With a painterly style as irresistible as some of America’s greatest realists, Chicago-based artist Darren Thompson talks to Zatista’s contributing writer Nancy Cost about his love of figure drawing and his interest in depicting human interactions.

Have you always been a painter?
I was an illustrator for fifteen years prior to becoming a painter. I worked as an editorial illustrator for such periodicals as The New York Times, LA Times, Sport Illustrated, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post. My works was primarily caricatures of politicians and business people.

How do you describe the style of your work?
Painterly realism. I transitioned from illustration about nine years ago. I rented studio space next to a well-known impressionist painter named C.W. Mundy. I learned a lot from just watching him work and being in his studio.

How do you choose your subjects?
I am drawn to people and places around me here in Chicago. I take lots of photographs and I often use more than one photo and combine them into the subject matter for a single painting.

Bus Route by Darren Thompson

Do you find it a challenge to depict the human figure?
It’s more challenging than depicting objects, but the figure is what I do best.

What types of urban scenes inspire you?
Usually, it’s the simplicity of two people interacting with each other that inspires me.

Do you ever paint on location?
No.

How long does it take you to complete a painting?
About 7-10 hours.

Your architectural scenes have a Hopper-esque feel. How did that evolve?
It evolved while I was studying two dimensional designs in Edward Hopper’s paintings. However, I have moved away from that recently and I am trying to develop my own two dimensional designs for paintings.

Beauty Shop by Darren Thompson

Who are some of your favorite artists?
Edward Hopper, Isabel Bishop, Reginald Marsh, and Richard Diebenkorn.

What’s hanging on the walls in your home?
Posters from the 30’s and 40’s. Mostly travel posters. A lot of Edward Hopper prints as well.

What might our readers be surprised to know about you?
Maybe they’d be surprised to know that I also work for the Chicago Public School System. I use art in classrooms to help children who are trainable mentally handicapped. I have been doing this for about two years. The children range in age from 9 to 14. Being able to illustrate ideas with drawings helps these kids tremendously.