Out of office: Daniel Copitch
In this edition of our ‘out of office’ series, we interview one of our architects, Daniel Copitch, who is an artist in his spare time. Daniel’s website ‘Decopica’ hosts an impressive array of work – we spoke to him to find out more about his influences and preferred medium.
Like many architects, he began his creative journey at a young age, as an aspiring artist. He then went on to undertake a Foundation Degree in Design and Applied Arts prior to university. It wasn't until the final stages of his architectural qualification that Daniel began producing artwork in a more meaningful way.
Although the majority of Daniel’s work is in print, painting on large-format canvas is his preferred means of exploration.
What inspired you to pursue your artwork more seriously?
“I am most content when experimenting creatively… Some might say that monetising something you enjoy so much could have negative results, though the intention was that it would motivate me to invest more time into it, and so far, it has worked!”
What then inspired you to create a website and business out of this passion?
“In a way the website itself is a means to an end, alongside the time invested in marketing and administration. That said, as a by-product these are skills which I feel are extremely valuable. I thoroughly enjoy learning, and the opportunity to better myself in skills outside my comfort zone can only be beneficial.”
Dune Study 01, 2022, Acrylic on Canvas “allows the viewer to 'lose themselves' in an imaginative exploration”
Who has made an impression on you and influenced your personal style?
“I think the surrealists have probably made the biggest impression on me overall, so without sounding too cliché probably Dali. I have also felt particularly calm and thoughtful after spending some time in the Tate Modern's Rothko room, prior to its recent relocation to the Tate Britain. I'm also significantly influenced by things outside of the art world, such as music and astronomy.
What was the process behind creating the website?
“At the beginning it was about getting everything up and running. This was relatively easy as there are so many hosting options with themes to get going these days. I have since been learning to use coding languages such as HTML and CSS to build content, make adjustments and allow for additional flexibility.”
Does your artwork ever feel like a chore?
“Initially the biggest challenge was ensuring that there was enough of a body of work to showcase, without compromising on quality or detracting from the enjoyment of the process. After a reasonable amount of time in operation it’s safe to say that creating the artwork itself does not feel like a chore at all. So far it has provided me with valuable time to think and reflect, and the analogue artwork comes with the additional benefit of much needed time away from a screen. It also allows for a level of creativity comparable with architecture, yet with few constraints or deadlines.”
Petallics, 2014, printed on premium 270gsm satin paper
Decopica exclusively features all of Daniel’s work and is expressed through categorised collections exploring a variety of ideas and aesthetics including ‘linework’, ‘pixelation’ and ‘fluidity’.
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with all of our news and stories.