Fair I was showing at. And on that day still a young student of law, she made a promise to herself to buy another piece from me. When she had the money and the space, her first home etc. Fast forward. She is a lawyer, she has her first home and she saved the money to honour her promise to herself. 

Are there any current art trends or practices that have caught your eye or impacted your work? 

I am not one to follow trends in general and hopefully not fashionable art ones. That I am consciously aware of. I think I would make very different art if I did. I leave you to decide that.

However, what I have observed during lockdown is the trend, albeit forced, to adapt, to move our business/sales and other commercial activities as well as support from the face to face to online and virtual platforms. With artists leading the way as exemplars of innovative best practice. I speak of #ArtistSupportPledge, set up by artist Matthew Burrows as a way of creating a circular economy of investment for artist, who may have had all income streams close as a result of Covid restrictions. It was an empowered way for artists to sell their work directly through Instagram to existing clients, followers and in turn to fellow artists through the ‘pledge’ part of the scheme. It has built community, support and sales. And when opportunities to raise ones profile this year have disappeared it has offered us a vehicle to promote ourselves and keep growing relationships along side income.

The second has been the utilisation of Zoom (or similar video conferencing platform) to host exhibitions, critiques, client meetings to discuss commissions or sales through galleries. I have had more virtual visitors to my gallery during lockdown, that I used to have from participating for three weekends in a regional Open Studios.

On that note, has your ability to create been affected by lockdown?

As we entered lockdown I was coming to the end of a large commission of 153 pieces of work for an Italian luxury brand. Managed by a designer in Milan for a project at Lake Como. The Italian epicentre of the pandemic. So the project was delayed, but the production of this amount of work kept me busy. However once this was over, it was impossible to carry on like; ‘business as usual’. It clearly was not. The industry, my collaborators, artist friends and I were all beginning to suffer. So having had a recent experience of an Artist In Residence. I embarked on a self-directed artist residency in the studio. With no need to think of out-put or product or a show. But to create a time and space for exploration, play to continue to deconstruct my process and assumptions about my work. And through this create opportunities to explore what I and what collectively was being felt. The work has become a time capsule for those early weeks. It stands alone from my general practice and there has and I am sure will be crossover. It currently exist rolled up in a box in the studio, I have no intentions at present to show it.

Are you able to share with us  what you are working on currently?

I love a project! and lockdown has shown me the value in having my studio at home. So many artists were denied access to their spaces. And at he beginning of the year I was looking at an industrial unit to rent. So having the time and some space at home, that I was temporarily using as work space. I embarked on a building project. Converting a car port into a second studio. I am nearly complete with the tasks I can do; laying a new floor, insulating and lining/finishing the walls. Work will start on a skylight, reinforcing roof for storage and glazing soon. So my last job is recycling some left over pallets, used for the floor substructure, into a feature wall for the display and photographing of works. The space will be much more than a studio. A gallery space, viewing room as well as where the large works are created on the floor and now 12 metres of wall space. Have the dream, build the dream and live it!!