Interview with Darvis: Painted photographs in Bali

Darvis is a one of a kind person I have run into, while living in Bali. Maybe Bali attracts unique people, or maybe they get that way after living here for a while. Whatever, this afternoon I talked to Darvis about his life in Bali, his painted photographs, and his company, AsiaImages.

As his website says, ‘Darvis has been a freelance photographer for over twenty years. He has traveled extensively and pursues an avid interest in history, archeology and documenting our dissappearing civilization. He shoots his pictures then reinterprets the original images through the media of toning and water colour. This creates a finished image which is a blend of photography and painting. This medium was originally an option used by traditional artists to make a portrait affordable. Only the rich could commission an original painting.

Today with the advent of the digital camera analog photography and the silver based print is a dying art; add to this the medium of hand tinting and we have an art form that is becoming as scarce as the ethnic imagery he shoots. The images and medium convey the feeling of a time lost under the wheels of progress.

“Although it is already too late to turn back the wheels of industrialism and technology to a simpler age of handcrafting I hope that by documenting and photographing our disappearing civilizations with their time honored methods of worship, ritual and festival that we can begin to nurture a compassionate affinity with the ways of our ancestors.”

I wanted to pop a few questions off at him and learn about his creative process. Here goes.

Name: Darvis
Age: 54
From: Bristol UK
Background: Steiner school education, creative arts, channelled through the photographic medium. Worked in Paris and Canada in the photographic industry, developing his style there. Moved to Bali in 1991 and formed AsiaImages in 2004. AsiaImages is a vehicle for the diffusion of his personal arts style, which is hand painted, black & white photography.

Baliblog:
Darvis you are an ‘old school’ photographer, using Nikon and Hasselblad cameras, and regular film. Why?
Darvis:
It is a manual art, that requires a level of observation that appears to be unnecesary in digital photography. Digital does not enable the user, to develop their senses of perceprtion and depth, its flat, The ability to delete, means people often don’t concentrate as much.

The art of photography is to freeze time and space, you freeze it in a framework. So the test of a good photographer, is to choose the right moment, in which to freeze that frame.

Baliblog:
You are an expert printer. Why it that part so important to you?
Darvis:
Developing your own images gives far greater control over the end results.

Baliblog:
How easy is this to do in Bali?
Darvis:
In Bali its possible to do, but its getting harder. Ilford is closing apparently. I only use 400 ASA, Ilford has a beautiful tonal range and graininess, I feel works best with my style.

Baliblog:
Why do you prefer grainy images?
Darvis:
They have a texture, that renders my imagery timeless.

Baliblog:
Do people sometimes think the photos are out of focus?
Darvis: I can’t tell you what other people percieve. I can tell you from card sales, that they appear to like what they are buying. The graininess gives a certain softness, it allows the image to take on a virtual feeling of almost being a painting, once it has been hand painted.

Baliblog:
You use a sepia (brown) tone, in your photos. Why do you choose this?
Darvis: All images are sepia. I like sepia, as it gives a warmth to the images, and makes them archival. Certain sepias are virtually black and white.

Baliblog:
You handpaint your black & white / sepia images. Why do you do this and how is it done?
Darvis: My early influence was Jan Saudek. I first started whilst in Quebec City, and was influenced by a certain school of photography, that was going on at that time. I liked the softness, it gave to an image.

Baliblog:
Here in Bali how do you go about the process of painting an image?
Darvis:
I start off with printing my own images in the darkroom, getting a large print, sepia toning the image, and then painting the image using aquarel watercolor. The finished image is then scanned, and the produced as a greeting card / poster / calendar, with a view to developing many other products, from t-shirts to journals.

Baliblog:
People around the world will be fascinated by your artistic, somewhat idyllic lifestyle, living here in Bali, earning a living from the art that you love. Any thoughts on that?
Darvis:
In life, if you are not doing what you love, you shouldn’t be doing it. You have to realize your dreams. Living here and doing this, was my dream. If your follow your dreams, you can find the satisfaction in life, that you are looking for. For me, getting leukemia pushed me to develop the business.

Baliblog:
What are some of the drawbacks to your style of art?
Darvis:
Drawbacks to developing the style of imagery that I have developed, include the onrush of 21st century development. The discarding of traditional values, the excess of electric wires, jean and t-shirts, and the speed of contempory transportation, shipping western crap around the world as fast as possible.

Baliblog:
Your company is called ‘Asia Images’: Why Asia?
Darvis:
Its a more tranquil lifestyle, the subject matter still retains a level of exoticism, that no longer exists in the west.

Baliblog:
When you are on a photo shoot, what do you focus on?
Darvis:
Tranquility, peacefulness, harmony. The dignity of man’s spirit.

Baliblog:
Do you have any tips for travel photographers?
Darvis:
Patience. Walk a lot when you get to where you want to be.

Baliblog:
Your company (inspiration), AsiaImages, has how many staff?
Darvis:
AsiaImages has 4 staff.

Baliblog:
Where are your future trips going to take you?
Darvis:
Ladahk is the next main goal, and hopefully Africa, Morocco.

Baliblog:
Your website features your collection of erotic images. What is your definition of an erotic image?
Darvis:
An erotic image, is a tasteful depiction of the sensuality of the human form. In my instance the female form.

Baliblog:
What constitutes an exceptional erotic image?
Darvis:
Stimulation of desire.

Baliblog:
What is the difference between and erotic images and pornography.
Darvis:
Pornography is bad photography with no attention to detail. Are you intending to just titilate, or convey a sense of the aesthetic?

Darvis has a great collection of hand painted photographs from around the world. One of my favourites is called Hand of Buddha. If you are interested in posters, greeting cards or calendars, contact Darvis.