LONDON CREATIVE: Michael Harding
We caught up with Michael Harding, the Artist and Founder of the extraordinary brand Michael Harding, to find out what new paint colours are in the pipeline and what his favourite places in London are.
1. WE ARE A FAN OF MICHAEL HARDING PAINT, TELL US WHAT GOES INTO YOUR PAINT, TO MAKE IT SO PREMIUM?
People always ask this, I explain it’s not so much what I put in it’s what I leave out! The junk! Fillers, driers, all the stuff that should not be in oil paint. Why make something wonderful and pure to only dilute it? Why water down the finest wine?
2. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT?
Buy the Ralph Mayer book ‘The Artist Handbook of Methods and Materials’. Read the section on oil paints. Make a strong coffee and read the section again! Also, three other essentials for the eye: draw, draw, draw!
3. ANY PLANS TO EXPAND YOUR PRODUCT LINE?
I am moving to a range of 100 colours so I have nine more colours coming out! I also launched my own line of bottled oils: Walnut, Linseed, Safflower and several others. I have a couple of new mediums that will be released too, one that has a body that makes a very lovely impasto. Finally, in mid 2017 I have a BIG surprise coming that takes me back to the very first medium I used. I think all MH users will be delighted and I hope to tease non MH users over to my products!
4. ARE THERE ANY EXCITING NEW COLOURS COMING OUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
I have several new colours coming. Some in design phase and some in formulation phase but I have one absolutely gorgeous opaque Violet that is imminent, SSH!
5. BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN?
I was given the advice by one of my art tutors to study carefully and understand materials. By doing learning materials it will make for a better artist. In the same way an understanding of trees and wood make a better carpenter. Ever since that piece of advice was given to me I became fanatical about materials! I am glad I put the effort into understanding materials because my research showed that the paints I was using at that time were compromised. I knew I could make oil paint that really is oil paint! I have never looked back. I love what I do, the artists I meet, the retailer’s I work with and the team I have working with me!
6. BEST PLACES IN LONDON TO HANG OUT IN?
Of course these are my places in London that I like to frequent. First, is Gordon’s Wine Bar on Villiers Street. Although it’s a victim of it’s own success and therefore very crowded! Next, Karyn my wife, and I also very much enjoy the National Gallery Sainsbury’s wing restaurant for Sunday lunch after a peruse through the galleries. Lastly, the wine bar within Waitrose at Canary Wharf. I’ve made many friends here, its nondescript but a hidden gem of London, because it is like “Cheers” for me!
Website: www.michaelharding.co.uk
