Today we’d like to introduce you to Reece Fish.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I can’t tell you exactly what pulled me to start doing art, but I’ve been drawing and creating as far back as I can remember. It started off as a challenge to recreate forms that I saw in a realistic way, but it also allowed me to manifest images and characters that I saw in my mind. What was once a simple hobby became more of a tool in my life as I was working my way through high school. My high school experience had great moments of exploration, but my mind was riddled with anxiety and depressive thoughts. I wasn’t wholly aware of it at the time, but making art was functioning as a sort of therapy for me. I could pour out some of the weight I was holding in my head, and it gave me a way to focus on something other than my ruminating thoughts. The summer after I graduated, one of my oldest and closest friends died abruptly in a car accident. It really turned my world upside down and made me think about how I was spending my time here. My art shifted to something more spiritual for me. I was really diving into life and having profound experiences that I felt compelled to represent in the only way I knew how. Now more than ever my art feels like a piece of me that I am unable to put words to.
Please tell us about your art.
My projects are done mostly in colored pencil, but I’ve dabbled some in painting and animation as well. Most of my stuff comes from a general idea I have in my head, but I don’t do a ton of planning in advance. I like to jump in and let my subconscious do the bulk of the work. Surrealism appeals to me because it plays on the boundaries of recognition and absurdity. I hope that people look at my work and it pulls at something a little deeper than just the sum of the visual components. Sharing art feels vulnerable to me but in a pleasant way. Ideally, people who don’t know me as a person would be able to connect through something that they felt when looking at one of my pieces.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
It’s just such a diluted market. There are so many people sharing their artwork and trying to make a name for themselves. It’s hard to stand out. That being said, it’s really cool how many people are sharing their work online right now. Tough to make a living, but there’s nothing wrong with just putting your stuff out there.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
None of my work is currently being exhibited, but I post my projects and doodles on Instagram. Right now people can support me by giving their honest feedback and sharing my work. I’m currently working on getting some prints and stickers made that people could purchase in the future as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: reecebfish@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lapisfish
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