Art & Life with Scott Rolfe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Rolfe.

Scott, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Born and raised in Maine, I learned early on that art can take many forms, whether it be the duck carvings of my great grandfather or the creative gift wrapping of my grandmother. One of my favorite assignments in grade school was creating dioramas using whatever available materials I could find. Later on, when I attended Connecticut College, a mixed media class helped me discover assemblage as an art medium. Shortly after, I gathered up whatever little found object treasures I could fit into my car, moved down to Texas, and have been here ever since.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
The medium I am most drawn to for many years is assemblage. Assemblage basically is the process of taking found and discarded objects, and making them into new art forms. Think of it like collage, but in 3D form. When looking at the objects around me, often the first thing that comes to my mind isn’t what their original use may be, but rather what I can craft them into. I break apart and reassemble the discarded objects I find, and transform them into dilapidated machines and eccentric animals.
A measuring spoon may not contribute to a tasty recipe in my hands, but rather be the body for a dog. Likewise, clock parts, utensils and door fixtures no longer serve their original purpose, but become the foundations of cities and towers.

In the past year I have been exploring a hybrid collage/assemblage medium. In this process I take images of architecture from medieval paintings and alter them in Photoshop. These are then reprinted and mounted onto wood and tin, and become the basis of cities housed in shadow boxes, or incorporated into the towers mentioned above.

We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Unlike a field such as music, art tends to be more of a solitary exercise. Thus, it can be easy to become a hermit in one’s studio, and to feel isolated from the rest of the world. Attending openings and visiting other artist’s studios can help, but even interacting with others on the internet can really open up one’s world. For instance, I have been able to discover a lot of great artists from around the world through social media. This access allows me to get inspired by their creativity, and we have even exchanged advice and constructive criticism about our works in progress.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I have shown in various galleries and art fairs in Texas, and currently have work in Lubbock as well as Raleigh, North Carolina. In addition, each year I participate in the East Austin Studio Tour in November. But the easiest way to see my work is either to just stop by my studio or just check out my work on my site or Facebook/Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.scottrolfe.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/scottiusr/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottrolfeart/

Image Credit:
Scott Rolfe

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