Callum Painter- Photographer

Has lock down context featured in your actual content of your work?

I really thought I’d get some inspiration photographically from this but I just didn’t feel any drive to record what’s going on at the beginning. I recommend looking at the work of Cian Oba Smith, I find some of his photos during lockdown quite calming.

What is the strangest materials you have used during lockdown to make work?

I’ve been working on building bikes for friends and learning how to sew mostly, between these two I’d have to go with using paint stripper for bike frames. Mixed with the heat, paint scrubbing and acidic gunk it for sure was the strangest and arguably worst material.

Favourite music to work to during lockdown?

Podcasts have become my go to as day to day life is quite solitude. I recommend having a look at 'No Country for Young Women' (BBC sounds).

Best 'new find' on Instagram for creative folk?

I feel like I’ve been wasting creative time stuck on the app and I’ve found myself in this blue lit hole. Where I’ve found more inspiration lately is in books; Design as Art by Bruno Munari, Migrant Mother Migrant Gender by Sally Stein and The Psychology of Perception by Magdalen Dorothea Vernon (sorry I kinda dodged ya question there).

How would you advise someone who wants to make some creative work, but doesn't know where to start?

For me I look at my every day, what are the items I use/like? How can I improve the practicality of life? How is that made? Generally, if the things are quite expensive I look at ways in which I can make them myself. That’s what’s led me to working with the sewing machine to create all sorts of bags.

Similarly, with bikes, since lockdown there has been a real boom so I’ve been trying to help friends where ever I can to build them custom bikes often from scratch that aren’t a fortune.

Callum’s Website

@callumpainter