In our recent conversation with David Pher, we explored the profound impact of his artistic upbringing, his sources of inspiration, and the intricate creative processes behind his vibrant and enigmatic paintings. David shared insights into how his childhood surrounded by art subtly influenced his career, his spontaneous yet structured approach to creating art, and the significant role of color in his work. He also touched on his interactions with clients and how his art transforms spaces into vivid dreamscapes.
Photography by David Prinz
Growing up in a household full of art certainly influences your view of the world. To what extent did this influence you and perhaps even make you dedicate yourself to art?
Although I used to see the pictures regularly, of course, I didn't notice them directly. We had pictures everywhere, some of them originals, but they weren't by big, well-known artists. Most of them were abstract paintings, but there were also a lot of prints, for example by Dalí and Picasso. I looked at these very often and they were very present in my mind. I believe that, for example, the structures, how colours are arranged and the abstraction subtly accompany you when you grow up with them. But I always tended to think "They're artists, they can do that", and I didn't see myself that way. Ultimately, it certainly influenced my career in a certain way, even if it didn't directly lead me to paint myself.
Where do you get the inspiration for your paintings?
I am mainly inspired by everyday life and the colours I see in everyday life, as well as the colour compositions etc. Everything that happens in the world can ultimately be used as inspiration. And other artists also inspire me, for example when I go to exhibitions or museums, I see how others work. Sometimes it's not as fine and precise as you imagine. That gives you the feeling that you don't have to think so much, you can just do it. .
The creative process behind each image is often a mystery to outsiders. Is your process primarily spontaneous or is there a structured approach? Do you plan something before you start a new work?
That's always very different. But what is almost always the case is that the process doesn't end the way I intended. Even if I have a basic idea, most of the paintings are created in the process and a lot often changes. It often depends on the form of the day and I try something different, for example a different structure, and then I'm led somewhere completely different again. Sometimes you have to be able to detach yourself from the basic idea, because if another part stands out during the process, the painting can be steered in a completely different direction. If you stick too closely to the original idea, it can be difficult, because even better ideas often come up spontaneously.
Your paintings evoke strong emotions through their vivid colours and dark contrasts. What role does colour play in the design, narrative or mood of your artworks?
Colours play a very important role for me. I tend to work with positive colours because they make people happy and many customers prefer them. I have started to use cheerful colours, for example pink, light blue and white. However, I also work with darker colours from time to time, even if I do this more for myself. As soon as I have a bigger studio, I want to do this more often and work in a more diverse range of colours. Instead of just working with bright, cheerful colours, I want to go in a deeper, darker direction - a side that you also have within you.
"Everything that happens in the world can ultimately be used as inspiration."
When you are preparing to create a painting for a client, do you usually visit the designated space beforehand? How does your relationship with the space influence your approach to creating artwork?
As the clients already buy finished paintings from me, I usually have no influence on them. Rather, they look for themselves to see if it fits the intended location in the flat or house. In most cases, I then see the pictures hanging directly on the wall, which is surprising and also very nice. Sometimes, however, customers also involve me and ask for my opinion or for a suitable frame.