Meet Ferris Martinez | Oil Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ferris Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ferris, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
It can definitely be a challenge to prioritize art making, but I would also say it has gotten easier to do so with time. I think that’s just a function of building habits – the more you do something, especially something that you enjoy, the more inclined you will be to find those hours in the day to get in front of a canvas. I know that sounds a little reductive, and of course there are moments where maintaining this balance just isn’t possible, but overall that’s how I try to approach things.

By that same token, I fully acknowledge that getting to the point where you are making as much art as you want – or are at least close to doing so – doesn’t happen overnight. For me, it took years; until very recently, I’ve always had a full time job, and walking that very real tightrope between paying the bills and painting – to say nothing of maintaining a social life – it can certainly be tiring. But again, that’s why consistency is so central to the creative process; making art you fall in love with is more the product of being in the studio as often as possible, rather than being hit by some sudden divine spark of inspiration – though I’d be lying if I didn’t say that also happens on occasion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but I’ve always had a bit of trouble answering this question. I think partially that has to do with the very deeply personal nature of art making – it’s something that is more swirling feeling than any kind of concrete idea, and even when a piece or body of work is completed, describing what started as an internally held experience…I usually find there is something lost in translation.

That said, with more art making, with more time spent in the studio, I think I’m finally getting over myself and can more or less articulate what drives me to paint. As I see it – and I’m saying this with the full knowledge of how annoyingly simplistic this sounds – there are largely 2 threads I pursue: aesthetic and concept.

I’ve always been obsessed with Baroque art and comics – essentially work that has a strong graphic bent to it, where line, detail, rich color, powerful contrast and figuration all feature prominently. It’s the first visual language I learned, so with regards to aesthetic, these were my earliest influences.

But style, I’ve come to learn, is really nothing without substance – or at least is surely less engaging – and this is where concept comes into play for me. I’ve learned to be more intentional, to plan, to explore and to start a dialog with myself about what I want to create and why, well before I actually start working. What I’ve discovered from this more reflective kind of practice is that I am drawn towards fragmentation – how an idea, figure or narrative is communicated to the viewer without telling the “whole story” so to speak; or to say this another way: how much can I get away with not showing?

I suppose that’s the crux of where I am at right now – constantly trying to get closer to striking that perfect liminal balance between saying too much and not enough.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ah damn, now you’re going to get me on some imposter syndrome type stuff – as someone who’s only been here for a year, I know for a fact I’m missing out on the best canon-level LA “you-must-go-here” locations, so just keep that in mind.

That said, here are (thus far) some of my favorite spots, as told to you by an avowed art nerd, in no particular order:

1) The Getty
Prior to moving here, I had visited LA more than a few times, and I always made a point of stopping by the Getty. And please know, by “stopping by” what I mean is spending upwards of 3 hours at this place. Not only is it a retro futuristic architectural marvel, but the art, both in terms of special exhibitions and permanent collection, is nothing short of stunning. For my part (and again, fully calling out my own bias here) I’ve always found myself wandering around their collection of work that starts with the Byzantine, goes to the Proto-Renaissance, straight through to the Renaissance itself, the Baroque and then (to skip a few movements) to the Pre-Raphaelites and Romanticists. And for those who may not be so into art – or if you just need a break – you can’t miss the gardens, which are works of art unto themselves.

2) LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art offers an immersive experience that is reflective of this city’s reputation as cultured connoisseur. To start, this location’s sprawling expanse – 387,500 square feet in total – boasts an impressive collection of artwork befitting of a city like LA; indeed, one can walk from surrealism to impressionism, from Sumerian pottery to Grecian mosaic, from contemporary oil painting to a kinetic sculpture of a city (and I honestly don’t know how to describe this) that occupies a room the size of a lecture hall, all in the span of a day. And if that isn’t enough, once you leave the museum, there are actual tar pits (like, Jurassic Park kind of tar pits, where dinosaurs clumsily fell in and died), all within a 5 minute walking distance.

3) The Broad
Perhaps you’ve started to notice a theme here? More so than the Getty or LACMA, the Broad is – from start to finish – a work of art in itself. The exterior acts as a sort of staccato ode to repetitive architecture, as if Max Headroom was given free reign to design a building. Once you enter (and be certain to purchase a ticket ahead of time unless you like lines), you’re pretty much greeted by a visual cornucopia of the giants of contemporary (meaning post 1900, more or less) art, which is another way of saying those who broke away from tradition. Depending on how fast you walk, you’ll be exposed to Basquiat, Warhol, Kusama, Twombly, et al. all in one building. Plus, there’s a bar next door!

4) Osteria la Buca
As a slight departure, let’s talk about food – while LA (as is the case with most metropolitan cities) is littered with restaurants boasting some kind of faux tag line between “authenticity” and “nouveau cuisine”, Osteria la Buca is one of those rare locations that bucks any kind of clout-grabbing trend, and instead lives up to the hype. I don’t want to ruin anything and say too much, but the butter & sage tagliatelle is not to be missed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is an easy one for me – it’s definitely my brother, Torin Martinez. Not only is he an extremely talented musician (be certain to check him out on Spotify), he has been a constant pillar of support, and has helped make my transition from San Francisco to Los Angeles a smooth one. I didn’t have that sense of being unmoored in a new city, and instead felt welcomed. I’m very fortunate to have someone like him in my life, someone who is as invested in my success as I am.

I do also have to give him his flowers in terms of his ability to effectively critique my work and offer new ideas. Not to say that his sense of aesthetic and mine always perfectly line up, but then again that really isn’t the point of listening to feedback; if you’re just constantly agreeing with one another, the opportunity for creative growth can be diminished. For someone like me, who can be a bit stubborn when it comes to embracing change, it’s crucial to have someone in my corner who can present me with a new perspective on my work that I wouldn’t have necessarily seen on my own.

Website: https://www.ferrismartinez.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ferrism_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferrissagemartinez

Image Credits
Main photo is taken by Yiqian Barba