artrepublic: What made you become an artist?
Boon: I have been drawing and painting all my life... my parents have always encouraged me to be creative. I still have an oil painting I did when I was 7 years old. I'm not a full time artist though, I have a day job that helps fund my artistic exploits. When I moved to London 8 years ago, I picked up the brush again when the urban art scene started to grow. And I picked up the spray can too. Took a few classes at St Martins to kickstart my creative juices again.
artrepublic: How do you approach the actual making of your work?
Boon: These days I use the internet a lot. There's so much out there and some mindless browsing always inspires me. I have my trusty smart phone as well to capture random interesting shots when I go wandering in London town. These ideas are then put down in my sketch book and that's where the creativity begins. I also use my old MacBook to help on composition as well.
artrepublic: What’s your medium?
Boon: Charcoal, pencil, acrylics and spray paint.
artrepublic: What would you say are the main themes you pursue?
Boon: Nature and humans.
artrepublic: How do you choose your subjects?
Boon: It's one of those things... one look and you get drawn in and want to capture the moment.
artrepublic: What are you currently working on?
Boon: New ways of expressing portraits and the human figure with bright splashes of colour.
artrepublic: Which of your works are you most proud of?
Boon: My superhero collection. I have a soft spot for Superman and Batman.
artrepublic: Do you care whether people like your work?
Boon: I do of course. I always ask my close friends on what they thought. If they didn't like it, they'd tell me why and I learn from it. But it does sting me a bit but it's all good after that.
artrepublic: What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Boon: Not so much about responses but the fact that people buy my art so that it becomes part of their lives...in their living room, their bedroom.... it's awesome.
artrepublic: What is the greatest threat to art today?
Boon: Artists that get jaded and stop creating and reinventing themselves.
artrepublic: Is there an art form you don’t relate to?
Boon: Sculptures.
artrepublic: Which artists do you most admire?
Boon: Connor Harrington (alive), Antony Micallef (alive), Andy Warhol (dead) and Gustav Klimt (dead).
artrepublic: What work of art would you most like to own?
Boon: The Kiss by Klimt.
artrepublic: When are you happiest?
Boon: When I know that I have been there for my friends and family through the good and bad times.
artrepublic: What was the last book you read?
Boon: OK this is embarrassing but I took up a challenge to finish the Shades of Grey trilogy. It was awful.
artrepublic: What’s your favourite film?
Boon: Shawshank Redemption.
