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Byron's most recent inspired works, are expressions of life's journey, spiritual art, which involves looking at duality, ego/ identity, greatness,
love and freedom.

Original oil paintings combine his classical skills with the expressionistic power of colour. These current paintings lend themselves to the
principals of colour healing and colour therapy, as human forms are integrated into a matrix of kaleidoscopic colour.  

Thick layers of paint are applied with a palette knife, to create a dynamic sense of texture and movement within the colour scapes. Byron has
been using this approach in combination with purely figurative work, to evoke a more dreamlike imagery. The new work touches a fine line
between realism and the expressive power of colour.  


Looking at the world through the eyes of such an inspired artist as Byron Tik, it is easy to see the endless opportunity to observe, sketch, and
create original pieces of work. Byron's most recent works combine his classical skills with the expressionistic power of colour. His current work
naturally lends itself to colour healing and colour therapy, as human forms are integrated into a matrix of kaleidoscopic colour. Every piece
creates a unique vibration in the room, yet allows each viewer their own experience of the piece. Byron has followed his heart in this direction
as his own spiritual journey unfolds.
Some of the main categories of Byron's paintings to date, include abstract / expressive artworks, sensual / erotic paintings, his series of
spiritual works, African wildlife, market and landscape scenery, still life series of chairs and cups, and combinations of realism and abstract
styles using the feminine and masculine form.

Byron has a vast selection of drawings for sale as a result of his intense work with life drawing models, musicians and outdoor interactions with
the public, such as markets. Some of these drawings are studies for subsequent paintings.
The mediums that the artist has used for his drawings include, pencil, pen and ink, pastel chalks, marker pens, air brush painting, charcoal, oil
pastels, acrylics, water colour paints and mixed media. Byron often creates numerous sketches in the preliminary phase of completing
portraits and commissions for his clients.  

His drawings are an affordable way to begin your original collection of art works from Byron Tik. Drawings are available in a range of genres
including male and female forms, landscapes, animals and pets, still life objects, cafe and kitchen scenes.
art that rouses the mind's eye, dreamscapes and soul exploration
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Byron Tik
Presented By Kaliopy
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Interviewing Byron Tik:

Kaliopy:
You have such a broad range of genres including male and female forms, landscapes, animals and pets, still life objects, cafe and
kitchen scenes , what would be your most favourable style of them all?

Byron: I am classically trained and get a lot of joy from painting anything in general, each day is different for me so I find it impossible to go
back to creating the same thing over and over again, even when I try.
sometimes i feel bold and go and paint in public, sometimes I feel like painting the dog, sometimes I suddenly have a great idea and feel "in
the zone", sometimes i study, sometimes I get more done looking at a painting than actually holding a brush:)

I find that whenever your "not-that-inspired" or in your "my work is just not good enough" or sometimes just plain lazy:) painting a cup a pot
anything just gets you going again, even the simplest thing like a coffee cup can suck you in. before you know it your high on live again and
full of ideas. A lot of these paintings can be considered as studies to keep you busy until the next good idea, or until your capable to paint
what you have in mind, like with music, you have to practice a lot before you can take it up a notch.
I have had a five year period where I was teaching life drawing and was working with up to six models a week, I really got into studying the
human form, and found the most amazing thing that when you have a model in front of you, you would sort of disapear, the painting would
paint itself, it would help me see the world with different eyes. I would start to feel a love for the person but noticed this was an internal
experience not persee caused by that external person, but at first drawing a model would be a strong katalist to this experience, I then noticed I
could hold on to this feeling and stay in this space for longer periods of time. I often notice that painting a person or painting an outside scene
gives me a rush, things just seem more in place, more beautiful, the looking and observing gets you to this space
I mean all these paintings lead up to the occasional painting that really captures an experience.
The cafe and live scenes are great fun, I find them the most challenging, mainly mentally, to go out in public and to try and draw a busy
marketscene, a life band or a person in public can be nerve wrecking until you get in "the zone" and then I love it, this is where all those
hours of studio work get funneled into that, one on the spot moment.

As to your question, what style I love the most, I guess it is where all the different styles start to meet up and the lines fade, this started to
happen about two years ago where the abstract and realism started to blend and I started to experience a freedom to be able to do whatever
i want, turn the painting upside down, paint bits that don't make sense and completly trust that it would work out. The technique knowledge
combined fluently with abstract freedom, ego completely dissolves and the painting almost paints itself

With the thick paint it actually feels more than sculpting than painting, my favorite painting is the 2x1m concentric circles, but it has to be
seen in real, the pictures don't do it any justice.
Kaliopy: Have you previously studied fine arts?

