Eric Saint Georges from Life
Eric Saint Georges has always been drawing and building things, but it was a workshop with the sculptor Petrus in 1978 that triggered his passion for sculpture. At that time, he had just completed his education in electrical engineering. Rather than going right away to work, he applied to the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, and studied drawing and sculpture there for two years. At the time, a career in art wasn't an option, and he went back to pursuing a career as an engineer.
Eventually, after 35 years, he finally got back into art full time. Here's what he had to say about his work and his practice when we sat down to chat:
1. Why do you make your work?
Because I love it. I love the process and when the result is there and that I like it it is very rewarding. I watch the model, I feel the tension of her movement in my own body. With my knife I make bold cuts in the block of clay, trying to capture the essence of the pose. I have to work fast, keeping the energy flowing, and when I start to see some life emerging from the clay, I feel alive too... I draw a few lines, quickly, I add a couple of watercolor strokes. I do not think, just keep my focus on the model, enjoy the freedom of my hand moving, and the contact of the charcoal on the paper. Then, once in a while, the drawing is alive and I can feel the movement and the mood of the model, and I see that I have nothing to add to it and that if do, it is going to ruin it.
2. How did you choose or land on the mediums you use now?
My preferred mediums for sculpture are clay and bronze. I use the clay because it allows me to work fast and keep the energy flowing. I use bronze for its beauty and versatility. In my drawings I like to combine charcoal, ink and watercolor, which allow me to work quickly, my main interest being to capture life and energy in as spontaneous and raw a manner as possible.
3. What are you presently inspired by?
My current focus is the human form for both sculpture and drawings. Mostly female figure and portraits. I draw almost exclusively from life, my preference being very short poses. I do not try to tell a story, as much as to capture the moment, the pose, the movement, the mood.
4. Other than your art practice, what other work do you do?
I used to be an engineer, and switched to art full time almost three years ago. I am also teaching figure drawing and sculpture at Pacific Art League in Palo Alto (CA).
5. What are your current artistic influences?
Alberto Giacometti, Egon Shiele
6. What's your least favorite color?
Pink.
Above: These two works sold on Artfinder. Find more works on Artfinder by Eric and other stARTup artists.
Find him on Instagram: @ericsaintgeorges
Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes moments and details about our fairs, artists, and special exhibitions.
Q&A by Content Curator Mica England