On the Couch with Marcus Wills

Marcus Wills Arts Review On the CouchWho is Marcus Wills?
A painter.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
When I was young I thought I’d like to be an architect or a pilot, but as high school progressed I found out my mathematic abilities were lacking for those occupations. Still love the idea of being a helicopter pilot.

Who inspires you and why?
Lots and lots of art and artists inspire me. Hellenistic sculpture, Michelangelo, Rubens, Manet and Picasso are a few. In my opinion, Peter Booth is the greatest Australian artist.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Good or bad??

Favourite holiday destination and why?
Somewhere warm with family and friends, or somewhere with a big art museum.

When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Aside from the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), I have no idea. I’m not much of a tour guide, so I’d probably just ask them what they would like to see, but still take them to the NGV!

What are you currently reading?
Hamlet, American Psycho and Methods and materials of painting of the great schools and masters, Volume 2

What are you currently listening to?
The local talk radio and my cat complaining that there seems to be a lack of food.

Happiness is?
These questions are hard…

What does the future hold for you?
Not sure really. Hope I can keep doing the art stuff for a while. Have a couple of larger projects in mind which I hope to begin shortly, so that’s something I am looking forward to starting.

Marcus Wills has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts and was awarded the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship in 1999. A figurative realist painter, he has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne since 1992 and has been represented in various group shows. Marcus has also been a finalist in the Sulman Prize (2003, 2010 and 2013) and the Wynne Prize (2010). He won the Archibald Prize in 2006 and was a finalist in 2015.

Marcus is a finalist in the 2016 Archibald Prize for his portrait of James Batchelor (The ersatz) – currently on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat until 27 November 2016. For more information, visit: www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au for details.

Image: Marcus Wills