Interview by Kati Driscoll
As we prepare for our third year of Fun-A-Day, we wanted to share with you some inspiration and interviews from previous participants. We're pleased to introduce photographer Andrew Howard as our first interview of 2014!
You went to Delaware College of Art and Design. How did that experience shape you as an artist?
It shaped me in everyway, shape, and form. DCAD laid the foundation. Before I walked into DCAD I had just one photo class under my belt. I initially discovered my love of color photography at DCAD as well my love of portraits.
How would you describe your artistic style?
That’s a really hard question. I’ve never been asked that before. But if I really had to say my artistic style is candid street photography. On the other hand I’m also a portrait photographer. I really don’t know how to answer this question.
Do you work in other artistic areas, aside from photography?
Not really. I used to draw a lot when I was a kid. But when I got older and saw how much better everyone else was around me I lost a lot of confidence in my drawing skills and stopped. I drew a brain recently though. I really proud of it, I put it on my wall in my bedroom.
What attracted you to photography and how does it influence your work?
I totally became a photographer by accident. I was fresh out of high school and was really into film making so my mom and aunt signed me up for a photo class at the Delaware College of Art and Design. I totally loved it and I’ve been doing it ever since. I pretty much stumbled into photography.
Your pieces in the 2013 Fun-A-Day show were taken using the Hipstamatic app. What drew you to this format?
I had just taken a mobile photography workshop with David Norbut at Cab Calloway and I was drawn to the immediacy and intimacy that taking pictures with your iPhone can provide. Walking around with a DSLR or Hasselbald people tend to be more aware of you, and they avoid you or make weird comments. When I use my iPhone I tend to blend in. I’m just some guy with his phone like the hundreds of other people.
Do you expect to use mobile technologies for this year's show?
I thought about it but most likely not, while I still enjoy and use mobile photography for me it’s become something I use as photography exercise.
You capture a variety of images both private (like your portraits) and public (urban architecture, street photography) - which interests you about each? Which one interests you more?
Portraits always interest me more. I always consider myself a portrait photographer. With portraits I work from a sense of fear. I have always been a pretty shy person and taking portraits have always been a way to confront that. Even when it comes to people I have known for years that fear still lingers inside me. I can’t even tell you why but I always use photography as a way to explore it. As for street photography I just like taking pictures around the city.
What did you enjoy about last year's project? What challenged you?
One thing I enjoy was going out everyday and taking pictures it challenged me. I’m a very slow photographer. I may go out a few times a month to take pictures. I use mostly film and because of that I’ve gotten very selective about the images I decide to make.
What are your artistic plans for 2014?
Finish my book. I’ve been working on it for seven years now and it’s time to finish it. I hope to have it released by the summer.
Thank you so much, Andrew! To see more of Andrew's work, check out his website and store or follow him via twitter or instagram.