I was attracted to paintings when I first saw them because they were very mysterious and surreal. Dan’s paintings always let you add your own interpretation to them and I think this is fantastic! Swide readers, today I am presenting you Dan May.

 M: Hi Dan, it’s my pleasure to feature you on Swide this week and of course, I do have some questions to ask you. First, what made you want to become an artist?

D: Creating art is something I have embraced from a very early age. There really wasn’t a specific occurrence that led me to go in this direction. It always came naturally to me, and has always been a part of who I am. I can’t imagine doing anything else. 

 M: In this case, I guess you are born to be an artist then! Now please tell me, where do you usually get your inspirations?

D: I’m inspired by every day life and the mysteries that each day holds. My paintings are an outlet for me to express my emotions and views on the world around me. I try to make the subject matter broad enough that my viewers can generate their own meanings to the paintings, while still maintaining a personal connection to the piece.

 M: I am pretty sure each person who has seen your works will have a different interpretation on them. In your own words, what kind of adjectives will be best to describe your works? Why?

D: Mysterious, surreal, organic, relevant, emotional, compassionate, intricate and delicate are some words I would use to describe my work. My paintings tend to be delicate and flowing; I pay very close attention to detail and the lines that make up each piece. I strive to evoke a certain emotion/mood through the use of light and texture. My process is also very organic in nature. The painting usually leads me in the direction that I need to go, and is ever- evolving until the very end. The paintings that I create are often mysterious and surreal. I see them as a portal to another world; one that blends the surreal with natural and man-made elements of our world. Each piece is fueled by an array of underlying emotion, but remains ambiguous enough to leave the interpretation up to the viewer. 

 M: The adjectives you have listed above were the ones I used to describe your works the first time I saw them. So, have you ever thought about incorporating fashion into your illustrations? If so, how will this element enhance your works?

D: Yes, my wife and I were just talking about this the other day. I’ve been playing up the design aspect in my recent paintings, bringing the long flowing and twisting hair-like elements to the forefront. I seem to have opened a door that leads to a whole new side of my work, where the possibilities are endless. Hopefully this discovery will allow my paintings exist in markets beyond the gallery, such as fashion and advertising.

 M: If I am not mistaken, the painting you just described is one of your latest works and it is called “The Other Side of the Blue”. I am really in love with it and I can’t wait to see what you are going to do next! Finally, if you had to create a monster/creature for Dolce & Gabbana as a mascot, how would it look like? Would you be able to describe it in words? 

D: It most likely wouldn’t be a “creature” in the traditional sense. I envision an intricate, dramatic, and layered surreal environment. I could see my world engulfing, twisting, and intertwining itself with D&G’s brand. I think the image would be beautiful, sensual and

strange at the same time. It would be mysterious and leave the viewer begging for more. I really enjoy the collaboration process- the challenge of pushing my work in new directions, and finding ways to connect with other creatives (whether it be fashion, advertising, music etc.). It is all very exciting to me…

Credits: Dan May

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