Amber Larks : Transcending Time and Space
From her childhood in Los Angeles to late nights in her Seattle studio, Amber considers the past, present and future as she creates her surreal - and in many ways, symbolic - paintings. In this interview, Amber discusses the evolution of her work, and shares the inspiration behind her recent series of floating statues that seemingly transcend time and space.
Hi Amber! Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
My creative journey began in the suburbs of 90s Los Angeles. When I think back to my childhood, I always remember art being part of it. Back then, I filled my time with daydreams and art supplies. My father is a professional artist, so I grew up in a household surrounded by creativity. Throughout high school and college, I took as many art classes as my schedules could fit. I was always the “artist” friend, but only recently started pursuing it as a career.
How have your paintings shifted and evolved over time?
I love this question because evolution is so important. For me, being an artist is the most freeing profession there is. I recently fell in love with oil paint, which opened up a lot of doors for me on a technical level. I’ve seen my work evolve technically as well as thematically. Right now, I’m using soft blends in my work, which I was never able to achieve quite the same with acrylic paint. It totally changed my experience painting. I also used to focus on individual paintings, but I’ve shifted to making collections, which is much more rewarding. It gives me more time to reflect and work on a theme.
Your current painting series is quite surreal in that it depicts statues floating through the natural world. What inspired you to create this dreamlike body of work, and how have your paintings developed as the series progressed?
Statues fascinate me because of their longevity throughout history. They give us a glimpse of ancient civilizations and a link to an individual person that once existed. They are relics of humanity; a physical item that says, “I was here”. So, I thought it would be interesting to paint them with a twist. The first painting I did, “Humanity’s Finest Hour” was 100% inspired by Rene Magritte. I kind of made up my own narrative as I painted. What if humanity got to this point of transcendence? What does our finest hour look like? What if we could live long enough to see what far into the future looks like? I loved the idea of a floating statue moving through time. It’s kind of an oxymoron. As I continued to paint, the statue heads progressed to look increasingly otherworldly, which wasn’t the goal, but I was happy with it. Do they have a consciousness of their own? Are they even human at this point? I don’t want to say too much about the narrative, because I enjoy keeping it open to interpretation.
Which artists have impacted your work?
I’ve always appreciated the work and technique of the Renaissance Masters. Their use of Chiaroscuro is my favorite. Modern artists, Georgia O’Keeffe, Rene Magritte, and Henri Rousseau are three of my biggest inspirations. Current artists, Camilla Engstrom and Ines Longevial, also inspire me.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your studio practice changed over the last few years?
Studio days are normally long. I wish I was a morning person, but I’m not. I’ll get to the studio in the afternoon and stay late. When I get there, I get straight to it and put paint on my palette. For me, thinking of concepts is the most fun part and the painting part is just necessary work to bring the concept to life. Music is a must have. I start with something upbeat to pump myself up and transition to calmer albums in the evening. In between long stretches of painting, I’ll take dance breaks if I’m feeling a song or lounge on the sofa and catch up on phone things. My studio practice has changed greatly in the past few months because my studio is no longer my living room in our one bedroom apartment! I was starting to take over every inch of space with canvases. Before I found my studio, I was limited on space and privacy. I also worked more sporadically on pieces. I’m very grateful to have found my studio.
How has the current pandemic impacted your practice?
Artists definitely reflect the times and this pandemic is no exception. I’ve used art as both an outlet and an escape. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was very frustrated with how the U.S. was handling things. The series I was making at the time had political undertones. Now, 6 months into the pandemic, I’m finding my work more as an escape. I’m still very frustrated and sad about the whole situation, but am finding joy creating worlds where our reality doesn’t exist. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to paint in this very unstable time. I hope my paintings bring some inspiration, calm, and connection for others.
What are your future goals and aspirations as an artist?
I’ve honestly been taking things week by week for the time being. Eventually, I would love to have a solo show once it’s safe to return to galleries. Creating album art has also been a dream of mine. I would love to collaborate with some of my favorite musical artists. It’s also been a continuous goal of mine to use my art for positive impact. I’ve done this on a small scale with my work, but I would be so excited to expand this to a large scale and partner with non-profits focusing on the environment, animal conservation, social justice, human trafficking, humanitarian aid- the list goes on. As long as I can use my art to help and connect with people, I am happy.
Follow Amber on Instagram: amberlarks
Website: www.amberlarks.com