i have always been an admirer of this man's art, 4 a long time
there is a luv hate thing goin’ w/me & anthony burks’ art,,,luv b/cuz of the admiration,,, hate cuz i can't buy it right now..lol
he blessed me w/mother nature VIII,,,,i luv that piece 4 so many reasons but 4most bcuz she is beautiful,,i see so much in her
Alexie F: what art sale made u want 2 pull the hairs out of ur head
Anthony Burks: A person literally offered ½ of the listed price of a piece. He offered cash to top it off. Because of my financial situation, I agreed to the representative that I would take the offer. When I met the couple later on that night, they came over to the gallery I was running at the time, totally inebriated.
They started talking about their financial wealth, all homes they had & the traveling they did. I felt like saying, “ Why did they need to throw change at me like I was some kind of amateur” They really made me feel worthless.
Alexie F: do u create outside of ur home or do u only create @ ur home studio?
Anthony Burks: My mind is always in creative mode. Bathrooms, restaurants, galleries; if I have a writing instrument, a piece of paper & I am sitting down, I will create something.
Alexie F: can u paint when ur pissed off?
Anthony Burks: Yes. Coming home frustrated everyday from my old job, that was my peace. My art is my life. Nothing stops me when I am in artistic mode. I am human, so that isn’t 110% of the time. Sometimes life does take over & I am not able to produce, but that isn’t often. I created a self portrait years ago called Mad as Hell . It showed all the frustration I was going through as an artist. Images from different drawings I did in the past were in the piece.
Alexie F: has any pieces of artwork been inspired by ur family?
Anthony Burks: Yes, Back to Basics , which was produced when Trina was pregnant with our first born Anthony Jr. & Hear Me which is a portrait of Trina for her first book What is My Priority?
Alexie F: do u feel u r well received in ur hometown?
Anthony Burks: NO. It’s kind of what I told someone who approached me to do a project I am working on (Endangered FL Species) Sometimes I feel like I am an endangered & overlooked specie. My work should provide solace in people’s lives & it is NOT appreciated.
Alexie F: do u see urself staying where u r ,,,or moving elsewhere ,,,,4 the good of ur art
Anthony Burks: MOVE, MOVE, MOVE….SOON, SOON, SOON
Alexie F: if u were in a room w/a group of art students about 2 graduate,,,wat would u say as a form of inspiration
Anthony Burks: The only way you will continue being a great fine artist is to stay true to yourself . Once you sell yourself out , you become commercial
Alexie F: has $$ ever inspired u to do any of ur art?
Anthony Burks: Yes, A number of times unfortunately. An example to what I would probably tell those kids about selling themselves short.
Alexie F: wat should a person who aren’t an artist think about when they r buying ur work,,,anything in particular??
Anthony Burks: I would hope they are buying the work because they like it & appreciate it & not because of who I am or they are waiting for me to pass on for the value to go up.
Alexie F: does it affect u when u set a price on something,,,& someone wants 2 negotiate a lower price?
Anthony Burks: Yes, because obviously that decision effects my financial growth.
Alexie F: wat is ur process when u go into developing a piece?
Anthony Burks: There really isn’t a process. I use to sketch ideas. Now things just pop in my head.
Alexie F: is there a certain time of the day that u work on ur art?
Anthony Burks: Not anymore. Now it’s anytime I am motivated. Now that is quite often.
Alexie F: wat feeling would u want people 2 walk away w/when they see or even buy ur art?
Anthony Burks: Honestly I don’t think about it. But when I see the work framed & hung in the person’s home or office. I get my high knowing that they truly appreciate my work.
Alexie F: wat is the message u r trying 2 convey w/ur work
Anthony Burks: The public doesn’t inspire me to do what I do. It is a gift from God & that is what I want to convey. I believe that God gives everyone gifts & who are we to question that. I happen to love mine. Wouldn’t give it up for anything
Mother Nature VIII-Beauty. The beauty of mother-nature with the bird pollinating the world. The Butterfly is the eyes of mother-nature, seeing on her behalf. I knew it was a slightly edgy piece of work, but solid. It is part of a 10 piece series.
Red Elephant- I always wanted to do an Elephant w/ the trunk up, but could not locate a realistic source. Many people who follow the folk lore of the trunk up, believe that it brings good luck. However, when the trunk is up for an elephant they are either, spraying dirt , water or are charging. It took quite a few years to find a reference that did not look that the animal was forced. Some sorority members from Delta Sigma Theta (the mascot symbol) asked me many times to produce one. So I finally located the right reference & created it.
Obsessed- My love for the female body is what inspired this. No real elaborate story behind it.
Gone too Soon- Was a tribute to Gerald Levert after his death. Billie Holiday always wore a gardenia in her hair. The petals from the gardenia at the bottom of the microphone represent all the musical artists who passed away too early in life. i.e Gerald, Billie, Luther Vandross, Phylis Hyman, Rick James & later Michael Jackson & Teena Marie
Lion (w/the Antelope) Was a 2 piece series that was suggested by the CEO of Suffolk Construction Company. He told the story to his employees about the Lion & the Antelope. In a nutshell, the lion gets up early with the goal to catch the antelope to survive. The antelope gets up early with the goal to not get caught by the lion. Work is the circle of life, survival of the fittest.
Universe- This is part of a 4 part series stemmed from Identity Crisis , which is about my point of view with the title “African American” and being torn between two culture. Universe is the man, Freedom is the eagle (which is in the permanent collection @ the Cornell Museum in Old School Square in Delray Beach, FL, & the lion.. well that is in work.
his work,,,when u look @ it,,,it just keeps on givin
,,,,it is obvious that he puts his heart in his work,,,,i wanted 2 share this artist's talent with all of u,,,$$ doesn’t make this gift flow,,,luv does
appreciate it,, luv it
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