Steven Haddock 

Where does the Art come from;
 
Drawing was my first love, as an art form. Due to it being easily accessible. From the days I had a drawing board, as a gift one year & my Dad used to give me a roll of lining paper. For wall papering. That was my day complete. Happily drawing, without a care in the world. That’s something that’s always stayed with me. The freedom art has given me & the ability to not have a care in the world, when creating. From an early age it also gave me the ability, to later edit work more easily. As not every piece of artwork is a master piece. And it’s not as if you can keep everything, created.
Then looking back with hindsight. I see that art was a way of expressing myself & an outlet. As I grew older to my teens. I started working with music, unwittingly maybe. Nether the less, The Music, the people around me. Along with the environments I were experiencing. Was being soaked up. Picking up on more accessible artworks to see like Street Art AKA Graffiti. With the attitude ’n’ bright colours. Along the train tracks for example.
Art was the only path for me & the only path I cared about. I started being able to draw upon life. In a more measured way. By looking at my skateboard magazines. For inspiration, along with record sleeves etc. To help with future art creations. On my Art & design GNVQ (Advanced), Merit. I designed the corporate design aka logo. For Crazy Beat records, Upminster. And on my HND Design & Communication, Pass.
It was later in life. After various jobs. From leaving school & college education. In my mid- twenties, I was kindly given and used acrylic paint. I painted A colourful, or vibrant rainbow like daisy. This was the start of something for me. I thoroughly loved doing it, ART!
From then on I’d go into my own mind. Entering that creative space. There was even this moment I was stuck. In an Ikea carpark. Yes the car had broken down. It wouldn’t start, bit of a death trap really. You could pull the key outta the ignition & it would still run. That sort motor. Anyway whilst waiting for the AA man to help. I walked over to lakeside shopping centre. With a little money available on my card. And brought a small 12” x 12” canvas. And a pack of print colours, in acrylic. When I got back to the car. I started to paint, from a photo on my phone. The sun, with lens flare. Using a fag box, as a make do palette knife. I s the only way I can put it. As there wasn’t enough for brushes. The funny thing is. That very painting, still wet £$old. Once I got back to the pub (yeah, I was lucky to be with a pub manager & live in a Pub. I’m aware some people would dream of this. For obvious reasons). This wasn’t so much the start, but encouraging. Thing picked up, as I went to approach an art gallery. Where I lived and before I got there I see a couple drinking. And made a point of passing them with may artworks, visible. They took interest. Short of the story. They brought one. Then, I see them every week. They enjoyed my art. This was encouraging. One of the paintings they brought. Was of Ali. My brother had a lovely signed black ’n’ white print, of him. I later see a collection, of birthday cards in Marks & Sparks, Ilford. So I brought the one of the boxer, Ali. I chose to paint this with colour and feeling. I was and still am very proud of this piece. I felt like, I was going little crazy painting this painting, in 2004. Its funny to say, but I felt like I was painting. To an audience, or something. But was so engrossed. I carried on getting more & more into my work.
I didn’t say, probably ‘cause Im still coming to terms with it. That I was diagnosed with mental health before I picked up the brush, in later life.
Going back to the painting. I was enjoying very much. So I thought I’d try my luck. (Knowing that I had/ have something). Id seen adverts at Barking round about & Stratford station. For the University of East London. So I pulled the roof down. One sunny day & filled the car with so many paintings, as I could. And drove to their Docklands campus. Opposite City airport. For me, I was to go there, or forget it. But never too give up. Just that path. I had a walk into their AVA ( Art building). And although the car was still running. Approached someone, they turned out to be just the person & although my head wasn’t in the right space & the car was left still running, in the carpark. I bagged the opportunity, to come back a week later and show ‘em what Ive got. It was said I was prolific, as I set up stall with a body of my first six months of art. Along with photo’s of art I’d £$old. When it came to starting the course, nerves got the better of me to be honest, I wasn’t in the right head space.
Living in Ilford. After a relationship break up. I re-checked UEL ( University of East London). I was accepted. Promising to turn up. This time I never looked back. I channeled my energy. Into something positive, ART! Thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was part -time (Five years). I learned so much about myself & it helped me grow as a person. Giving me direction. I gained a B.A., 2:1. I even £$old a record four oil paintings, in my final end of year show & donated an abstract of a red camper van painting. It was said, I was the only one to leave with more than I started. Not bad, hey! And that I did.
Since finishing the course & during. Ive been gaining as many life experiences, as possible. To armour myself. With a bank of experiences to draw upon. Meeting amazing people and living life.
Now I feel the time is right for me, to put everything together & push on. To see where art can take me & keep pushing!
 
As I’ve developed, as an artist. From the school of life & the school of art. Van Gogh, Basquiat and Picasso. Have been influential, as you can probably see, in my work. Without my even noticing, or maybe I’m just me. And have something in common. Although apart from my B.A. Fine Art Degree, my only accolade is being acknowledged by saatchiart.com and having a collection featured in the top one hundred, some time ago.

Steven Haddock B.A.
EDUCATION
University of East London 

BA (Hons) Fine Art Degree. 2.1