Byron: I studied fine art and contemporary art at the, Royal Academy for Fine Arts in The Hague around 1992-95, i was really fortunate to
have some great teachers and still get a lot of traditional skills like, 8 hours of life drawing straight, or 8 hours of still life, but at the same time
we would have minimalism, art history, or work on abstract concepts, very balanced. I do feel for myself I need traditional skills before you can
go abstract, similar to a good contemporary musician, still needs to be able to play its instrument really well before you can venture into the
abstract realm. there are exceptions to this rule, sometimes the knowledge can obstruct some:)

After this I often played with the idea to go back to a university or do a masters degree, but decided that what i have to learn is outside of a
schoolbuilding. You learn an incredible amount from teaching others and finding older wise artists that are wiling to share techniques:)all the
rest is learning by do-ing.
Kaliopy: I notice your works are quite spiritual and emotive, does your personal journey come into play?

Byron: Personal journey surely does come into play, I am very inspired by artists like alex grey, who states that the artist's role can be like that of
the shaman in a tribe, the shaman goes through experiences of different realms, life and death outer body etc to afterwards be able to share
these experiences with the tribe. This community way of thinking is contradictory to the goal of self promotion of the ego.

the experiences of my journey include the, search for my roots, standing on my own feet, dealing with death of a parent, embracing and
acknowledging ones shadow sides, experiences and ideas on death, energy, mind, body and soul, being true to your desires, choosing to life
your souls purpose, understanding your identity, finding your soul mate, understanding the tools to create your life, unconditional love, raising
children.
All these experiences are rich and are ones that people go through on a daily basis, to create work that resonates the energy of these
experiences can help people who are within a similar part of that journey, painting is for me a very good tool to express these experiences

The work can be seen as  a way of communicating an experience on a energetic level, sometimes the image can be quite literal, for example the
separation between the spirit body and the physical body(s08), at other times the work is much more ethereal and a mass of colours symbolize
the energy body in a certain state of being.
I find that meditating on certain of the more abstract thickly painted pieces, have a profound effect on your energy field, it is as if the colours
frequencies transfer into your energy. this is something that currently fascinates me and keeps me experimenting with patterns, frequencies and
colourmass
Kaliopy: what influences you to create what you do?

Byron: Life in general, mostly I am drawn to uplifting experiences or observations, themes like embracing duality, transformation, spirit,
mind and body.
Kaliopy: Do you have any current exhibitions showing atm? or a future one coming?

Byron: There is quite a bit of work around the place, but my main solo exhibition that is coming up will be on the 26th of March at Zakay
Glass Gallery in Byron Bay, it is called "soul refractions". The next large exhibition is planned around December at the Tweed regional
gallery. in between these larger exhibitions, work is always on show online, at galleries, hotels, exhibition spaces, shows etc. I am learning
not to spread myself to thin and focus more on quality than quantity. Having run my own gallery/studio in a prominent place was very good
and paying a lot of attention to the quality of my website has also been good for me.
Kaliopy: What advice can you give to those that are just starting out in this industry?

Byron: Make sure you are painting because you love it, if your not enjoying your artwork, if it frustrates you, burn it and go and do
something you enjoy.(note: a bit of frustration can be a good motivator)

Don't worry about making money with your art, worry if you do not enjoy it, don't try and find a "selling formula" or create rules like "I have to
be original", or my work "has to have incredible deep meaning" they are all self made traps, mostly caused by what others have said enough
for you to believe in.
Originality and success is unavoidable if you pursue what you love, you will do it in your own unique way, even if you only paint tea cups for
the rest of your life, you love it, you do it, its your life!

You don't have to paint, it means absolutely nothing and nobody is out there waiting for you, your work has no importance perse on the large
scale of things even though you have a group of people who claim it does, art is not a competition, but you can turn it into one, if you are
giving it your best and you enjoy it, you are already the best artist in the world, you are already there you do not have to get anywhere.

Learn to listen to yourself, you are in control of your universe, how you create it is how it will happen, if your insecure about your work, you
will find people criticizing it, that is how simple it works, also do not get caught up in praise either. the best thing you can do is to get to a
point where you are grounded. No success or success you are still you.

If you want to make a living out of art, there are many ways, but, I find, you HAVE to treat it like any other business. learn how to write a
business plan, set goals, do your books.
If you do not make enough money with this, do not beat yourself up, it means nothing, just work 2 - 3 days on the side, this gives you plenty
of money to life and paint, plus because your used to a real yob you will be much more efficient at painting in the studio.try to get those jobs
you always wanted of give you skills you have not got yet.

Separate the "business me" from the "artists me", they should hardly ever influence each other, "artist me" makes work in childlike
innocence, the "business me" looks at the produce and finds the best place to sell this, if this is not possible the "work me" works 2-3 days
for food and material on the table.
The "business me" can guide the "artist me" to use better material, to finish the work nice and tidy, to varnish and frame, but is not allowed to
influence the content, real life example, someone said to me,"why don't you change that lion to a kangaroo, it would sell better in Australia"

And the next step behind almost every strong artist there is a strong partner:)
Byron Tik
12 Sibley Street Nimbin 2480
NSW, Australia
ABN:97 027 476 114
04 389 49 938
Email:
byrontik@byrontik.com
On-line Gallery: www.byrontik.com