Let’s me introduce a young, creative and very talented artist: Adam Norgaard. He’s American but he lives in Japan actually. I was literaly seduced from his art and tecnique after my “art discovery” on his Instagram account.
Adam is a very sensitive artist, with a very meticulous tecnique a a very singular use of the colors. Blue, Violet and Pink are his favourite colors to create a language of endless beauty.
I had a pleasure to buy a wonderful Artpiece from his collection ( I think the best drawing I bought in my life) and now I have the biggest pleasure to interview him inside my blog for all my beauty lovers readers!
Have a good and inspirational reading!
Adam Norgaard in his studio in Japan
What’s the biggest source of inspiration for your art?
Living as an expat in Japan is a huge source of inspiration. However, I’d say that my biggest source of inspiration came from my art studio teacher Tia Factor who introduced contemporary work that I’d never seen before. She also gave me the greatest advice that I still use today such as “Step back and analyze a painting for as much time as you paint it” and “Try not to be a one trick pony”.
When did you first discover your passion for art?
I can remember writing a color coded letter to my grandparents when I was three or four and they mistook it for a painting because it wasn’t legible. Seeing their reaction and how they hung the work on the wall really sparked my passion for art. The artist Amy Sillman once said that there are two types of people: Those that quit doodling and those who continue. I think I was the latter, it just resonated with me.
Why did you move to Japan from America and how do each influence your art?
I moved to Japan in 2014. I had a small taste of Japanese culture when I studied at a Japanese high school in 2006 for a homestay. Everything I knew about Japan felt superficial and I wanted to come back to understand more. Japan is steeped with thousands of years of tradition and aesthetics that shape the work here. It feels refined and it’s difficult to experiment outside of what’s already accepted. America greatly influenced my art by giving me the freedom to experiment and by not feeling inhibited about what or what not might not be socially accepted in the arts.
In your opinion, is it more important to have a good technique or communicate a clear message as an artist?
I think it’s more important to have a clear message. There are a lot of self-taught artists with no formal training that produce amazing works because they’re bold and work from the heart.
What’s your favorite color and what does it mean for you?
I like all calming colors such as green, blue, and violet. When I work with these colors they transmit such serenity. Sometimes I add warmer colors to accent a feature. Warmer colors also have their own place in my work. On the warmer side I like vermillion red because when I mix it with white it becomes a beautiful coral color.
What’s your happy place?
My small garden is my happy place. There’s a word in Japanese shinrin-yoku which means forest bathing. It’s true that nature is therapeutic. This year I planted a small red spruce called Aka Ezo-matsu which is from Hokkaido, Japan. I miss the pines of the Pacific Northwest and in Oregon where I was living prior to Japan. This species looks similar to those.
Who’s your favorite Italian artist and why?
Letizia Lo Monaco is my favorite Italian artist. I found her work recently and it’s beautiful! Her color choices and the way she incorporates geometrical design into her work is outstanding. I also agree with what she said about art. “Art is when your hand, your brain and your heart go together in the same direction”
What’s your biggest dream?
To sustain myself as an artist and to inspire other artists to follow their dreams.
What are you working on now and what do you hope to accomplish next?
Currently I’m working on two large 130x160cm pieces. One will be a portrait and the other will be a landscape. I hope to have an exhibition in Tokyo this year. I’d also like to experience a residency with local artists here in Japan.
Photocredits: Adam Norgaard official
