JUNE 22, 2017 // 7
Continued from Page 4
“I have less control on
how they’re going to turn
out than some artists do with
their work,” he said. “Some
artists have a definitive goal.
Mine is a value of comple-
tion.”
Words have power, Or-
ange said; therefore, most of
his paintings are untitled.
“I would rather have an
‘untitled’ than the wrong ti-
tle. The titles can lead view-
ers into the wrong direction.
I don’t want to steer viewers
into a specific place.”
Orange began drawing
and painting at 8 years
old. He grew up in Yaki-
ma, Washington, on a fruit
orchard, which he said
is similar to creating art:
“You have problems, and
you have to come up with
creative solutions.”
After studying art history
and studio painting at West-
ern Washington University,
Orange moved to Astoria in
2000.
This interview has been
edited for length and clarity.
Q & A
Coast Weekend: How
would you describe your
art?
Darren Orange: I
think it is a process. I don’t
generally have an end result
I’m seeking. It’s more of an
intuitive feeling when I’ve hit
the mark and it’s done. The
process is similar to abstract
expressionism in that it’s
action painting. I stand up.
Sometimes the painting is on
the floor and I’m over the top
of it. It’s somewhere between
a dance and a boxing match.
CW: What drives you to
be an artist?
DO: The drive is like a
bad habit. It’s a chemical
addiction. The rush that you
get when you hit a mark that
you resonate with gives you a
high that a chemical would.
CW: What inspires your
art?
DO: What inspires me is
my surroundings, my natural
environment I live in, and
music. Also seeing someone
Orange recently made the
move to his new studio
and is still in the process of
remodeling the facility.
PHOTOS BY COLIN MURPHEY
THE DAILY ASTORIAN
LEFT: Orange’s work has been most recently displayed in the Imogen Gallery in downtown Astoria. RIGHT: Darren Orange posi-
tions a canvas in his studio located just outside of Astoria.
making it in whatever field
they’re in. Them chasing it
(success) inspires me.
CW: How long do you
typically spend on a piece?
DO: Average time frame
for one painting can be a
few weeks to two or three
months. Or the rare occasion
of 15 years.
CW: How long did it take
you to finish the “Under the
Surface” collection?
DO: I started in December
and worked until last month,
so five or six months. There’s
about 30 works in this show.
CW: How do you feel
about having your first solo
show at Imogen Gallery?
DO: I’m really excited
to work with Teri (Sund,
owner of Imogen). We’ve
already had a great relation-
ship outside of this gallery.
We’ve known each other for
17 years. She’s already done
amazing things for my work
before the show started, so I
feel really strongly about it.
CW: What are your goals
with your art?
DO: I’d like to see the
work given space to be and
seen by the public. Some nice
critical essay in some point in
time would be nice. Maybe
in some notable collections.
I’ve been in some notable
collections, but more would
be nice. That’d be a nice goal.
CW: Do you have any
projects planned?
DO: I don’t have anything
planned right now. I’ll have
some work in an international
magazine in September. I’m
always applying to competi-
tions. I’m hoping to find more
time in the studio to paint and
create a 3-D sculpture. I’ve
done some sculptures before.
I want to rekindle that fire,
that relationship. CW