Czar’s Journey to New Media Pop Art

UK roots

Czar was born in Lancashire and dragged up in Yorkshire. With training in York, North Yorkshire, UK (Art & Design Foundation) and Nottingham (Photography Degree Course), Czar approaches the art world from a background of film and television post-production, editing, graphics, and special effects.

“I am very prolific, working in a range of different art styles from silly to fun to lowbrow to surreal pop art prints and giftware to fabric designs.”

Czar works as The Emperor’s New Clothes Collective #TENCC including artists: Czar Catstick, Jack Smith, Pavlov Bellwether, Reverend Chicken McPoodle, and Hertz Van Wental.

Bosch Abstracted, gallery edition of 15, photography, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

A-Muse Bouche 10101, limited edition of 1, printmaking, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

Paying homage to the artists he admires

“I enjoy using references to well-known art and artists to pay homage to the people I admire,” Czar says. “My subject matter has changed over the years. My work has referenced 20th Century work and movements including Cubism, Pop Art, The Bauhaus School, The Young British Artists from the 80s with Pointillism, Surreal, and Dada.”

Pop Princess 10101, printmaking, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

“Pop Princess” (left). Portrait of Princess Diana: New Fizzy POP, Sugar DADA series of artworks. Surreal pop stylized portrait. Made from thousands of hand-painted spots. New media. Seurat and Signac inspired Pop Pointillism painting with a nod to the spot paintings from Damien Hirst’s Studio. The image contains various different angles and views, creating a surreal abstracted, dotty, spot painting composition. Part of the ongoing ‘Fizzy Pop’ series. This particular artwork uses a brush ‘loaded’ with paint spots where the parameters (chosen by the artist) are altered to create different splatter effects. All the spots are perfectly symmetrical but are painted in such a way as to give the impression of depth or perspective.

“Space Oddotty” (right). David Bowie portrait: Continuing Czar’s experimentation with new digital media and painting. The artwork is painted with a digital brush which can achieve effects impossible by traditional means. An early addition to Czar’s ‘Fizzy Pop’ series. This particular artwork uses a brush ‘loaded’ with paint spots where the parameters (chosen by the artist) are altered to create different splatter effects. All the spots are perfectly symmetrical but are painted in such a way as to give the impression of depth or perspective. “I do love a good pun,” Czar says, “but then so did Mr. Jones.”

Space Oddotty 10101, printmaking, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

Recent experimentations in new media pop art

“I have recently been experimenting with patterns and fabric design which has been a pretty much all-consuming interest,” Czar says. “I am presently designing a range of fabrics including silk scarves, clothing, homeware and dress designs based on my ‘Pop Deco’, ‘Shapes of Things to Come’, ‘Colour Revolutions’, ‘Fizzy Pop’ and  ‘Alhambra Dreams’ series.”

Czar has also been reworking some of his earlier pieces as well as experimenting with new media and digital painting systems. “I have always been fascinated by science and mathematics,” he says. “So it comes easy to me to experiment and play with new technology.” For example, the Alan Turing and Fibonacci series are a perfect fusion of the two. (See Turing print below.)

Turing Code 10101, printmaking, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

Nature Morte, limited edition of 25, photography, 30 W x 30 H x 0.1 D in

When asked about his legacy, Czar said, “I’d be happy if I simply inspired others to be creative. Money is not my main goal. Although fairly expensive for unique or Gallery Editions, my work is also available to everyone as inexpensive open edition prints and designs.”

To see Czar’s latest artwork, visit Saatchi Art >

Happy art hunting!