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Artist Interview – Alex Sugar

By 27/10/2023April 10th, 2024Artist Interview, Melbourne, Mural Artist
Melbourne mural painted by Alex Sugar of a lady holding a snake

Artist Interview – Alex Sugar

Alex Sugar a Melbourne mural artist. With an image of a fox and possum mural

Firstly who are you and where are you from?

My names Alex Sugar and I’m originally from Perth, Western Australia, the most isolated city in the world (fun fact number 1) – I grew up basically surfing every day with mates before and after school as we only lived about 10 minutes from the beach, I wasn’t much of a good student at school so every so often my mum would let me skip school and take me surfing, cheers mum haha.

How do you think this affected you on your journey towards being an artist?

My family is pretty creative so they always pushed me with my drawing and painting but High school was when I became aware of urban art through a handful of kids in my year that were really getting into it, they would show me some of their pieces and charo’s etc which I really loved, that sparked my interest in painting with spray paint  for sure but I didn’t get into it till I was about 18/19.

Melbourne wall artist Alex sugar with a mural of a snake

When/How did you know you wanted to be a mural artist?

I’ve wanted to be an mural artist since about 20 maybe 21 years old, before then I wanted to be a professional surfer lol… I had a solo show of my studio work so i was really into painting canvases and drawing more so than walls at the time, I was painting at night and on weekends with my friends who got me into using spray paint which was amazing, I’m forever grateful to them for that, which then led me onto taking mural work a lot more serious, especially when we made the move to Melbourne.

How did you learn to do what you do?

After high school i met a group of friends through my cousin who were painting, they knew I did a bit of drawing so they got me into, we would paint some freeway spots and back of warehouses etc at night and down at the famous power house building in Fremantle which was helpful in learning can control and being able to paint quickly – then the lads i paint with here in Melbourne have taught me a lot about productions, lettering, being smarter about painting and overall style.

Melbourne mural painted by Alex Sugar of a lady holding a snake

What/Who are some of the inspirations for you and your art?

Early on I was most definitely inspired by the wave of album art cover painters and fantasy artists from the 70’s. People like Rodney Matthews, Patrick Woodrolfe, MC Escher, Roger Dean, Frazetta, Rick Griffin etc.
In the graffiti world, it was writers like Hams, Bribe, Nice, Merda, Duel, Puzle, Unique, Prins, Dmote etc
Though more locally, my childhood friend Porns was also a huge influence on me and is probably one of the best artists I’ve come across.

Did this help guide you to where you are today?

At first, I would try and paint like these guys, but they were obviously masters of their craft and attempts at emulating their work would always look second rate and sloppy.
I remember after spending time with Porns and looking at his artwork. I’d come home with the images of his work in my head and find it frustrating that mine didn’t compare. It took years to realise that everyone has their own story and things that interest them.
So, it’s self-defeating to try and do work that has already been done as anything other than an exercise.
Once I stopped trying to be like anyone else, it all became a lot easier to find my feet.


You have been a successful mural artist for a number of years now. So what led you to start painting murals commercially?

When I first left High school, after doing various courses in painting, I got a job doing a traineeship in Architectural rendering.
That lasted for about a year or so, and I spent my spare time painting canvases. A lot of my friends were artists also, and we taught each other painting techniques with various mediums.
I did my first couple of paid murals in 1995, when I lived at the gold coast. But it wasn’t until the year 2000 that I was offered a mural job in what was called the “snoozling room” of a respite centre, by a friend who worked in community care. The Councillor for that division of my local Council saw it and asked if I could do a job for her, and I’ve been painting murals fulltime ever since.

Alex Sugar mural painted in Melbourne

What direction do you feel your art is going?

That’s a hard question to answer. Probably a loose form of realism based around the native fauna and flora I see in my world.
Sometimes interspersed with cubist elements, and sometimes I like to take a more cartoonish approach?
Use of colour is a big component for me, colour and light.

Tell us a little about how you like to work?

It depends on what it is I’m working on. If it’s a private mural, with a definite brief attached I like to research the subject matter extensively before doing designs, but if I’m painting for myself then it’s a looser process of following the inspiration where it leads.
Typically, I paint by myself, with the radio on to distract that part of my brain that desires company while I watch my hands work.
I don’t mind painting with company, but it doesn’t always lead to a better result and sometimes makes it awkward if things aren’t going to plan and need to be changed/or fixed afterwards.

Mural art of a snake painted by Melbourne mural artist Alex Sugar

What music is on your playlist at the moment while you work?

I don’t have a current playlist. I used to like listening to Blues and Soul, but in more recent times I find I’m tilting towards Jazz and Classical music. Mostly though, I don’t even notice what is on and tend to let some ABC radio station drone on with whatever in the background.

If you could share a message with the next generation of graffiti artists, what would it be?

The only real advice I would suggest to someone looking at getting into painting Graffiti or Murals would be to study what it is about the work that you like. Then take those elements and use them in a new way that inspires you to go further. So that your work is uniquely yours.

Thank you very much for your time and we look forward to seeing more of your amazing work

You can find more of Alex Sugars work at:

@_alexsugar_

Website

Mural of a sugar glider riding the back of a turtle. Painted by Melbourne based mural artist Alex Sugar

Rainbow lorikeet and possum based mural artwork painted by Alex Sugar

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